How to Start a New Chapter in Life
It is not unusual to think "how did I end up in this job, this relationship or this situation...again?" Habits that we develop when we are young, unexpected tragedies or simply a lack of information can keep us in a rut and bar us from achieving our potential.
But you can escape your rut. It is possible to stop bad habits that are sabotaging your success and get back on track toward a fulfilling, satisfying life.
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Instructions
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Identify your goals. Write down the things you would like to achieve. These goals can be as big or as small as you want them to be. In fact, the more goals you include in this list, the more success you can work toward. Some common goals are a higher-paying job, more friends and a bigger, better apartment. Also include smaller goals in your list, such as taking a trip over a long weekend, starting a hobby or trying a new sport.
Make your goals as specific as possible. For example, "increase income by 25 percent," "find a job in the software industry" or "move to the East Side." The more specific your goals are, the better you can track your progress.
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Identify obstacles that can keep you from achieving your goals. Obstacles may come from yourself, your environment or people in your life. You will need to identify what obstacles you are up against so you can head them off before they become problematic.
If you find that you are in a rut, especially one you have been before, it is likely that something you are doing is keeping you from moving on. Think about what happened right before the last few times you found yourself in this tough spot. See if there is anything that you are consistently doing that leads to your predicament.
Take a look at your physical environment--your home, your job, your lifestyle. If one of your goals is to lose weight, for example, look inside your refrigerator. Is it full of healthy food or snack food? If it is the latter, your environment is thwarting your efforts. Is there anything in your physical life that might be holding you back?
Finally, determine whether there are unsupportive people in your life. Having close connections to people who are constantly negative or who are struggling with the same thing you are trying to avoid may be making it more difficult for you to make progress.
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Make a game plan for your obstacles. You know that certain things will be a problem, so head them off before they have a chance to sabotage your efforts. Look for ways to avoid repeating negative patterns, to change your environment or to stay away from people who are not helpful to you.
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Tell supportive people what your goals are. This will accomplish two things. One, it will help you create a network of caring friends who will encourage you along your way. Two, it will let people know what they can do to help you. By talking about your goals, you will find people who have been through what you are going through or who have special connections or expertise.
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Make a list of milestones. No matter what you are trying to do to start a new chapter in life, it will likely not happen overnight. It will require many steps along the way. Write these steps down so that you see when you are hitting them, and be sure that actions you take are putting you on the right path.
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Track your progress. Whether you use journal entries or markings on a calendar, keep a record of what you are doing to reach your goals. This will help you see your progress and remind you that even if you are not at the final stage, you are on your way.
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Reward yourself. Every now and then, take time to do something nice for yourself for all of your hard work. Rewarding yourself will give you encouragement to keep going.
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References
- Photo Credit weathered steps image by Derek Abbott from Fotolia.com
