New Year—New You…Really? 6 Steps to Change Your Life

I have a friend who is absolutely incensed by this old slogan, “New year—new you!” She insists that so many people think they can just reinvent their lives with the flip of a calendar page when, in reality, change is challenging. But, what if…? 

What if you choose to control the parts of your life that you can control? Think of the elements of your life that are within your control. You control your appearance, behavior, how you spend your time in work and leisure, the people you spend time with at work and play. How you spend or invest your time and money is a major contributor to the course of your life. What if you could change a few small things and see exponential results over time? Would you do it? This course of action is not for the feint of heart. It takes courage, persistence and belief that you will succeed. 

Whatever the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve.

--Napoleon Hill

While most of us understand that there are circumstances we cannot control, we absolutely can control how we respond to them. And most of us have a range of choices when we’re willing to step outside the ‘easy’ or even just habitual and embark on the adventure of the ‘new and unknown.’ Feeling brave—or even desperate? Below are six steps to change your life. 

Change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change.

--Tony Robbins

Step 1:  You’ve got to want it. Seriously. 

Tony Robbins’ point is that until NOT having, being or doing something becomes more painful than the cost of getting to the point of having, being or doing that thing, then you won’t actually do it. Think about this. It’s not enough to just want to have a different job or get healthier because we’re often too settled in our present situation. We may say we want change, but until the present situation is more painful than exerting the effort to change, we probably won’t. Get serious about what you want to change. 

Step 2: Choose your destination.

In order to arrive at a new place, you’ve got to decide where you’re going. Set aside your brain’s natural resistance to change. Dismiss all the ‘can I—can’t I,’ ‘will I—won’t I,’ ‘but what if’ narratives in your head. Focus instead on where you want to end up next.  Close your eyes. Think about where you want to be in one, three or five years. Now make a short list of what that future scenario looks like (you’ll probably have to open your eyes to do this).  Promotion? Different job? House? Location? Travel? Fitness? List the things that you will need to maintain and change. 

Step 3:  Identify the milestones.

What will it take for you to get from where you are today to where you want to be six months, a year or five years from now?  For example, let’s say you want to be working in a new career field in five years. Make a list of the things that need to occur for that to happen. Will you need training, experience, a new degree? Will you need to relocate? These are your milestones. As you accomplish each milestone, you’ll be moving closer to your destination goal.

Step 4:  Break it down.

For each milestone, think about the steps needed to achieve it.  For example, if training or certification is required for your goal of a new job, what options are available? What’s required to register and attend? Make a list of action steps for each milestone. 

A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.

--Lao Tzu 

Step 5: Take the first step. Today.

Here’s where the ‘rubber meets the road.’ A plan without action is only an idea. The only way to make your vision for your future a reality is to take actions to move forward toward the goal. 

Here’s the magic formula. Instead of thinking about the big gap between where you are and where you want to be, think only of the next step. Next step + Action = Progress. A goal of new certification or a college degree is big and can seem overwhelming. It can’t be accomplished in a day. Think instead of what CAN be achieved in a day. Research training or college options, explore funding, apply for a program. 

If you’ve ever watched a snail make its way across a path then you know -- even micro movements add up to progress. Take one step then identify the next step and so on. Imagine doing one thing to move toward your goal each month. Do you want to read or travel more? Read one book or take one trip monthly and at the end of the year you’ll have accomplished 12. Take micro-steps toward your goal; they add up!

Never, never, never give up.

--Winston Churchill

Step 6: Don’t give up.

Stay with it. Whatever you want to make happen in your life, you can achieve it one step at a time. Changing takes both courage and persistence. It’s likely there will be days when you want to give up. Don’t. Continue forward, see it through to the next milestone then re-evaluate. 

Use this opportunity to imagine what your life can look like 12 months from now. You have the power to change the things you want change. After all, where will you be 12 months if you keep doing everything the same?