3 Steps That’ll Change Your Day (and Your Life)

Being able to begin a new lifestyle is a great opportunity. To pick everything up and put your feet down in an unknown place is an eye-opening learning experience. I hope that you have either been able to do this already in your lifetime or will make plans to do so soon. I am grateful everyday to be in charge of my days, of my thoughts, and of my habits.

I was told the other day by a new friend that I’m “always positive and in a good mood”. I proceeded to tell her what I do every morning and she said, “it all makes sense!”

But what if you can’t leave the life you’re living right now? You have a job, a family, do not want to sit in the DMV to change your license, whatever it may be. What if I told you that you could alter your everyday life, the same one you woke up to today, without having to physically move?

If you don’t know by now, mindset controls just about everything. For people who enjoy control like myself, this is great news because ultimately, we control our mindset. You get to choose what you allow or don’t allow to enter your mind. You can talk however you want and in turn, those things begin to manifest in front of your eyes. It’s an exciting, dangerous gift having so much control over your life.

It goes both ways, though. It is easy to become overwhelmed with thoughts from all different directions. Log on to Facebook this month and you’re being pulled every which way about the person who is about to run our country. Walk into your office and overhear complaints of physical pain, boredom, or gossip. Turn the news on and look for a glimpse of “good news” through all the bad. Here is when we start to lose control of our own thoughts.

Sometimes when I find myself falling into thoughts that aren’t my own, complaining more often, or wondering why certain things happen to me, I know I need to re-center myself and get back in control.

You can gain control of your mindset, and ultimately your life, with these 3 simple steps.

They are so simple that we tend to overlook them. But if you can plan to do these when you open your eyes in the morning, you will be pleasantly surprised.

1. Wake up grateful. Sometimes (everyday) we need to be reminded how lucky we are to wake up each day. Gratitude shapes how you look at the world and the people around you. Write down 3-5 things that you are thankful for every morning before you reach for your cell phone. Yes, write. Pen to paper. That’s non-negotiable.
2. Make a to-do list. Only for that day. Most important things first. Try to keep it as concise and realistic as possible. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but we can lay pieces of the foundation down, one by one, each day. This will help with feeling overwhelmed and will feel even better when you see a bunch of check marks. When you finish it, sit down and relax. You did everything you needed to do today.
3. Compliment 5 people. This can change someone else’s day, but will have a large impact on yours as well. If you find yourself in a rut, this takes the focus off thinking about yourself and forces you to find positive in something. You’re also likely to get a compliment back in return. Now that’s creating a positive environment to thrive in. Compliments are free, takes away ego, and usually ends in a smile. It’s a win.

There is no set time that you can restart. You have the choice to do so every morning that your eyes open. Walking around with gratitude, a game plan, and in a position to make someone smile is a powerful stance. Everyday we have a choice to choose love or fear.

I hope you make your best choice and single-handedly alter your life. It’s possible. And powerful.

xo