8 Ways to Elev8 Your Life
BE GR8FUL
Being intentional about gratitude is like magic for improving your overall well being. Something profound happens in your mind and your body when you feel authentic gratitude for the many good things in your life. Consider your very life itself, the people who love and support you, the beautiful creations of the earth, the universe, animals, plants. Be grateful for your breath, your body, your mind, and heart, along with opportunities, support, help with obstacles, the ability to learn and grow. It's all there. It's ok to have dreams of more and for better times, and still be grateful for what you have now.
"A grateful heart is a magnet for miracles." - Unknown
Be kind to yourself and others
I encourage you to try an experiment. Spend one day completely focused on being kind. Start with yourself. Think and speak loving words to yourself. Take good care of yourself, get good sleep, eat nourishing food, get outside, and enjoy some exercise. Let go of feelings of resentment or anger, and forgive yourself. Then take that kindness and express it to every person you encounter that day. Smile, thank, love, serve. If something frustrating happens, handle it with grace. Then see how you feel at the end of the day. It will be remarkable. Then just rinse and repeat. What you give, will begin to come back, and the cycle of goodness will enrich your life and well-being.
"Be an elev8r, not a drain." - Reese Witherspoon
Focus on your future
It's not always easy, yet it's so important to let things of the past go and focus forward and upward toward your future vision. I believe there is always hope in the future, and you have the opportunity to create it. We all have things from our past that we would change or do differently. In some cases, professional support may be needed for help and healing. Dwelling on past mistakes and problems does not serve us. Another trap is thinking "how great life used to be," reflecting on past memories of happier times. Having great memories is wonderful, as long as they don't take away from where you are now and where you want to go.
"Where focus goes, energy flows" - Tony Robbins.
Remember it's about PROGRESS not PERFECTION
One of the fastest ways to limit your progress, and your happiness, is to compare yourself to others. Never forget that you are unique, with gifts and talents and limitless potential. I say, lean into those strengths and do your very best. Then when you mess up, remember everyone makes mistakes. That's part of being human. The most important thing is to recover - get up, move forward, and learn so you can do better next time. I love my tagline "Forward and Upward," to keep the focus on incremental progress. Learn from your past to continuously improve.
"Sometimes we win, sometimes we grow." - John Maxwell.
Control the controllable…
and surrender the rest. It's impossible to control everything in life. And trying to control things beyond your control is a recipe for exhaustion and disappointment. The sooner you can surrender the uncontrollable, the better. And when things feel out of control, fear, worry, and doubt will start to take over. Try deep breathing and taking some "time-out" to boost your resilience. Being intentional in your sphere of control is the path toward your goals and dreams.
"Worry is a misuse of your imagination." - Mary Morrissey
Find the good
Positive thinking is a choice we have daily, but it's not always the easy choice. Life is a journey of ups and downs, so avoiding grief and sadness is not realistic. The antidote is to infuse practices, people, activities, and things that bring you joy. The science of positive psychology shifts the focus from fixing what is wrong to focusing on what is right and boosting strengths.
"Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance." - Eckhart Tolle
Focus on your goals
Prioritize and schedule your time so you can make meaningful progress on your goals each day. Time blocking is a great technique. Display your goals visually, and place it where you'll see it often. Vision boards or printed goal statements are great. Minimize distractions by limiting social media, and setting a timer to manage your day.
"Keep your eye on the prize." - Dewey Finn, School of Rock
It's ok to be uncomfortable
Growth happens beyond your comfort zone. The lure of the familiar is a tricky trap. Elevating your life means that you're continuously growing and improving. That doesn't happen by doing the same things you have always done. You may find that you want to pull back, even self-sabotage, after a significant achievement or breakthrough. It's like turning on the AC when things get too hot (successful). If you're ready to elevate your life, then prepare to live in the growth zone.
"Get comfortable with being uncomfortable." - Jillian Michaels