The unknown is scary. Doing something new and different is challenging. So many people want to change their lives. Comfort zones are comfortable. Humans love to be in their comfort zones. But, change doesn’t occur there.
In today’s blog, I want to touch on change and how to create change in your life. So many people want to make various changes yet fail.
What are the different types of change in one's life?
-changing a job
-changing a career
-moving somewhere new
-trying something new
-getting to a higher level of success
Creating change will take time and effort. Something most people are unwilling to accept. Not only this, but it will take practice and patience.
Even with the best life plan and goals ever created, no one knows when changes will occur. I can tell you one thing, though - it will happen progressively over time. And the more time you invest towards that change, the faster you will get there.
I’ve been fortunate enough to create significant changes in my life. It’s taken years of dedication and years of persistence. Whether it was moving across the country at age 18 to pursue something new or creating an elite-level body.
How did I do it, and what are the tools to get you closer to creating such changes?
-I took responsibility for my actions
-I took calculated risks
-I always believed in myself
-I stepped out of my comfort zone (one foot at a time)
Let’s look into each one of these steps in more detail so you can start shifting your life for the better as well!
Taking responsibility is a big step, and that is why it’s number one on my list. You must own up and take responsibility for all of your actions. Know that you must act and put in the work to create something.
Know that when things go sideways (which they will), don’t blame someone else. Don’t make up random excuses as to why it didn’t work. Simply own what you did, pivot, and move forward.
People who take responsibility in their lives will no doubt go on to create massive changes because they learn from their mistakes and make the necessary adjustments to grow and progress.
Risks lead to a better life, more wealth, and fulfillment.
People who take risks get rewarded. Yes, of course, you may lose sometimes, and that's the game. Although, that’s why I say take calculated risks! These are when you weigh out the pros and cons of danger and take the appropriate risks where there is more to gain than to lose.
Risks fall into a similar category and step as your comfort zone. These two are identical but still hold a different stage on my list.
No one will believe in you if you don’t believe in yourself. It’s that simple. Belief is free, it’s within you, and it’s challenging to master.
The little voice inside your head can sometimes be loud. Filling you with self-doubt and the constant feeling of being afraid to fail. Believing in yourself is one of the most crucial steps to creating massive change in your life.
You must shift your mindset and believe in big things to achieve big things. The mind can be a tricky thing to control. It will be all over the place throughout the day and be tough to tame.
While believing in yourself can be challenging, one way to improve this belief is through affirmations. Positive things that promote you, like “I am a winner, I am successful, and I am confident and respected by others,” can work wonders.
Here’s a quick tip for affirmations. Look yourself in the mirror in the morning and say them with conviction. Believe deep in your soul that what you say is 100% true. The process sounds silly, but trust me, it works.
If you can believe great things about yourself and who you are, everyone else around you will accept it as well.
As I previously said, with risk - your comfort zone is where you like to be. It’s warm, fuzzy, and feels great to be in all day and night. But, you don’t grow in your comfort zone. You cruise along with all of the other comfort zone people.
Cruising may be ok occasionally, but if you’re looking to change your career, finances, or body, your comfort zone won’t cut it.
Leaving your comfort zone will help you grow and create the change you are after. Try not to jump in all at once. For example, don’t quit your job with zero savings and zero plan on Friday because you had a great idea on Wednesday night to pursue.
Slowly step out of your comfort zone, like adding more time to a gym workout, adding more challenging exercises, bettering your nutrition, or talking to more strangers each day to grow your network.
Dreams die in your comfort zone. It may feel good, but it’s not a good place if you want to change. Get comfortable being uncomfortable.
Well, there you have it - the four ways that I’ve created massive amounts of change in my life and how you can too!
Now, be patient. It will take time to create the change you want. Small steps done over time will eventually turn into significant results. Stay with it and trust the process.
Chris M Wilson
Chris Wilson is a keynote speaker, CTI coach, and entrepreneur. Through his Hover to Fly framework, he aims to impact the next generation in their careers and lives.