10 Steps To Success
Every Astrology website is pointing toward new beginning and major life changes for this months forecast. Did you feel the emotional pressure of October? I sure did, some of us felt it more than others but no one was really immune to it. October brought many emotions to the surface- desires, memories, deep feelings of despair, poor communication and no progress. This is truly a time of transformation and there is much that ruthlessly supports this incredible time of change. November is the start of this shift for possibilities and opportunity bringing in a solar eclipse which brings a new moon, new chapters and doors opening. This is a good month to examine the rules in your life, break it down, reset and reclaim. Nothing is predestined, so you must do something to unlock a great aspect and with each aspect you build on the one before. So if there are a lot of goals and dreams that haven't quite happened now is your time to let go of all that doesn't serve you and be carried to greatness or hold on to old patterns and be dragged through the mud. Put more passion and energy into your work, your goals and dream big!
Change is hard. Especially, big life changes it's uncomfortable, can be confusing and chaotic, and will test you to your limits. It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. It's easy to get discouraged when you try and don't get the results you were hoping for. The reality is that just making the effort is, in fact, progress. Change is not an event with an exact start and stop point; it's a process. Each step you make, even if it's a relatively small step such as making the resolution to change, is still a step in the right direction, bringing you closer to your ultimate goal. Whatever the changes you are the leader in every area of your life. Whether it's losing weight and creating a new dream body, changing careers or starting your own business, or perhaps going through a difficult breakup. The keys to success will help you move through the process more smoothly. Stay present, focused and do it with discipline and you will be well on your way to becoming your new badass self and start celebrating in the new year!
10 steps to success
1) Decide - While others are delaying!
Have the awareness and acknowledge that change needs to happen and make a decision that's self-motivated and rooted in positive thinking and for your well-being as opposed to guilt, fear, or regret. Your desire for change must be greater than your desire to stay the same. You also have to know what it is that you are going after. What is the specific target goal?
2) Prepare - While others are daydreaming!
It's almost too simple to be true,but keep a to-do list. Want a good tip? Try an old-fashioned bit of paper. Crossing stuff off with a pen just feels good. Begin writing specific goals and limit it to a manageable number that's practical and realistic to accomplishing the goal. It's important at this stage to recognize that there will be situations in the environment that are stimuli for the unhealthy or unwanted behavior and steps should be made to avoid these stimuli whenever possible. Put this in the plan. This is were you start rewriting the rules of your life. You also have to be present and "wash off" your past! Sometimes we let our past govern who we think we are and we are polluted with what we went through and that's were self-sabotage comes in. Clearing issues from your past to move forward with your set goal is a must! You have to "free the mind" before you can bestow the blessings-Do you have a mind to change? (if there are big issues this will be a challenge so get your support team ready-see #4)
3) Begin - While others are procrastinating!
Start putting the plan into action and get in the zone. This action is expressing the priority in your life. Begin to make the changes you desire and try to cope with the challenges that come with making those changes. (i.e, the temptations that entice a return to the unhealthy or unwanted behavior). Your commitment to be better, to do better will help you succeed. This is where the attitude has to be reset to free your mind. Easier said then done, but you have to create a ritual and anoint your face and body with a fresh positive start and attitude and raise yourself to that higher vibration. Wealthy and successful individuals have eliminated most of their bad daily failure habits and replaced them with good daily success habits. Poor planning and thinking leads to procrastination this becomes the rule rather than the exception. If you don’t maintain a daily “to do” list, or if you do, you don’t accomplish 70% or more of your daily “to do” list.
4) Work - While others are wishing!
You think a wish is a goal. Goals require a specific physical activity, otherwise they are just wishes and wishes don’t come true. The work is being implemented to change unhealthy behavior and maintain a positive attitude towards achieving the goal. The strategies you prepared are helping to support the new changes, this is were working on letting go of old habits and permanently changing negative patterns comes in and identifying triggers. Strategize & organize this can include devoting time to your goal and reading a minimum of 30 minutes a day of career or goal-related material. You can begin studying a new course, exercising more, taking a new class, positive self-help books and self-talk, therapy and then all the externals like friends and family support.
5) Focus - While others or diverting!
Everyone has a different work ethic, motivation and passion fizzle out pretty quickly for most so it has to be a daily reminder. Focus on being productive, not busy. Keep things simple and avoid being so perfect, making small, continuous improvements. Here you can track and measure your progress. Remind yourself it's not the event , it's the process and all too often, we think our goals are all about the result. We see success as an event that can be achieved and completed. Fall in love with the daily practice, not the individual event.
6) Be Accountable - While others are making excuses!
Use social media to state your goal, say it loud and be proud of it. Once it's out there you will be more accountable and you will have extra support too. For example, If you are diving into a weight loss journey start taking before and after pictures to show your progress. Letting friends know what you're doing so they can serve as sources of support when you feel yourself weakening. This takes courage but the truth is sometimes you have to be vulnerable and humbled to be open to real change and transformation. Social media can be very supportive, however don't spend more than an hour a day on recreational Internet use (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc.) It's a time suck and not very productive and can lead you down the rabbit hole.
COMPARISON is sneaky. It sneaks in and steals our joy because we are setting our inward struggles, secrets, and flaws up against the squeaky clean, perfect, and beautiful external images of another. They post their "highlight reel" It's not "real" and very rare when someone shares their real struggles or truth. Don't buy into it!! Follow people that inspire you and are actually helpful with their posts.
Wealthy and successful individuals also engage in what's called “Rich Thinking”. We are upbeat, positive and focused on achievement. We control our thoughts and emotions, every day. It's hard work and if you wake up in a slump use the daily "wash it off" and anoint yourself with positivity ritual. It really works but be kind to yourself if you are having a bad day, you will pick up the pieces. (Refer to #3)
7) Be Disciplined but Stay Balanced - While others obsess!
Don't confuse discipline with "getting things done" it's not sustainable if you become obsessed with the idea and attachment that you have to be working at this goal every second of the day. When all other parts of your life begin to fall apart because you can't possibly juggle all the "have to's," you will be left with disappointment and doubt. If you recognize this you will feel a sense of lightness and mental freedom. Discipline has less to do with accomplishment and more to do with intention and commitment set to stay present in every moment. Wealthy and successful people live each day in moderation. We eat in moderation, spend in moderation, work in moderation and play in moderation.
"Whether you are driven or resistant, the medicine is the same: do what is truly possible with unwavering commitment to giving yourself to the moment. Without this intention, practice becomes another task to be completed and it loses its ability to transform. And transformation, or freedom, is the reason for all discipline." ~Living Your Yoga
8) Listen - While others are talking!
9) Smile - While others are frowning!
10) Persist - While others are quitting!
Be excited about the changes and improvements, fall in love with repetition and practice. Fall in love with the process of what you do and let the results take care of themselves. When you reach the six month mark and your new behavior remains stable and consistent, you're into the maintenance stage. Keep moving into the new place that you have been preparing for because now is your time- say it- MY TIME IS NOW! This isn't the time to be shy, you come out and give it all you got!! The work now is focused on enjoying the new you and preventing a return to the old unwanted or unhealthy behavior and realizing your goal!!
Finally, don't pick up these bad habits if you want to be successful in your life!13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
If you want to know the secrets of the wealthy read this! 10 Things Rich People Do Which Poor People Don't
There is no Challenge more challenging than the challenge to improve yourself!
~ Michael F. Staley
XO
Claudia