Four steps towards a life you love

How do you feel about your life? Do you wake up every day motivated and excited, or do you open your eyes with a feeling of dread?

It’s a no-brainer, really, isn’t it? Scenario one would be amazing- a fantastic life to be leading. The second scenario is screaming out for a change.

But what about the thousands of us whose lives fall somewhere in between? Life is not what we planned, but it’s OK. We’re happy plodding along.

And it’s this third scenario that can be the most dangerous, because it’s comfortable. It’s bearable. Sometimes it’s even quite fun. And change is scary. It takes effort.

But change is possible. It’s vital if you want to look back and know that you really lived, that you took this one chance and gave it your all.

Three steps towards a life you love

1. Identify your strengths and values

Once you know your strengths and values, you can work out how to use them and how to ensure you are living your values on a daily basis.

2. Visualise what your ideal life would look like

Visualise what your ideal life would look like in 10 years, five years, or one year from now. Give it as much detail as possible.

Spend some time creating a vision board that reflects your goals and aspirations, and put it somewhere visible to remind you and keep you focused.

3. Challenge the beliefs that may hold you back

Work out what beliefs you hold that may stop you from reaching your goals. Then create a new set of beliefs to empower you, rather than hold you back.

Do you think you are too old to change? Why not reframe it: you’ve got years of experience to support you going forward.

Do you think you don’t have the focus to move forward? Search your past for examples of when you were passionate and motivated to see something through to the end. You did it once, and you can do it again.

4. Break your goals into small steps

Break your goals down into small, manageable steps. What resources do you need? Who can help you get there? How will you feel when you have reached each of these steps? How will you celebrate your progress?

Again, the more detail you add, the more likely you are to get there.

Then decide what step you are going to start with and do it today. It doesn’t need to be a huge stride, but start moving forward and look forward to the journey of your life.