The beginning of a new year has been and gone. Although I like to think of it as a time of hope and enthusiasm, I also know it’s a time of failed resolutions. That is par for the course for those who are not coached and that’s ok.
If you are up for the challenge, we have 6 weeks in front of us and I have a special 6 part coaching section for free, here on this site for those who want to add a little sparkle to their lives.
Even if you just completed a challenging year, it’s natural to entertain the possibility of something better. It’s common to start the year with several lofty resolutions. After all, it’s exciting to contemplate a life with more money, greater love, and fewer pounds. A romantic Paris vacation or a tour of the Far East might sound nice, too!
Sadly as I mentioned above very few resolutions are ever realised without a coach. Health clubs are packed with new members for a couple of weeks. Half of those new members are never seen again after two weeks, and 95% are gone within a month. It’s easy to forget our resolutions and slip into bad habits. This year can be different! A systematic approach can make all the difference.
If you’ve failed to make meaningful changes to your life, you’re in luck! Because in the next few weeks, I am going to walk you through a process that’s guaranteed to work if you’re diligent.
A very famous golf coach once said that it’s impossible to create a good golf swing without evaluating a client’s current situation. Likewise, how will you know where to go if you don’t know where you are? It’s not possible to develop an intelligent and effective plan of attack without evaluating your current situation.
The best place to start with the lowest common denominator.
Determine the Low-Rated Areas of Your Life
It’s the deficiencies in your life that limit your happiness. You’re not unhappy because:
- You live in a 3-bedroom house instead of a 7,000 square foot mansion.
- You’re not married to a supermodel.
- You don’t own a £200-pair of shoes.
- You drive a second-hand car instead of brand new Mercedes or supercar.
- You don’t have a million pounds in the bank.
- You don’t have the body of a Greek God or Goddess.
- You only have five friends instead of 20.
You can certainly be unhappy because:
- You live in an unsafe part of town.
- You’re alone.
- You can’t afford appropriate clothing for yourself or your children.
- You drive a car that might not survive the drive to work.
- You don’t have enough in savings to cover any emergencies.
- You’re 50 pounds overweight.
That’s not to say you can’t make any part of your life spectacular. However, dealing with the most challenging aspects of your life first will result in the greatest return on your time. Focus on these low-rated parts of your life. Finding a few friends can do more to enhance your life than buying a sailboat if your social life disappoints you. It’s about spending constructive time on the things that really hold you back rather than the things the media entice you to think you want.
Grab your journal and use this 3-step process to determine the parts of your life that would make the biggest difference for you if you were to change them:
- Think about your average day and record your thoughts. A few examples might include:
- “My alarm is going off, and I can’t stand the thought of getting out of bed.”
- “I’m afraid I won’t make it to work because I can’t afford petrol until I get paid.”
- “I have to sit alone at night because I don’t have anyone to spend time with.”
- “I only have two outfits that fit because I’ve gained so much weight.”
- “I hate my job.”
- “I wish I could go to University and get a higher paying job.”
- “I’m tired of my girlfriend/boyfriend/partner”
- Complete this exercise with a weekday, weekend day, and holiday. Try to cover all the bases. Your dissatisfactions during the week might be different than those you face on the weekend.
- On a scale of 1 to 10, rank each item. A “10” is perfect. It couldn’t be better. A “1” is as bad as you can imagine.
You don’t need a personal jet to be happy and fulfilled. The low-rated areas of your life are weighing you down. Examine your life and rate the various aspects on a 1-10 scale.
Next week we can choose an area to enhance. Don’t jump ahead – take the time to really get to the bottom of what is making you any less than contented with your life.