3 Ways to Live the Life You're Meant To

Be True to YOU! and Live the Life You Want

Most routines are comforting, increase will-power, and can builds habits. What if that routine is reinforcing bad habits or becomes TOO routine? We all have the same 24 hours in the day, but how many of us use the free time that we have to move toward our ideal selves? Aligning our ideals to our reality is more about getting on the correct path and less about dramatic life changes. 5 steps that you can start today to help with the day-to-day.  Define what you want, set goals, create accountability, learn when to say yes (and when to say no), and do the work.

Define What is Important to You 

Jack of all trade, but master of none. If you do a little bit of everything, you will probably not make significant progress in anything. What do you really want? What are your dreams? If you are not building your dream you are probably building someone elses. You can look at these questions in a broad sense and then dissect your answers further. I suggest writing some thoughts down and seriously explore the values that you want to incorporate into your daily life.

Set Goals 

The best goals that you can give yourself are ones that are specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and time bound, otherwise known as SMART Goals. Take the values that you defined in the previous set and think about how you can take that value and make it actionable. For me both health and creativity are important to me, so I have set goals related to these values. Here are a couple of examples: lose 7lbs in the next 30 days or Complete a Painting to Show First Friday. After you set a goal, make a plan. Break out the steps needed to complete your plan.

Create Accountability 

Will power is a proven limited resource. Call it human nature or whatever you want, but changing a habit or routine is difficult. One way to stay on track is to have systems to hold yourself accountable. Tell friends your goal; shoot, maybe they have a similar goal and you can cross the finish line together. One reason that Weight Watchers is so successful, is that you have to be weighed in every week. It's not that their plan is SO revolutionary, but having that progress (or lack there of) on paper.   

Additional Resources:

http://www.mindtools.com/page6.html 

http://archive-goals.performance.gov/goals_2013

http://smokefree.gov/goal-setting-eating-physical-activity

http://www.chalenejohnson.com/goals/10-accountability-tools/