The Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, "The only constant in life is change." Each of us is changing all the time, and every experience alters us in some way, whether we want it to or not. We don't have a choice whether we change, but we can choose whether to have change forced upon us or to proactively change in positive ways.
Here are 5 tips to create positive change in your life:
1. Focus on strengthening your thoughts and intentions around the areas you want to change.
Change begins in the mind. Our actions are only as strong as our intentions. When you find an area of yourself or your life that you'd like to change, ask yourself, "How do I strengthen my consciousness around this area? What are the thoughts I can strengthen daily to help achieve my goal?"
Don't just start thinking about these areas when you are struggling with them. Have an internal dialogue every day about what you want or don't want to do with your life.
2. Find balance between discipline and flexibility.
Many times, a person can be on a positive path and make one small mistake that makes them feel completely bogged down by shame, guilt, or blame. Those feelings can hold them back or stop them from continuing to make positive change. It's good to have intentions, schedules, and goals, but know that mistakes are a normal part of the process and that things don't always work out the way we plan.
Change requires equal parts discipline and flexibility. The path to change is never going to be a perfect line – it will have ups and downs, failures and successes. Don't expect to win every day. Not every choice or decision will be the right one. When something doesn't go your way, ask yourself what your options are to move forward. This can open you up to so many possibilities.
3. Sit with the negative thoughts that hold you back and then challenge them.
We all have a negative voice in our heads telling us we should give up, that we aren't good enough, or that things will never work out the way we want. It's important to know that voice isn't coming from the true part of ourselves, the part that is beautiful and powerful and able to make real change. That voice is an obstacle that we all need to overcome.
When those negative thoughts arise, welcome them in, sit with them, and challenge them. Instead of ignoring or suppressing them, face them head-on. Ask yourself if these are things you really believe or are they the influence of other people. Are these thoughts serving you? If not, you have the power to choose a new response to them.
4. Know that each breath is a chance to start over and become someone new.
The wisdom of Kabbalah teaches that we are imbued with new life force with every breath. Each breath is an opportunity to start over. Even if you made a mistake a second ago, you have a fresh start in this moment.
If you are having a bad day or make a mistake, know that you can restart your day at any time. With each new breath, you become a brand-new person. You can pull yourself up from your mistakes or failures and try again.
5. Work on loving yourself fully and wholly in order to make lasting change.
When we see things about ourselves that need to change, it can be daunting or depressing. Instead of inspiring us to change, it can make us feel like we don't measure up or that we'll never reach our potential. Those thoughts only serve to hold us back. In order to fully change the parts of you that need to change, you must first fully love yourself.
You have to love yourself so much that you are so self-invested and interested in your betterment and growth that you are willing to do anything in their pursuit. From that place, you can create true, lasting change.
Change is part of why we are here. We aren't meant to remain static, and it's impossible not to be changed by life. Change is not a goal that we achieve and then move on from. It is a consistent part of our lives that requires persistence and reinforcement. Be intentional with the changes you want to make, and direct your energy and consciousness in their pursuit.
