Answer them to get off the ground. Sometimes we feel like we’re stuck; the usual actions do not come close to family well-being, financial gain, maximum productivity, success, and happiness. To improve your life, sometimes it’s worth breathing out a little and pulling back, asking yourself a few questions, and giving honest answers. Such reflection will help you better understand yourself and your emotions.
1. What prevents you from acting?
The deeds, questions, and words that we fear most are often exactly what we need to do, ask, or say.
Timothy Ferriss, writer
More often than not, it is not others who hold us back, but our own inner voice. It says that we are not smart enough or strong enough, that our attempts are doomed to failure. If you feel that you are standing still, and your dialogues with your inner self do not end well, ignore it.
Some people let their fears take over. One way to defeat them and silence your inner voice is to acknowledge and voice what you fear.
Imagine the worst case scenario and you will feel the fears begin to subside.
Timothy Ferriss
Timothy Ferriss developed an exercise called Fear Management. He showed that after his fear migrated from thoughts to paper, it was easier to defeat it in real life.
What is holding you back?
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2. Whose permission are you waiting for?
You don’t need someone’s permission to pursue your dream. Just go.
Gary Vaynerchuk, entrepreneur and writer
American serial entrepreneur and author Gary Vaynerchuk believes that the only permission you need to get before doing anything is your own.
Don’t wait for someone to approve of your choice. If you want to quit, quit without waiting for peer approval. If you want to establish contact with your child, start today without thinking about what your ex-wife has to say. If you want to lose weight, eat healthy foods, and don’t worry about others’ opinions.
Vaynerchuk admits that as a child, he was obsessed with the idea of writing stories but was too afraid of what other people would say about them. He waited for someone to choose him, pat him on the shoulder and ask about it. He was waiting for permission.
“If you want to do something, stop waiting for someone to ask you about it. Go and do great things. When you succeed, fans will appear on their own, and now you shouldn’t worry about them, ”advises Gary.
3. What are you really passionate about?
The most powerful weapon on Earth is the burning human soul.
Ferdinand Foch, French military leader
If you want to be free and develop, ask yourself: “What kindles the fire in me?”
What makes you happy? What really captivates you? Apple entrepreneur and co-founder Steve Jobs knew the answer to this question from an early age; he was fascinated by design. Designing simple products is what kindled the fire in him.
Think about what you are obsessed with. By doing this, you will be focused, motivated, and productive.
4. Do you commit?
A person’s quality of life is directly proportional to his desire for excellence, regardless of what he does.
Vince Lombardi, American football player and coach
Commitments and promises made to yourself are the bridge between you and your ideal life. If you are unhappy with your marriage, check to see if you fulfill your obligations as husband and father (or wife and mother). If you are earning less than you would like, make sure to work conscientiously.
If you want to reach your goal, promise yourself to take steps towards it. Only they will help you go to success according to the plan, and only they will make you do what you need to, regardless of external circumstances.
If you want results, you have to take responsibility for your work.
If you are interested in doing something, then you do it when it is convenient for you. And if you made a commitment, then you will do it in any circumstance. No excuses, just results.
Ken Blanchard, writer
Therefore, if you want to improve your life, do not indulge yourself.
5. What changes are you expecting?
We always have a choice: take a step forward or return to where it is safe.
Abraham Maslow, psychologist and founder of humanistic psychology
Are you trying to find a balance between work and personal life? Do you want to start your own business? Do you need to restore your health? Are you learning to deal with anger? Or are you trying to improve your relationship with your partner? Define your goal and state it as precisely as possible.
An example speaks about the power of correct goal-setting and attitude. Roger Bannister, a medical student from London, who at the age of 25, decided to run a mile (1.6 km) in less than 4 minutes by all means. It was 1954 – then it was believed that a person was not capable of this.
Bannister has developed his own training regimen. But psychological preparation turned out to be even more important. He changed his mindset from “this is impossible” to “I want to be the first to do this.” On May 6, 1954, Bannister ran a mile in 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds.
Roger Bannister shut up his inner voice, gave himself permission to become great, realized that running kindled a fire in him, promised himself to be the first person to run a mile in 4 minutes, and clearly understood what his goal was.
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Outcome
If you are having trouble making progress towards your goal, ask yourself these five questions. When you answer them, you will realize that you are stronger than you thought. Don’t let fear and society get in your way. You have the power to follow your dreams and achieve your goals.
Don’t let negative thinking control your feelings. There is nothing wrong with self-criticism; it admits that something went wrong and adjust the action plan. But excessive self-flagellation can lead to the fact that you begin to identify with your shortcomings.
Learn to admit defeats and shortcomings correctly. Instead of “I’m a loser,” say, “I’m out of luck.” Instead of bitterly calling yourself a smoker, say, “I am a smoker now.” Instead of “I’m fat,” say that you are overweight and know how to get rid of it.
The essence of positive thinking is not to ignore your shortcomings but to not revel in regretting failure. When you’re unhappy with yourself, focus not on your emotions but on what you can do to change it. You can start thinking positively with a dialogue with yourself.
Adapted and translated by Wiki Avenue Staff
Sources: Life hacker
