Everyone wants to make big life changes because they believe that it will make their life better. I am talking about HUGE life changing events that will transform you into some other, more powerful you. And, I think you’ve experienced it first hand just like everyone else reading this article.
Why do you think most people are still chasing something they think will bring more security, happiness, and freedom to their life? Why don't these BIG changes ever occur despite our best efforts? Well, something's missing, that's why.
Let’s have a quick look at what small steps you can take today. As you read these, think slowly and really digest the message. You'll notice that size and speed are rarely important to meaningful progress.
- Be Present
Notice your thoughts, and welcome them.
Just for today, be present with whatever goes on inside your body and mind. This includes your thoughts, feelings, and everything else that goes on during the day. Let them be there and do what they do. Your thoughts have a life of their own, and if you try to resist, which most people do, it will only cause suffering.
Something else you may want to try is to simply welcome any thoughts and feelings that you notice. The effect may astonish you.
- Acts of Kindness
Do something nice for someone. It could be your kids, spouse, friend, coworker, or perfect stranger. It doesn't have to be big. If you can do it anonymously, that's even better. Leave a dollar for someone to pick up, or whatever creativity your mind can conjure up.
It doesn't have to scare you in any way, just do something that you think is kind to someone else. If you make it a daily habit, you may again be surprised by the results.
- Journal
Most people never write down their thoughts. When you let thoughts fly around in your head, you will often feel out of control – in and out, all day, every day, your mind races with no end in sight. When you write down your thoughts, you will see patterns, and suddenly you’ll notice yourself starting to write down answers to your problems that you never thought of before.
What I do is I simply grab a blank sheet of paper, and I write. I write for about 30 minutes non-stop. If I run out of words at any point, I'll write that I don't know what to write. At first, I thought this exercise was a waste of time, and it took me a long time to even try it. But when I did, I noticed more clarity, more creativity, and more solutions to things I perceived as problems.
Try it, you might like it.
- Food Choices
This is a no-brainer, but how often do you actually choose healthier food options?
If you're like me, you're not perfect and you often fall prey to the more convenient (and tasty) foods. So, just for today, eat healthy all day long, and see what happens.
Give up the soda, pizza, and chips. Drink water, and take care of your body.
- Do Less
Yeah, you heard that right. Experiment with doing less today, say no to people asking for your time, reduce your consumption, and minimize the media you take in. You don't have to do everything on your to-do list. We often put more things on our lists than we need, because we think doing more is what will bring us happiness. Wrong.
The truth of the matter is that it is not by doing that you will be happy, but by being. Deep inside you are happiness, joy, and presence.
All you have to do is peel away the layers and tap into it.
The question is, will you?