So you’ve had a bright idea or are looking to make a change in an area of your life but are not sure where to start? 

I hear you. Below are 5 KEY steps to shift your mindset and get you on the path to fulfilment and success in whatever you’re working towards. 

Know your WHY

“With a big enough WHY the HOW takes care of itself”. 

Whether you want to change careers, start a business or make a lifestyle shift you need to start with “why”. Your “why” is what gets you out of bed in the morning, what drives you, feeds your soul and serves you at the highest level. 

Instead of tying your “why” to an outcome like losing weight, connect this to the identity of who you are becoming instead e.g. a healthy person. We do this because outcomes are finite and once you achieve it what will motivate you to keep going? 

Take a career change or setting up a business, do you deeply want to help others and make a difference, are you looking for financial abundance to take care of your family or maybe it’s the freedom to work anywhere in the world and define your day?

If you’re looking to shift into a healthy lifestyle is this to live a long life for your kids, feel more confident in body and mind, to be free from illness and disease? 

Notice how powerful these are?
Here are some questions to get you thinking about your why:

• WHY do I want to do this
• WHY is it going to make my life better
• What experiences through life shape and define you?
• WHY is it so important and what will be the consequence if I don’t do this?

One you have nailed it, make sure it is at the heart of everything you do. 

Visualise your future self

Visualisation is a great technique that helps you reach your goals. It works by getting your mind and body ready for what you want to happen. Most top athletes are trained to visualise before a competition. They see themselves winning, running the fastest race, or scoring the winning goal. Your brain can’t tell the difference between real and imagined so if done properly, visualisation can trick your brain into thinking it’s already done what you are wanting to happen. 

In visualisation you “picture” the outcome in your mind and bring it to life as much as possible. What colours, smells, people, emotions and feelings can you see?  The more you visualise the stronger it gets and if repeated it will alter your brains neural pathways which subconsciously directs you to take action towards your goals. Remember, what you focus on you attract more of. 

Remove Limiting Beliefs

When you think about doing the thing you want to do or becoming who you want to be what thoughts come up? Is there part of you that believes you aren’t good enough, capable enough, that you don’t know enough? Like what’s the point because you will fail anyway? 

In most cases, limiting beliefs are unconscious thoughts that act as a defence mechanism to avoid negative or lower vibe emotions (e.g. frustration, anxiety, anger, sadness). 

Although they are created to protect us they tend to have a negative impact on our life by stopping us from moving forward and growing on a personal and professional level. 

A limiting belief will fire if your subconscious senses the potential of repeat experience that made you suffer in the past in the attempt to alter your behaviour. As a result this can lead to procrastination, overthinking, anxiety, impostor syndrome and generally staying stuck. 

The good thing is we aren’t born with these beliefs and we can absolutely change them. Awareness is key. Next time you notice any kind of limiting belief look at the situation and your thoughts around it, as you become aware you can start to challenge and reframe them. Each time the old belief surfaces repeat the new belief you are replacing this with and consider implementing daily affirmations. 

Your thoughts create your beliefs which create your reality. Make sure you control your thoughts rather than the other way around. 

Take Action

Once you are clear on your why, who you are becoming and are aware of the things that are holding you back, you can start making steps in the right direction. 

It all starts with action but we often get so bogged down with trying to find the best approach, perfect moment or optimal plan that we end up doing nothing. Endless prepping becomes procrastination because in reality we are scared of judgment, failure or getting it wrong. 

It’s important to know that it’s more about getting started than getting it right. In truth we learn more from our mistakes than our triumphs and we get feedback which allows us to course correct and adjust from there. 

Lots of small imperfect actions done consistently over time is how you will become an expert. Becoming a master requires repetition and it never starts with perfection. So just go for it.

Trust The Process

In the end we can only control so much, the rest is up to fate and the universe. Trust that everything is working for you and as long as you keep putting one foot in front of the other it will happen. Our desires are put on our heart for a reason and we are meant to fulfil the things we are pulled towards. Things very rarely play out the way we imagine so stay open to opportunities and say yes because you never know where they are going to lead. 

Importantly let yourself surrender to the process, give yourself permission and accept the not knowing and the uncertainty is all part of the process. I promise you’re exactly where you’re meant to be so don’t waste your time and energy trying to force things.