WHEN WE THINK
about how to achieve success, we often focus on the skills and habits we
should add to our lives. But sometimes the key to success actually lies
in our ability to give up certain habits and behaviours. So starting
today...
1. Give up
the habit of waiting.
The way you
spend your time defines who you are. You don’t get to choose how you are
going to die, or when; you can only decide how you are going to live
right now. Trust me, a year from now you will wish you had started
today.
2. Give up
the excuses.
Sooner or
later you will come to realize that it’s not what you lose along the way
that counts, it’s what you do with what you still have. When you let go,
forgive, and move on, you in no way change the past, you change the
future.
3. Give up
trying to be perfect.
The beauty of
each of us lies in our vulnerability, our love, our complex emotions—
our authentic imperfections. When we embrace who we are and decide to be
authentic instead of perfect, we open ourselves up to real
relationships, real happiness, and real success. There is no need to put
on a mask. There is no need to pretend to be someone you’re not. You are
perfectly imperfect just the way you are.
4. Give up
doing things you know are wrong.
Nothing is
more damaging to you than doing something that you believe is wrong.
Your beliefs alone don’t help you grow and thrive, your behaviour and
actions do. So always do what you know in your heart is right for you.
5. Give up
feelings of entitlement.
Nobody owes
you anything. When you approach life with the false sense that you are
owed things, you will naturally become less productive and constantly
find yourself disappointed by reality. When you are grateful for what
you have, and see positive things as bonuses rather than owed
entitlements, you will earn great successes gradually as you grow.
6. Give up
relationships that want you to be someone else.
The best kind
of relationship is the one that makes you a better person without
changing you into someone other than yourself.
7. Give up
letting others decide what you can and can't do.
In order to
live your own authentic life, you have to follow your inner GPS, not
someone else’s. When others say, "You can’t do it!” or “that’s
impossible,” don’t lose hope. Just because they couldn’t doesn’t mean
you can’t.
8. Give up
being a helpless victim.
Yes, it is
unfortunate that sometimes bad things happen to the best of people. Life
can be unfair, unkind, and unjust. However, being stuck in a victim
mentality does not nurture your ability to move onward and upward.
You’ve got to stand back up and take positive steps to heal and grow.
9. Give up
worrying about past failures.
Accept your
past without regret, handle your present with confidence, and face your
future without fear. You are today where your thoughts and actions have
brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts and actions take
you.
10. Give up
blaming everyone else.
Either you
own your situation or it will own you. Either you take responsibility
for your life or someone else will. Blame is a scapegoat—it’s an easy
way out of taking accountability for your own outcome. it’s a lot easier
to point the finger at someone or something else instead of looking
within. Blame is not constructive; it does not help you or anyone
else—nobody wins in the blame game. The amount of energy and stress it
takes to place blame elsewhere takes away from your ability to move
forward and find a real solution.
And remember,
the road you are travelling may be the more challenging one, but don’t
lose faith. Don’t listen to the doubters, don’t let setbacks keep you
down, and most of all, don’t give up on yourself.
it’s OK if
you don’t know how much more you can handle. it’s fine if you don't know
exactly what to do next. Eventually you’ll let go of how things “should
be” and start to see all the great possibilities in front of you. This
is your life—grab the wheel with both hands and keep steering yourself
in the right direction.