You want your life to change. That’s good. However, a lot of people wish their lives were different, but wishing doesn’t make it happen. Working at it does.
Most people aren’t willing to leave the soothing comfort of familiarity. They fear the unknown, so they remain safely anchored in Humdrum Haven.
But if you have reached the point where you are ready to pay the price to change your life, how do you do it?
For real change to occur, two things must happen. First, you must alter your thinking. Second, you must endure the pain of self-discipline.
Change begins in the mind. It starts on the inside and works its way out. The Bible states it simply: As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.
All those scattered thoughts that skip across the landscape of your mind gradually crystallize into the person you are becoming. They control the actions you take and configure the lifestyle you’ve chosen.
The way you think determines your belief system, which evolves into the consequences and memories you have today.
To think differently, you need to put new information into your mind. The best way to do that is to read an hour every day. That’s what I’ve done for years. As a result, the new information I’ve absorbed has overcome my old … and sometimes self-destructive … thoughts.
When your thinking changes, so do your actions; and when your actions change, so do your outcomes.
Your brain is like a giant computer. It unloads what’s been been fed into it. When you watch TV shows, listen to radio and music, read books and magazines — all of the information you’re taking in from these different sources is fed into your brain. So, if you want to change the way your mind thinks and alter the way your life is going, change your brain food.
Input the positive. Overcome the negative.
The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Zig Ziglar says to “focus on the good, the clean and the positive.”
Hang out with uplifting people. Listen to informational CDs and podcasts. Read inspiring books. Absorb the right information and your life changes. Before you know it, you have become a product of that programming.
Then, once you start thinking differently, take action. Do what you know needs to be done, when you have to do it, whether you feel like it or not. That’s discipline.
Alexander Hamilton is quoted as saying, “Men give me some credit for genius. All the genius I have lies in this: When I have a subject in hand, I study it profoundly. Day and night it is before me. I explore it in all its bearings. My mind becomes pervaded with it. Then the effort which I make is what the people call the fruit of genius. It is the fruit of labor and thought.”
There’s the key … labor and thought. Wishing won’t change your life. Working at it will. Believe differently. Be disciplined. It’s that simple.
