Have you ever admired someone and thought, I wish I were born with that confidence. How about wishing you knew how to reach your goals, because then you would finally be happy.. right? Well I’m here to remind you that you were born with that courage, that imagination, and the pure excitement of life itself. It’s time you take back your power.
Remember the inner child. The child who knew the gift in the big box was awesome, because of what that box could become. Never mind what was in it, we didn’t want our parents to throw away the box! It would later become our fort, our rocket ship, our playhouse or drive thru window, or maybe our car, boat or airplane. The possibilities were endless, because our imaginations were endless.
Remember that child. Who were they? A common question was, “what do you want to be when you grow up?”. So, were you an astronaut? A scientist? How about the fearless superhero running around the house with your “cape” tied around your collar? How did you picture your house would be one day, what did it have inside? Did you have any pets? How about a pool, or maybe you drove a Lamborghini. When kids picture their future, they picture it all, they have no doubt they can achieve it.
Remember who your friends were. Can you recall being on the swing for 5 minutes and making a new best friend with the person swinging beside you? It didn’t matter what they had, how they looked, or what they did yesterday. All that mattered is you said hello and they told you their name. Your thoughts were kind, free of judgement, and simply full of happiness for this new found friendship.
So what happened?
Life is full of influences. Good or bad, they all shape who we become.
Starts with our family, friends and teachers. Happens through random people, random encounters, all throughout our years. Influences come through stories told, trips taken, our achievements and our failures. Then there is social media, tv and even music. Others from different cultures, beliefs and lifestyles.
Many of this can be amazing and teach us so much about the world around us. We need to be socialized and taught in order to grow as individuals. However, this can also bring the stress of thinking that we need to live or look a certain way, in order to be successful or have people like us.
So how many limiting beliefs are holding you back? How can you start breaking down those thoughts that are holding you back, that are keeping you afraid to find your true potential. How can you take back your power?
Power over your thoughts
Your mind has had years to become conditioned to what is going on in there. It will take time and consistency, to control and reframe it. Studies show we think an average of 2500-3500 thoughts an hour. That’s a lot of thinking to regulate!
Here are a few tips to start with:
Unplug from social media. Unless it inspires you, turn it off for a while. Seeing only highlights from others gives the illusion they have it all figured out, while we are sitting on the sidelines. We don’t see the hard work, or bad days, behind the scenes. No matter how rich, how in shape, nobody has it all figured out. Nobody.
Meditate. Sit for 5 minutes, take a walk to enjoy the fresh air, give your mind a break. Doing a puzzle, or coloring, is also a form of meditation, as long as you only focus on the task on hand.
Journal. Finding a few moments to journal allows you to dump all your random thoughts on paper. Writing them down brings them to the surface, making them easier to sort what is important in the moment.
Find things that make you happy. Turn on your favorite music, have a cup of tea, take a hot bath. Get moving by joining a gym, or a spin class. Swimming is a great option that is low impact on the body, yet offers huge results when consistent.
Help your mind and your body recharge. Fuel your energy levels by choosing healthier foods. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Get a good nights sleep! Most people need 7-9 hours a night. Avoiding eating too close to bed, and stay off your phone for an hour prior to bed, will help ensure a better nights rest.
Fix your daily routine so that it actually serves you!
Set your schedule to what works, not what you think it should look like.
If you are not a morning person, waking up at 5:30 will only make you miserable and set you back. It doesn’t matter if it works for someone else, listen to your body. Find a reasonable time that still pushes you towards goals, yet aligns your mental health as well.
Starting a workout routine doesn’t mean you need to hit the gym for an hour everyday. Start with simple 10 minute workouts at home, or walking the block. Once you are comfortable in your routine, build on that.
How is your space affecting you? If your surrounded by a mess your thoughts are influenced in the same way. Unclutter your home and office space.
Start 1-2 mini habits that line up with your goals.
Transformation takes time.
You can’t just flip a switch, it’s mini steps of consistency that will pave the way. Turning your future visions into reality is a daily activity, that when done right will feel like a way of life rather than a chore. Therefore building healthy habits will transform your life in a powerful way.
Remember who you are, bring back the updated version of your dreams. Take the action to take back your power and meet your goals.