Rewrite Your Autobiography
Four Keys to Changing Your Life’s Story
If you died tonight, what would your obituary say tomorrow? Are you satisfied with the milestones you’ve reached and the goals you’ve set? Are there unexplored chapters waiting to be penned? As author of your own life, you have the ability to proof read it, make edits, and rewrite it so that it tells the story of the real you — even if it’s still a work in progress. If you’re ready to make some twists in the plot, follow the four keys to a better autobiography.
Understand Self-Image
Self-image rules your life. It tells you whether or not to risk talking to the boss about your great idea and whether or not to ask someone out on a date. Deeply rooted in your subconscious, your self-image acts as a survival mechanism keeping you safe from perceived harm (sometimes too safe) and determines what you believe is possible for your life . . . or not. Your environment, life experiences, past failures, past successes, and the people around you all contribute to your self-image, and it tends to dislike change.
A negative self-image destroys hope and prevents you from achieving your goals. By whispering words of doubt every time you consider stepping out of your comfort zone, the negative self-image keeps you safely in a state of mediocrity. It uses fear to make you focus on potential failure and relive past errors.
You can begin to change your self-image by understanding its power and purpose and then consciously reprogramming it. Visualize the things you want in life. See yourself in situations that bring you peace and fulfillment. Be specific and envision details. The more you see yourself in positive personal and business relationships you desire, the more power you will have to step out of the confinement of a negative self-image.
Identify Recurring Negative Themes
Take a good look at the recurring themes in your life. Do you find yourself engaging in the same negative behaviors with the same negative results? Many do. Oddly, countless people fall into a rut that leads to the same predictable negative results day after day. Although the outcomes are undesirable, there is a strange sense of comfort in the routine.
Some are unaware they are trapped in the cycle of negative behavior and blame their lot in life on circumstances or other people. Wives and husbands who claim they would be a better person if only their spouse would change, or the manager who says that productivity is down because others are not pulling their weight, are examples of those operating under the power of recurring negative behavior. Their actions produce the same destructive outcome day in and day out, but they remain blind to the cause.
Recognizing the trend is the first step toward changing it. Though many of these patterns find their roots in childhood and are difficult to weed out, those who are willing to face them increase control over their own lives. To focus on the positive, ask yourself: Am I behaving in a way that will inspire others to listen and respond to me? How would others describe me? What do I do or say that brings about a positive reaction? Once you figure out what works, you can replace negative with positive.
Eliminate Negative Behavior
Simply identifying those patterns of negativity does not solve the problem. We must modify or eliminate them completely from our repertoire of behavior. One of the stepping stones to a meaningful and happy life is to recognize the areas that dissatisfy us, the areas that continually frustrate and anger us, and then take personal responsibility to initiate change.
Easier said than done. Following through with the resolution to get rid of deep-seated habits may be one of the most difficult things you ever try to do. Counterproductive, self-defeating patterns of thought and action become entrenched in our lives and gain tremendous power and control. Unchecked, they can dominate your entire life. Breaking free of that vicious cycle calls for diligence and resilience, but is essential to personal and professional growth.
Enlist the help of others’ support. Ask those you trust and respect to help you identify your negative patterns (they are often obvious to those closest to us) and ask them to hold you accountable for making changes. If you like to make lists, this would be the perfect time to use one. Jot down your top ten bad habits and reward yourself by crossing them off when you have successfully beaten the pattern. Remember: recurring negative behavior can come back with a vengeance when you least expect it, so expect it.
Live in the Spirit
In contrast to your self-image, your spirit dreams big and believes anything is possible for you. The spirit is most evident when you encounter people with high energy and passion for their lives.
Look at the children in your life. They think nothing can stop them. They’re full of life, and when you ask them what they want to be in the future, they say things like: A doctor, a lawyer, or a baseball player. They live in the spirit because they are too young to understand the limitations adults put on themselves.
Your spirit knows you’re meant for something much greater than who you are right now. It pops up and tells you, “you can do it” and stirs up excitement and adrenaline. When you are living in the spirit, your world is one of limitless possibilities. Even when obstacles come your way, your reaction to them is carefree.
- Everything seems to flow easily and effortlessly.
- Life is: Fun , easy, and stress free.
- Family life is: Connected, enjoyable, and peaceful.
- Business is: Everywhere, overflowing, and easy.
- Your energy is: At the top level.
- Your mindset is: Focused, clear, and determined.
Analyze the lives of every successful person you can think of and you will find they have one thing in common: a powerful spirit. Tap into yours and turn your life story into a best seller!
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