Though we tend to focus on our differences in life, there are many things that are the same for us all. One commonality that connects us on one level or another, is our desire for better. Regardless of where we are in life, we’re all working toward something. This something fuels hope and provides motivation for our work. As we continue our journey toward better, it is key for us to realize that: Life Improvement is Self Improvement.
If we take the time to truly look at our lives, we’ll find that they are a result of us. Our lives are reflections of us and our decisions. If, then, our current lives are a reflection of our current (or past) us, then our future lives will merely reflect our current (or future) us.
If we want our lives to change, we must change.
This is a perspective-shifter as dominant attitudes in our society include: blaming, playing the victim, attacking, and even defending. We defend our actions even when we don’t like the consequences, because we don’t want to face us. Well, the truth of the matter is that in order for us to experience true change, we must do the hard thing and face self.
I absolutely love reading biographies. I am motivated by the person who overcame insurmountable odds and achieved greatness. The one who didn’t accept excuses, defeat, or unfortunate circumstances as a reason to settle. We all tend to appreciate these stories because we need hope. We need to see that progress and change is possible.
When we see it, we begin to believe that we, also, can achieve.
There are many, many obstacles that we must overcome on our path to better- some external, most internal. As we realize that life improvement is self improvement, we begin to realize just how much the work must be done on us. I recall an example from a book where the author acknowledged that she struggled with money until she changed. She changed and then her money changed.
It’s easy to understand change wrongly. When we see others begin to do better in life, we tend to think that their money or status changed, and then their lives changed. This is often not the case. Most of the time, the person changed first. They changed their thoughts, their actions, their mindset; THEN their life began to follow suit and change.
Begin to take inventory of your life.
Take a look around and objectively consider why things are the way they are. True, you will find some things that are the way they are due to no choice of your own, however, many other conditions can be traced back to you and choices you made.
When you begin to make these connections, do not be discouraged. Don’t run from the truth, face it. Truly, it’s the only way to not repeat it. Face it and get your lesson. Feel it until you know you’ve learned it. Finally, focus on change.
Look inward first. Focus on changing you, your heart, your state of mind. As you do, your decisions will change and inevitably your life will change. Don’t victimize yourself and accept that things are just the way they are and you can do nothing about it. You can do something about it. You can change you. Remember:
Life Improvement is Self Improvement.
Your life will change when you change.
With love,
