“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.” ~ Aristotle
This is as true for success as it is for our limitations. If we seek the negatives in life such as; we can’t, what is wrong or how life always works against us we will continue to find more of the same appearing in our lives.
Success sometimes appears to happen overnight as a flash of genius. Yet, more often than not, it is years of dreams which evolved into a vision and inspired action and hard work. Staying focused on a fixed goal which is eventually realized.
Sometimes the biggest change we can and need to make in our lives requires the least change from outside ourselves. Rather it is a change from of our own approach to how we perceive situations in our life. Often before we can change our limiting thoughts we must first begin from a place of appreciation.
When we stop and seek to look at our lives from the outside, in every single situation there is the potential to find something to appreciate and be grateful for. Sometimes that very statement can create anger and it is that anger which is holding us back.
Instead if we consider this example, today you woke up. I know too many people in my life who lost their breath and their heartbeat too young. We have air to breathe, a sunrise and a sunset. Gratitude and appreciation flip us to a new mindset.
This shift can allow us to realize the potential to change just one thing in our life. Often all we need to do is change one habit which has been holding us back, Replacing it with one which will move us towards our dreams and goals. Then, our thoughts are followed by action, we open our minds to hope. With this focused vision and action our hopes can be realized.
Consider these 5 questions:
Do I spend more time thinking and talking about what is wrong in my life and the world than I do on that which can and do fulfill my life?
Do I feel and acknowledge appreciation on a daily basis, for my family, friends, job etc.?
Do I have something which inspires me? A dream or goal I want to realize?
What effort am I willing to put into my life in order to make that dream or goal a reality?
What is holding me back from starting today?
We are never too young or too old to change our habits. We only need the desire to be more focused than the existing habit.
CL Landreth