By Erica Blitz | November 2011
With only two months left in 2011, it’s that time of year when we glance over our shoulders to reflect on the year past. It’s a time to think about the changes we wanted (or needed) to make and to see if we followed through on those passionate, optimistic and sometimes desperate resolutions we made last New Year’s to remodel ourselves for the better.
While there may be a handful of goals you have accomplished or some new check marks on your Bucket List, ask yourself—are you living your best possible life? Ever wonder if you could have handled certain situations with much more grace? Ever feel like you’re not living up to your fullest potential?
There’s no need to wait for New Year’s Day to become a better you. You deserve nothing but the best and you deserve it now. Your life experience is up to you to create. Why settle for anything less than what you can get? And why wait? Being your best starts now. As the wise Dr. Seuss said, “Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you.”
But how do we get from where we are to where we want to be without giving up in frustration? Perhaps your setbacks are a result of common habits that keep you from being your best self. Here are a few ‘happiness habits’ to help you be your best:
Get clear: know what you want
What’s your vision? Maybe you have a talent you have longed to express and develop. Or perhaps you know how you would like to be experiencing your life—with more happiness, better communication or greater fulfillment in your work? Creating a clear vision in your heart and mind makes it easier to stay focused and to achieve your dreams. Take the time to figure out what you want and what is important to you and focus your life around it. Not only is it empowering to live with purpose and focus, but life gets easier when you have a vision of what you want—it reminds you what must change and highlights a brighter future.
Set goals
Design your ideal life by setting five-year, three-year and one-year goals. Without clear goals it’s easy to scatter your energy and end up somewhere other than where you want to be.
Live in alignment with your purpose
Nurture your vision every day. What can you start doing immediately—right now, today—that will let you live in 100 per cent alignment with your purpose? How can you live true to your purpose within every situation and environment you find yourself in, every second of the day?
Gather positive people around you
Hang out with people who you are compatible with: like-minded people, positive, successful, strongly achieving people who are invested in your growth. Enrich yourself by getting to know others who are actively creating the best for themselves and learn from them. There are always good qualities to admire in those around us. Whether it be a friend’s communication skills, a father’s insights or a co-worker’s clever approach to problem solving, pay attention to what you value and appreciate so you can cultivate it in your best self.
