Tag: different

Something New To Do

Something New To Do

Doing new things can put a spark in your life. After being so rigid with your rituals, you need something to shake things up a bit. Being a little spontaneous can do wonders for your day and your well-being.

There’s no doubt that routines help us get through an already unpredictable day a lot smoother, but at the same time, do you know what you could possibly be missing? No, you don’t – that’s why you should make an attempt to do something new every once in a while.

The unexpected can bring about a new perspective on life.

The New “To-Do”

Everyday, you get up and start your morning (or afternoon). Unconsciously, you begin a routine of things to do – wash your face, brush your teeth, have a cup of tea while reading the (digital) paper, walk the dog, etc.

While these habits allow us to be more efficient with our time and energy, it can also keep you stagnant and stale. Doing the same things the same way, day in and day out, can have a boring effect on your life.

When was the last time you felt alive? We’re not talking about “riding a roller coaster without a seat belt” alive, but a “I’ll wear a fancy hat today” alive. Nothing too brash, but enough to notice and feel a difference.

If you prefer drastic changes, that’s fine, but most people have to invite new things into their lives slowly. Too much at once can wreck the whole personal project and send you back to square one.

Find the confidence to do something you’ve never done. That idea that’s been sitting in the back of your head? It’s time for it to come out and see the light of day. That new sweater you keep overlooking in your closet? It should be worn today. That new car you would love to have some day? Take it for a test drive and see how it feels.

Doing different things can bring about different results. You never know how it can improve your self-esteem or raise your standards to become better. It doesn’t have to be anything big – it’s the small things that can make a huge difference.

It’s time to allow yourself to feel what you truly want to. The excitement that it provides can be very rewarding.

There’s Happiness In Self-Care

New things can have a positive impact on your day. When you do something because you want to do it and not because you think someone else wants you to do it, there’s power in that. Being considerate is the right thing to do, but don’t forget to make yourself happy, too.

If you’re unable to help yourself, how can you help anyone else? As they say, you can’t pour from an empty cup. Saving yourself is just as important as saving someone else. There will be times where you’ll just have to put yourself first and everyone else will have to wait (or figure it out for themselves). For a lot of us, that’s doing something new.

Be ambitious. Make yourself happy. Waiting on someone else’s permission won’t do. A lot of personal disappointment comes from doing the same things, the same way, all the time or from satisfying others before satisfying yourself.

Most of us put other people’s needs before our own. When you take care of your needs first, it gives you an exciting and refreshing feeling, as if you’re doing something new. Sometimes, a little self-care is all you need, just to see and feel a positive difference in your life.

Keep your habits (they are important), but every now and then, twist it around or treat yourself – you just might find a new you.

Being Different Is Your Path To Personal Success

Being Different Is Your Path To Personal Success

Being different can be one of the most difficult things to do. It’s easy to fall into the crowd, but it takes courage to stand alone.

To be different doesn’t mean you’re the oddball or that you don’t get it. It simply means that you have thought about things and have come to your own conclusions and decisions.

Looking for others to give you direction is a waste of your abilities. How can you live up to your potential if you’re waiting for someone to think for you and tell you what to do?

How It Starts

It all starts when we’re little. “If you want a treat, you must be good – we won’t go to the park unless you eat your vegetables…” These ultimatums slowly turns us into people-pleasers.

When we’re young, we need reinforcement to help us do the right thing. Telling a child to sit down for five minutes is asking a lot, but if you attach it to a reward (“sit down for five minutes and you’ll get a cookie”), it becomes worthwhile for them to obey the parent.

The challenge comes when it becomes a habit that we carry into adulthood. You wait for others to give you instructions, as opposed to doing what you really want to do. When it becomes a way of life to mentally depend on someone else, you’ve essentially given up your power to lean into your own potential.

Following The Crowd

It’s comfortable to follow the crowd. It must be right if everyone else is doing it, correct? Not always.

As the old saying goes, “If everyone else jumped off of a bridge, would you do it, too?” This implies that you should think for yourself and make your own decisions.

Don’t fall into the trap of going along with others, just so you won’t stick out like a sore thumb. Being the “sore thumb” can save you a lot of trouble in some cases.

Most of us want to be in the group with the cool kids, but it’s not always worth it. We want to be associated with them, so that everyone else will think we’re cool, too. Again, you’re not really thinking for yourself and being who you want to be. You’re just handing over your life to someone else.

Swimming Upstream Is Different

It’s hard to go against the grain – to be the only person to have an opposing idea, while everyone else follows the herd. It’s never emotionally convenient to fight the war by yourself against an entire army.

What others fail to see is that they have been brainwashed into going along, just to get along. When they don’t have to think for themselves, they automatically give up their power and ability to become the best version of themselves.

But not you – you keep your power and you stand in it. You at least know that you’ll go out doing and thinking the way you want to think, not by following someone else. Swimming upstream is being different, but you must trust yourself and not look for anyone else to confirm it for you.

Keep Your Power

How do you keep your power? By taking personal responsibility for your decisions and actions.

You may feel lonely and maybe even awkward, but that’s what it takes to follow your own path. Be okay with the fact that others won’t see your vision and will even attempt to talk you out of it – it happens to the best of us. Most times, it means you’re on to something.

If something goes wrong, you can take the fall with pride and adjust, if needed. Imagine how you would feel if you were going along with the crowd and you ended up where you didn’t want to be. In the end, you would be there because of someone else’s decision, not your own and that’s not a good feeling at all.

The biggest advantage to being different is you get to live the life you want to live. Follow your own path and break the habit of going along with the group. All it takes is a little confidence and thought.

Don’t give up on yourself so easily by allowing someone else to have authority over your life. There’s still time for you to start thinking on your own behalf. Save yourself.