thSo you want to change your life, right?
It’s easier to talk the talk than walk the walk.
We all know the desperation of genuinely, deeply wanting our lives to be different than they are – especially if your job, relationship, lifestyle, or location is mostly negative.
So why don’t we just &#@%$ing do something already?
Behavior psychology is a deep, dark rabbit hole.
The great news is, you’re kind of a robot. Which means you can re-program yourself.
Changing your life isn’t the moment at the top of the mountain with champagne corks popping. It’s all the steps it took to get to the summit. It’s the trips to the store to get the gear and food you need for the journey. It’s looking up driving directions to the trailhead. It’s going on a 30-minute walk every day in preparation for the climb. It’s buying and carrying the champagne. It’s the research required to choose a mountain in the first place.
TRAVEL! OR NOT…
.Here at Half the Clothes I promote travel as a catalyst to transformation. Travel is an ideal tool to change your life, because it rips you away from the patterns, places, and people that reinforce habits that ultimately sabotage your dreams.
If travel isn’t a realistic option, you can still lifehack your way to awesomeness.
Whether you want to change your life through travel or just want to change your life, the starting place is the same: sitting in front of a screen right now – at home, at work, or somewhere in between.
STEP 1 TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER:
Be patient.
That’s it. And it’s far from as simple and easy as it seems.
Change is not sexy. Change is not exciting. Change is not a fun, 90-minute experience.
The results of change are sexy and exciting and fun. The results of reprogramming yourself lead to the mind-blowing, life-altering, best moments of your life. Read: Why Achieving Your Dreams is Boring. But Worth It.
Especially when trying to change your life without changing your environment, patience is your critical companion. Climb one mountain at a time.
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STEP 2 TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER:
Get help!
It’s pretty tough to change your life by generating ideas from within the very brain you are trying to reprogram. That’s like asking a kid what they think their consequences should be.
Also, why re-invent the wheel? There are many amazing folks who have dedicated their lifetimes to developing and researching systems to change your life. And they’ll tell you what to do for free, thanks to the blessed internet.
Videos, articles, and books are what I can offer you through a screen. Here are the things I think you should watch and read to change your life:
The Realistic Perspective Required for Change
Where to Begin & How to Keep Going
- How and In Which Order to Change Your Habits
- How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over
- How to Be Someone You Can Bet On
- 30-Day-Challenge Your Way To Awesomeness
- Where Personal Breakthroughs Really Come From
Tackling the Big Stuff
- How To Quit Your Life (and Reboot)
- How To Know Your Life Purpose in 5 Minutes
- The 4-Hour Work Week
- I Will Teach You To Be Rich
Motivation to Start Today
- The Time You Have (in Jellybeans)
- Man’s Diagnosis Turned Inspiration
- How Dianna Used Balls to Change Her Life
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STEP 3 TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER:
Travel! (Optional)
Want to change your life through travel? (No? Skip to Step 4.)
For most who dream of globetrotting, the big road block here is courage. In denial of your fear of stepping off the safe, beaten path, you’ll come up with all sorts of other excuses about money, age, family pressure, safety, career, or kids. However, thousands and thousands of travelers hailing from all backgrounds, countries, income levels, and family situations are living proof that your excuses are bunk.
To change your life through travel, first muster the courage, then get inspired, then learn which actionable goals you need to set for yourself.
Courage Builders
- 6 Reasons Why Not Quitting Your Job To Travel Is A Waste Of Your Life
- Answers to 10 Excuses That Keep You From Traveling
- 7 Myths of Why You Can’t Travel the World
Go for a Mental Test Drive
Armchair Inspiration & Motivation
Proof It’s Possible + How To:
- Tales of a Female Nomad
- Vagabonding
- The Three Words That Saved My Life
- Why It’s Practical to Quit Your Job and Travel
- How to Quit Your Day Job and Travel the World
- Quit Your Job and Travel the World in 4 Steps
- My Inspiration To Leave The 9-5 And Follow My Passion
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STEP 4 TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER:
Take action!
Why are you waiting to change your life?
If you don’t like what you’re doing now, you’re never going to start liking it. Stop waiting for someday.
If you can’t break all your habits at once with travel, just pick the one you most want to change and start there.
What are you waiting for? You have less time left than you think you do. Your hopes and dreams change as you age. Grab the ones you can now so you don’t open your eyes one day and find yourself deep in a garden of regrets. Please?
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I really love this article! I’m going to go through it one at a time, link by link. I took a leap by leaving my good jobs in California to travel to Europe and teach yoga. The first destination, a castle in Germany, that I was promised a job to teach yoga instead had me cleaning the windows instead! A true Cinderella story. But you are absolutely right Jema–change is UNsexy. We all want to change our lives but the truth is that change is uncomfortable but when you overcome the discomfort, there is a more fearless, sexier “you” awaiting !
So glad you’re finding it helpful! Your castle cleaning sounds like a good story for life. 🙂 It’s the uncomfortable times that change us and make us grow, hey? Good luck on your journey!
Taking the leap in January with a 4 month trip! Know it will change my life for the better… this is very reassuring!
That’s awesome! Where are you headed?!