Friday, April 2, 2010

10 Simple Steps to Self-Improvement



When you came to the 40-year stage in your life, you will suddenly realize many things. You get to ask yourself questions.

How will it be when I get to the end of my life? How do I feel about the life I lived?

Then someone gave you some self improvement articles while telling you that it is not yet too late. Does that mean anything to you? You bet it does. The feeling of anxiety that will come next is just normal. Then you will feel confused because life had felt so good. You were happy, had a successful marriage, two wonderful kids, and a job you reasonably enjoyed. What was my problem?

It was your glass ceiling…The "practical" and fear-based side that had convinced you all along that your passion and dreams had died.

Here are top 10 basic steps that can help you move your life to the next level. This self improvement article will assist you in breaking through your own glass ceiling to create the life you really want.

1. GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO DREAM

You probably had no problem dreaming as a kid. What happened to your ability to imagine and dream about what you want and who you want to be? When was the last time that you caught yourself daydreaming and appreciated it?

2. STOP LOOKING OUTSIDE YOURSELF FOR HAPPINESS

Stop looking outside yourself for happiness. Look inside. Increase your self-awareness. Get curious about who you are at the core. Cultivate and nurture a relationship with yourself.

3. COVER THE BASICS

Take the time to address your personal needs. How can you focus on thriving in your life if you are in survival mode? Set up that meeting with a financial advisor; get your space organized, clean up the details that are wasting your energy.

4. EMBRACE YOUR PAST AND MOVE ON

Embrace your past and move on. Shift from "why it happened" to what I want to do about it now. Asking: “what" is not a very empowering question? Asking what or how I want to proceed can be much more powerful and produce forward movement.

5. REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE

It is easy to feel overwhelmed with life. Seek support. Read more self improvement articles. They might help you figure about some things that are puzzling you.

6. REMEMBER TO BE GRATEFUL AND COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

What is working right in you life? Make a list. Set aside a bit of time everyday to acknowledge what or who you are grateful for. The more you practice gratitude, the more you attract into your life things to be grateful for.

7. COURT YOUR PASSION

You still have your passions though it has been a while since you may have felt it flow. When are you the most alive and joyful in your life? Who do you most admire and what do they inspire in you?

8. TAKE ACTION AND TAKE RISKS

Take action and take a risk. All the inspiration in the world is not enough to make you move your life to the next level. It takes inspired action to do that.

9. KEEP BREATHING

You probably forget to take deep full breaths. We have all learned to constrict our breathing in response to stress. According to many self improvement articles, we not only need oxygen to stay alive, we need oxygen to give us energy and keep us healthy. Right now take 5 deep, full breaths.

10. DO SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF

Call a friend, take a bubble bath, take yourself to an art museum or schedule a whole day out in nature. Put on some great music and dance till you drop.