Create the Life You Crave

If you've read my story then you know I have often been faced with some tough circumstances...a divorce, a seriously ill child, unexpectedly caring for an aging parent, loss of my business, cancer. At each of these moments I could have made the decision to just throw in the towel and quit. But momma didn't raise a quitter! I made the choice to battle on. Sometimes that involved making drastic changes. Sometimes it was just a matter of changing mindset. But every time it involved making the decision to not get stuck!

It’s easy to get stuck in one place—maybe you’re stuck in a job you hate or a relationship that’s keeping you from growing. Although it won’t be easy, you can create the life you crave. Here are a few key ways to do that…

Own Your Intention

Just saying you’d like to do something different or wishing for your life to change isn’t enough. If you truly want your life to look different, you have to be specific and own your intention. For example, you could say, “I want to move to Texas next year” or “I want to start my own business in six months”.

Once you’re clear on what you desire, you can begin working toward it. Many people explain that “things just fell into place” once they knew what they wanted. That’s because the energy of your desire attracts what you need to fulfill it.

Set Small Goals

With your intention clarified, it’s time to begin setting goals. It’s smart to keep these goals small and easily achievable. When I moved my dad to Arkansas, the first thing I did was clean out his apartment.  

It’s OK if your goals seem very tiny at this stage. Remember, each step is feeding into your larger goal. By creating a string of tiny goals, you’re setting yourself up for easy victories. As you accomplish more, you’ll start to gain momentum and before you know it, you’ll have achieved your big goal.

Operate from Power

When you set a goal, you will encounter obstacles and setbacks. I was in the middle of finals week in college when I learned I had cancer. So I re-adjusted my plan to focus on my treatment and recovery and made arrangements to write papers from home while recovering as my final exams for classes where this was possible.

The important thing when you face these setbacks and obstacles is that you operate from a place of power. It’s easy to let things throw you off track and become a victim. For example, you might say, “I can never start an online business because I never have the money” or “I can’t move because my family isn’t supportive”.

Instead, shift your thinking and focus on how you can overcome what’s holding you back. You might say, “Hmm, I can babysit a friend’s children for $20 tonight and have the money to buy my domain name” or “I can begin researching the safest neighborhoods in my new city to comfort my family and bring them on board”.

Read Inspiring Books

While you’re in the middle of making big changes in your life, it can be helpful to read content that encourages and motivates you. A wonderful book that you might find eye-opening in 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do.

One book that can help you hang on during the difficult moments of a life change is Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. When you’re in need of a quick pep talk, read for You Are A Badass®: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life.

 

You can create the life you crave at any moment you choose. State what you want, own your power, and step into all of the amazing things God has in store for you!