Happy New Year.
It’s 2017, and my desire for this year is to “Live In Freedom Everyday.” Of course, in America, we could say we live in freedom everyday; however, that’s not entirely true. I’ll save the politics for another day. What I mean is that we are living the life we desire. Yet again, you could say we have the opportunity to do that in America. Although we may have the opportunity, I don’t think most of us live that way. We make choices every moment of every day that limit our freedom and keep us away from our desires.
What does that mean to you? Does it mean living without debt and stress? Does it mean knowing who you are? Does it mean knowing where you are going?
Yes.
Then, do you know who you are? I’m not sure you do because we put labels on ourselves like teacher, mother, friend, coworker, mechanic, etc. Those labels are defined by our society and not necessarily defined by us. Being a teacher means you have to do this, this, and this. Being a mother means you are supposed to be this and that. We can give our own meaning to who we are and what we do. There is freedom in that. Of course with our choices come consequences. What consequences are you willing to endure for the choices you make? The consequences of what others will think and what we will think of ourselves keeps us from living the way we want. There is no freedom in that.
What is the vision you have for yourself and your life? Will you have the courage to be free?
Raise your standards and improve your rituals.
When you decide to eat more than you should or spend more than you should, you are living according to a standard you have set for yourself. Raise your standard and change the rituals that brought you to where you are. Find new rituals that will produce the results you want. Of course, it’s easy to say that. Doing it is the challenge. Getting yourself to do it can be difficult only because that is the story we created. We are living the story we created in our mind. Change the story and you will change yourself.
Decide today to be committed, not just interested, to changing your story. Unlike watching a film on the big screen, you have the ability to change the script as the movie is playing in the story of your life. Look for inspiration, look for what others are doing to get the results they want. For example, make small changes, tiny changes. There are two places you can make change happen this year which will produce amazing results, time and money.
Don’t let your time and money be consumed. Set aside a portion of your money and time for yourself or your family.
Change your story about money. Don’t look at what you don’t have, look at what you do have. Change your story about time. Don’t look at the time you don’t have, look instead at the time you do have. Ask yourself, what can I do with what I have? Decide to be resourceful.
Decisions determine your destiny. When you make a decision you choose a path that takes you down a road to a destination. You can easily make a different decision.
Think strategically. Think with the end in mind. What will this decision mean for me in the future?
Close the gap between reality and expectation by being aware of your should dos and focusing on your could dos. Instead of thinking I should do this, think about what you could do. You see, blame never solved a problem. You blame yourself and others when your expectations aren’t met.
Lead yourself. What advice would you give yourself? Would you follow your own advice?
Challenge yourself to maximize your resources.
What is the meaning you give to things? Do you see lack and limitation? Do you see opportunity and freedom?
Change your approach. Change the way you are communicating. Decide to think differently about yourself and your future by changing the way you think about the resources you have.
Happy New Year. I hope this helps you to Live In Freedom Everyday for the remainder of this year and every year to come.