Let’s face it, change is inevitable. The good changes. The bad changes. The really ugly changes.
Historically speaking, ALL change has given humans the opportunity to adapt and evolve – over tens of thousands of years – into who we are today. Sometimes the smallest, seemingly most insignificant changes have enabled humans to eventually make giant evolutionary leaps.
On both a collective and individual level, we create the change necessary to achieve our dreams. Yet even when change is desireable, we find that change is not always easy. . . .
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Why Most People Fail To Achieve Their Dreams
Most people fail to achieve their dreams because their dreams are TOO BIG. Deciding to lose 50 pounds. Getting a college degree. Owning a successful business. Those are all pretty tall orders. Just thinking about the enormity of those big dreams can cause some people to psych themselves out. They see the entire mile of road stretched out in front of them. Their dream seems too far away, too distant to achieve. They become daunted and disheartened and give up before they start. Supersizing your dreams can have the unintended effect of preventing desireable change.
Inch By Inch Life Is A Cinch
Remember when you were young and just learning to ride a bicycle? You weren’t popping wheelies the first day! You probably started out riding a little red tricycle. Then, when you got your first Big Kid bike, you rode around with training wheels for a few months. After the training wheels came off, dad steadied your bike until you learned to balance on your own. Little by little, you gained the confidence and the skills to perform fancy tricks – like riding with no hands . . . . Okay, maybe not. The point is, you eventually achieved your goal by taking small steps and practicing every day. The same principle you used as a child applies to achieving your dreams today. Take baby steps. Small, achievable steps in the direction of your dream are easy to make. For example, instead of telling yourself that you have to lose 50 pounds, begin your commitment to a healthy lifestyle by adding a salad before every meal. Take a single night class to start working toward your college degree. Get to know the business you want to eventually own by starting in an entry-level position and working your way up. Doing one little thing at a time can turn that Mount Everest into a bunny slope. The Bonus: when you succeed at small things, your confidence builds, making it even EASIER to change your life!
Rewire Your Brain
The only way to make these little changes stick is to rewire your brain. You need to untrain your brain from its old habits, and retrain your brain for change. But remember, old habits die hard! The best method for rewiring your brain is to practice, practice, practice. Practice your little step in the direction of your dream every single day for 30 days. This is how long it takes for changes to become wired into your brain. And you have to be disciplined. The 30 days have to be consecutive. No Fair Cheating! If you skip a day, you short-circuit your attempts at rewiring your brain. Be patient with yourself and with the process. You can make a decision at the end of the 30 days whether to commit to this change, if you believe the change has been positive. Finally, try this Experiment: Make one small positive change that brings you closer to your goal every 30 days. Do this for one year. At the end of the year, look back and see how much your life has changed for the better!
What one little thing are you going to change? Let us know!
Some really helpful tips. Thanks!
Great tip and reminder. A couple of weeks ago I made the change to take my son out for a walk every morning rain or shine. It has been great. I feel so much better. The one thing that I have noticed is how easier it is each day to commit to doing that. I can tell that my brain is rewiring the habit.
I don't think there is anything wrong with super big dreams. You just have to admit that it may take time to get there. Time is nothing when you're aligned with something that large.
really we r forgetting bou these small things when we are saying these large dreams. we r forgetting our first step in achieving our last destination. we r trying to jump or fly to fulfill our dream instead of taking baby steps or walking….
I completely agree with you! I am sure that everything begins from small things and it is just not necessary to claim for big aims at once. Of course, it does not mean that we should not dream and to aim at something great, but we must do everything consequently, bur not at once!
Awesome you know, I realize by reading your blog as an entreprenuer I had to go through many of these things when I was younger
I think your advice is great. It's the little choices made in each moment of the day that determines our success and the achievement of our goals. Keeping the larger goal in mind is also helpful, as it makes those little steps seem much more worthwhile – important when the going gets tough!
Very sensible article with valuable advice. Well written and very smooth reading it.
Well written and very smooth in reading it. Great post!!!
I loved Your post..actually its a great way that we ignore in our life…Practice and Patience is a really cool way of bringing changes in life…
We live in a fast world, where we can get some things just by clicking on a button.Unfortunately, when we want to achieve a big dream, we want it to happen overnight. Your post is a great reminder: to reach our goal we have to do one step at a time and be patient… “Rome wasn't built in one day”.
Hello there, Most of people get lost and overwhelmed in their mixed up “change plan” because they may verbalize what they want but this is not clear and prioritized in their actual plan. To achieve improvement and change our lives for the better we need to have clear goals divided in to several action plans. Patience and perseverance is going to get us through the end of our plans. Winners are the ones that don't give up when the inevitable “overwhelming times” come but when they stick there and overcome the difficulties and the challenges. In order to lead your life you must have these leading qualities. Thank you for your post.