Paying attention to yourself. [2] X Trustworthy Source Association for Psychological Science Nonprofit organization devoted promoting trustworthy research and education in the psychological sciences Go to source Think about who you are in this moment. What are you thinking about? What are you feeling? How would you describe your behaviors? Learning to pay attention to who you are and what you are thinking at each moment can make you more aware of your emotions and reactions. Observing non-judgmentally. [3] X Trustworthy Source Association for Psychological Science Nonprofit organization devoted promoting trustworthy research and education in the psychological sciences Go to source When you have a strong emotional reaction, it can be useful to act as an objective observer of your own behaviors. Is your emotional reaction worth it? Rather than letting your feelings drive your life thoughtlessly, take a few moments to consider where these feelings are coming from and how you should be reacting to them.
For example, if you find yourself constantly comparing your smaller home to the larger homes of your friends, resist the urge to be jealous. Instead, understand that this instinctive comparison is giving you information about your priorities in life. Ask yourself why you care about the size of your home: do you wish to be more financially secure? Are you interested in growing your family? Or do you wish to be respected by your community? Use comparisons as a source of information about your priorities, not as fuel for jealousy.
Maintain a routine. Meditate at the same time in the same place each day. Keep good posture. Breathe deeply. Shut out distractions, worries, and nagging thoughts. Use mantras in order to keep yourself focused.
Make sure your goals are achievable and reasonable. Do not make your goal to “become a trillionaire”: instead, have your goal be something you can attain in your lifetime, such as to “become more effective at my job. “[11] X Research source Set a goal that you can control. There are many things in life that are great but also totally outside of our control. For example, a life goal of winning the lottery is not something you can ever control. [12] X Research source Think about where you want to be in 5 years. How about 10 years? 20? Feel free to daydream about where you want your life to be headed. Daydreaming is one of the most important tools to reaching a bright future in your life. [13] X Research source Think about all aspects of your life. How do you want your career to look? Your family? Your social life? Your personal development? Your hobbies? Don’t limit yourself to one particular area of life: think about all of your most important activities. Break large goals down into smaller, achievable tasks. It can be difficult to work toward a vague, large goal such as “becoming my own boss. " However, if you break a large goal down into its component parts, you might find that the goal is easily achievable. For example, the first step to becoming your own boss might be to expand your social network in order to develop a potential client base, which is something you can do right now. Develop an action plan. Once you have a sense of the large goals you are working toward as well as the small tasks involved to get there, you can begin to work towards them one-by-one. Challenge yourself to achieve great things, and reward yourself whenever you achieve one of your goals. [14] X Research source
What is the most interesting thing that happened to me today? What did I daydream about? What topics make me uncomfortable to write about? Who are the 10 people I care about the most?
A memoir or autobiography A photo album A short film A graphic novel
Wear a color you’ve never worn before Experiment with a new hairstyle Consider getting a tattoo or piercing Try to find a fashion or accessory designer you admire Remember to take standards of professionalism into account when you experiment. Some workplaces forbid visible tattoos and facial piercings for example. [15] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
Sculpting Painting Creative writing (poetry, fiction, or non-fiction) Blogging Photography Dance Woodworking Pottery-throwing Gardening
Be empathetic Practice forgiveness Demonstrate active listening skills Be willing to initiate conversations and activities
Many people find that talking to a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist can serve this key function.
Be aware that not everybody can (or should) get along with everybody else. Pay particular attention to the reactions of those whom you respect, care for, and admire.
Taking a class in a new topic Reading about a brand-new idea Visiting a place you’ve never seen before Have conversations with strangers
