Success rarely comes to those who wait. Arrive early, be proactive about it, and you might just earn your chance. Anything less, and you’ll remain entrapped by your goals on one side, and your frustrations on the other. Until, eventually, you decide that it’s you, not them, who controls your life.
By them, we mean both daydreams and failures, but also people who will try to race you to the top. The tempo has never been more exhausting and the competition has become discouragingly fierce. It’s up to you to grow faster, better, and more resilient to these challenges. It’s not easy, but it pays off.
Look at the Face of Adversity. And Smile
On his way to the proverbial stars, a fictional hero must overcome at least one conflict. That’s what the drama of life is all about, in both fiction and practice – a human being, finding his way above all obstacles. To do that, the hero (you) needs two things – a purpose (goal) and self-belief (way).
So the next time you look at the face of adversity, stay focused on what lies beyond. Concentrate, with all your power, on the thing you’re going to accomplish after overcoming the obstacle. That’s your purpose. And then smile to let your brain know that it can tell your body that you have it in you to rise above.
Change Your Attitude, Rewire Your Brain
In the meantime, practice your leadership skills. Thinking like a winner will help you change your attitude and trick your brain into believing that you can accomplish anything. That’s why you should smile in the face of adversity. The brain can be rewired – the only thing it needs is continual exercise.
Some problems can truly push you over the edge, which is why you need to prepare yourself by tackling less serious challenges on an everyday basis. Step out of your comfort zone and get familiar with what motivates you. Start setting goals even when there aren’t any, and develop a roadmap for each.
Stop Trying to Please Everyone You Meet
It’s not your job to please and fix everyone you meet along the way. This isn’t about developing an unhealthy competitive spirit, though. It’s about knowing how to pick the battles with people you’re surrounded with. Some of them will help you learn and grow, others will only keep dragging you down.
Find a balance between social environments that give you support (typically, you’ll be able to find them where your family and friends are) and those that nurture both your collaborative and competitive traits (your co-workers and colleagues). Define a place in your life for each and treat them accordingly.
Own Who You Are, for Better or for Worse
Most importantly, know how you are. Embrace all your weaknesses and strengths, and never stop improving them both. Once you’re in contact with your inner self – which asks for permanent soul-searching and self-questioning – you’ll be able to curb your emotions and get rid of the irrational fear.
It’s exactly this fear of failure that slows us down or prevents us from reaching our full potential. It stands in reverse proportion to our self-esteem, and the first step towards better self-confidence is becoming more self-aware. Recognize your limitations and strong suites, and work on them every day.
Invest in Yourself – Time, Kindness, and All
You can’t regain control over your life if your life isn’t exactly yours, so you must keep investing in yourself with the same generosity you bestow others with. This means time, energy, and money. Insist on your me time regardless of how busy you are, and no matter what you do while you’re alone.
As for the energy you need to invest in yourself, it refers to nothing else but your personal growth and development. Question yourself, but be kind and forgiving. Celebrate your victories, no matter how tiny they are, and stay committed to fixing your flaws. That’s how you nurture a mindset for success.
General or not, these five truths are still essential to unlocking your full potential in life. Together, they make a cheat sheet for every test you’ll ever need to take. Exercise them regularly, and you’ll feel your skin getting thicker. Discard them as common knowledge, and you’ll keep going through the motions.
