When it comes to being truly successful, many people think that the changes they need to make should be huge, significant, life-changing. They think that in order to achieve lifelong success, they should change their careers, start their own business, travel the world, enroll in masterminds and courses or change up their routines completely.
But what few people know is that true, sustainable success comes from the little things, the tiny habits you’ve built into your daily routine. Making big changes is all well and good – but you’ll miss the point completely if you end up reverting back to your old ways.
Instead of trying to figure out the “winning formula” for ultimate success and which route to take to get you there the fastest, learn from what millionaires do each day to build and retain their success.
1. Be true to who you are
Are you happy with the person you truly are? Are you a good partner, friend, parent colleague, boss? Are you staying true to yourself, doing what you enjoy, and living the life you love? If not, you might have to make a few changes. After all, you don’t (and can’t) build a successful life for yourself while simultaneously being unhappy with who you are. It’s similar to building your house on a shaky sand foundation as opposed to a solid rock foundation. Discover who you truly are and be 100% you every single day.
2. Create a morning routine
The first few minutes after we wake up can determine our mood for the rest of the day. Why not set yourself up for a happy and successful day ahead every day, by creating a morning routine that you love. One that energizes and inspires you. Take time to prepare yourself for the day, note down 5 things you’re grateful for, groom yourself properly, and set out a goal for your day. By doing a few simple things each morning, you can drastically alter your mood for the better – even if you wake up grumpy.
3. Be grateful every day
Practicing gratitude is a powerful way to change your perspective on things for the better. Learn to find beauty in the smallest of things. Appreciate everything in your life and the blessings each moment brings you. Be happy to be alive. Adding a gratefulness habit to your daily or morning routine can increase your overall happiness and hugely affect your day. Learn to enjoy the basic things in life, not the big things.
4. Ditch your phone
No, I don’t mean ditch it completely. Taking time to disconnect from your phone, social media and the news is important. Avoid looking at your phone first thing in the morning, stop spending so much time on social media, and take that time to reconnect with yourself and your loved ones. Ditching your phone (especially in the morning) helps you respond to events in your day reasonably instead of reacting to them emotionally.
5. Nourish your soul
Feed your soul with whatever it is that makes your heart sing. Listen to inspiring music. Read good books. Take time to do yoga and meditation. Practice writing poetry. Plant a herb garden and tend to it. Do some painting and create beautiful art. Learn a new language. Whatever you choose to do, it should leave you feeling uplifted and more connected to yourself.
6. Feed your body
What you put into your body matters. As the saying goes; you are what you eat. If all you eat is greasy junk food, you can be sure that it’ll weigh you down and stop you from achieving your full potential. Try eating a healthier diet of fruits and vegetables, being conscious of what you’re putting into your belly. You wouldn’t knowingly ingest poison – so why eat things that are equally as harmful? Feed your body the nutrients it requires to support you through your days, and through your life. Take care of your body and your body will take care of you.
7. Get moving
Take care of your body by getting in regular exercise. One of the most important things for a successful life is to take proper care of yourself first and foremost. Everything else comes after. Take care of your body and make sure it gets the movement it needs to fuel your brain. Choose a sport that you love, one that you’ll be happy to do frequently. Basketball, running, badminton, yoga, dancing, swimming – whatever it takes to get your heart rate up and your muscles pumping.
8. Change your perspective
How many times a day do you find yourself saying “I have to”? Instead of saying that you have to do something, shift your perspective by saying “I get to…” For example, you can tell yourself: today, I get to go to work. I get to see my friends and co-workers. I get to prepare a nice meal for myself. I get to give a big presentation. This powerful mindset shift will make you appreciate your life and take your gratitude game to a whole new level.
9. Discover your ‘why’
Figure out why you want to achieve what you want. Envision your successes as if you’ve already lived through them and write a list of all the reasons you set out to do what you want to do. This will help you when times get tough and you lose sight of your end goal. Approach all the tasks along the way with enthusiasm and curiosity.
10. Don’t let your thoughts define you
Your thoughts are just that – thoughts. They don’t define who you are, they are fleeting clouds of images and emotions that come and go. If you find yourself feeling sad or angry, try observing these emotions in order to distance yourself from them. Notice that your moods change, your thoughts come and go, and that there’s nothing wrong with that.
Conclusion
It’s the small things we do every day that build up to make big changes. As long as you implement these 10 steps into your routine, you’ll start to build that solid foundation for success in no time.
The next time you find yourself thinking about the meaning of success, come back to the points on this list and realize that success – despite what you may think – is not as far away as you think it is.
Source: productivitybird.com ~ Image: Canva Pro