» Ready to Transform your Life?

‘Yesterday has just departed
and tomorrow hasn’t started
all that really matters is right now…’

the opening lyrics to the 1968 hit by Cupid’s Inspiration are wise words that we would all benefit by remembering. But so often we forget and try to live in the past, or second-guess the future, rather than making the most of the present minute: the only time slot that we actually have any control over.

Every day – every minute – right now in fact – you have the opportunity to make a fresh start, to transform your life. You can to make different choices that will lead to different outcomes. You can leave the difficulties and disappointments of the past behind you, discard those things that are holding you back, and move on. You can quit worrying about what the future might or might not bring.

And transforming your life is as difficult – or as easy – as you want to make it.

‘It is insane to repeat the same behavior while expecting a different outcome’.*

But when people decide to make a fresh start that’s often what they do. They try to make the change without thinking about how they may have to change. They think they can bring the same set of attitudes and behaviors into a different situation and everything will be fine, and then they’re surprised when it doesn’t work out.

There’s no point in changing your circumstances unless you’re also willing to change yourself to fit the new circumstances. You need to examine your attitudes and behaviors, your habits, your beliefs, and work out which are not going to work in your new situation. And you have to work out – and develop – those attitudes and behaviors that you will need to succeed in transforming your life.

If you plan to become wealthy you need to get over any ideas about wealth being a bad thing, and any prejudices you may have about how wealthy people live. You have to believe in your right to be wealthy, and be comfortable with having money, or it’s just not going to happen.

If you plan to downsize your lifestyle you need to re-examine your attitudes about ’stuff’ – material possessions – as your new environment may not allow you to have as many of these. You also have to think about how you will react to other peoples’ opinions, so you don’t start defending your choices as soon as anyone makes a comment about them.

If you plan to relocate you need to consider how you feel about being further away from your family. There’s no point moving half-way across the country – or continent – then suddenly deciding you can’t live without daily visits to your grandchildren. Following your plan means finding new ways of communicating, getting out of old habits and developing new ones that suit your new lifestyle.

Successfully transforming your life means casting off those worn out attitudes and behaviors that are part of a past that no longer exists, except in your memory. And it means getting started right now on embedding those new attitudes and behaviors that will help ensure your transformation succeeds. It’s no use waiting until tomorrow, giving yourself some time to settle before you start to make changes to yourself. You may leave it too late.

While you’re standing still the world is moving around you. Something will be different tomorrow. And that something could be significant for your future. If you truly want to transform your life you must seize the moment – and what really matters is what you do right now!

‘Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable.’**

*Benjamin Franklin
**Sydney Harris