Open Your Mind to New Opportunities

Each day brings with it its own set of new possibilities and choices. But we shun off many of them for fear of risking leaving the familiarity of your comfort zone, or that you’d rather not rock the boat and that your life is just fine the way it is now. But what if these opportunities could be what you need to be happier and live better lives?

Change doesn’t need to be big and dramatic. It can be hidden within the little things you do every day. Change your commute route, discover a new coffee place, spice up your wardrobe, add some highlights to your hair – little things that may seem trivial now, but once you do them, you’ll notice a world of difference in how you perceive life. And with each change, your self-confidence will flourish, and your horizons will expand.

To reach somewhere you’ve never been, you have to do something you’ve never tried before. You may fail, true, but either way, you’ll come out on top because something will have happened to your character, a change for the better. You may not see it at first, but it’s there.

And with each new eye-opening challenge, you’ll believe more and more in your abilities and inner strength than ever before. You’ll finally realize that you can break through that glass ceiling hovering over your head – that there no limits to what you can accomplish.

As you face new challenges, you become stronger and more excited by the prospect of life itself. Here’s how you can get started:

Write down your thoughts and feelings.

Writing organizes your thoughts and lets you see things from an outsider’s point of view. It can help you let go of your fears and worries. Writing also helps you keep the past in the past.

Experiences and situations that you’ve been through in the past but may still be keeping you from moving forward. While we can’t change the past, try as we might, we do have a say on how our future will pan out. So, learn from your past mistakes, pick yourself up and shape your own future.

Look for positives in negative situations.

It may be a bit cliché, but there’s always a silver lining to every cloud, you just have to look for it. It may not come easy at first, but you’ll get the hang of it. And that’s when you get to seize that exciting opportunity that few notice because they’re too busy complaining.

Identify obstacles holding you back.

We all have those bad habits we wish we could break but don’t know how. That’s because the problem lies not with the habit itself, but with something else you’re storing safely in your subconscious. The habit is only a symptom. Once you realize what it is you’re trying to avoid, you can ditch the bad habit and begin a healthy journey on the road to success.

Believe in yourself.

You’re the only one who can dictate how you feel about yourself and how others see you. If you have a strong sense of self, others will believe it. And if you give off a sense of not being really sure, others will believe that too.

Change how you think the world works.

That’s how all the great minds did it. They challenged the laws governing their world, hoping and dreaming of something better, something no one else thought possible. You don’t have to go out and invent something completely out of thin air, but simply adjust your perception of the world to accommodate fresh ideas and potential.

Start something you’ve been putting off.

Today’s the day you’ll start that new language course or spinning class, whatever you’ve had your eyes on but kept pushing back for so many reasons. Make a choice to begin and act on it.

Take regular walks.

Fresh air and exercise, what’s not to love? You get some vitamin D while clearing your mind and taking in the world around you. Be mindful of where you are and of the people around you.

Volunteer.

Meeting people for the first time and connecting with them opens your eyes up to the world. It also gives your life meaning. Add a smile and a handshake will do wonders for your self-esteem, and you’ll have brightened someone’s day. Everyone likes it when you appreciate and acknowledge them.

Stand up in meetings.

You know when you’re in a meeting and get that great idea, but just one second later, you feel it’s dumb and not worth mentioning? We’ve all been there. But it’s the ones whose ideas got implemented are the ones who weren’t afraid to speak their minds, realizing they may get rejected but knowing full well that their ideas are worth listening to.

You deserve to be the happiest you can be. Open your eyes to the opportunities around you and let them guide you to a better, more rewarding life.

P.S. If you are looking for even more ways to open your mind to possibilities, check out this article by the wonderful folks at tinybuddha.