YES, YOU CAN HAVE A BETTER LIFE

Your life is but the product of your choices and habits. Do you want a better life? Make better choices and develop better habits.
Easier said than done, right?
Habits are powerful forces for good or bad in our lives. If you want a better life here’s what you need to know.
Thoughts + Choices + Behaviors + Habits = Outcomes
Our thoughts lead to the choices we make. Our choices show up in our behavior. Behavior repeated over and over again becomes a habit. Our habits produce an outcome (a better life.)

Here’s how to have a better life

1. Be aware of your thoughts

We are thinking most of the time. Even when we don’t realize it, our mind is at work. We can let our mind just wander aimlessly thinking whatever it wants, or we can direct our thoughts.
Are you aware of what you were thinking just a few minutes ago?  Are most of your thoughts positive or negative? Wholesome or not? Good or bad? Helpful or less than helpful?
Be aware of what you are thinking. Be aware of how you think most of the time.  Is your mind serving you?

2. Control your thoughts

Yes, you can control your thoughts. Let me prove it.
Repeat this affirmation quietly in your mind. “Today is a super terrific day full of wonderful opportunities.”
Now shout it in your mind, “TODAY IS A SUPER TERRIFIC DAY FULL OF WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES!”
Stop.  What were you just thinking?  Of course, you were thinking the affirmation. You controlled your thoughts.
Even the Bible supports this in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.”  This verse encourages us to choose what we think about.

3. Make choices based on values and long-term goals

Do you go for instant gratification to satisfy short-term goals? The substance abuser may turn to drugs seeking happiness or relief from pain. But that’s short-term thinking. The outcome is usually less than desirable.
If living a better life is your long-term goal you’ll make better choices based on meaningful values. Focusing on what will make you happy in the long-term will help you avoid poor short-term choices.

4. Behave in alignment with your values and best self

When your behavior is out of alignment with your values you’ll know it. You’ll feel a discomfort in your gut. You won’t be happy. You won’t like yourself either.
This uneasy feeling is a warning sign that your behavior is not matching your espoused values. Keep it up and you won’t like the outcome.
The better life you really want to live is a life that’s aligned with your core values.

5. Consistent behavior creates good habits

Habits are created by repeated behavior. As you seek to have a better life ask yourself, “What are the habits that will support the vision of the life I want to live?”
Pick one habit that you want to develop and begin to practice it. Research now tells us that it takes 66 days to create a new habit. So, commit to practice this new habit for the next 66 days.
Habits grow slowly.  Give it time. And, don’t try to create too many habits all at once. Pick one or two at most.

6. Good habits create desired outcomes

The outcome is a better life. It’s the last part of the equation:
Thoughts + Choices + Behaviors + Habits = Outcomes
This formula never fails. Our thoughts lead to the choices we make. Our choices show up in our behavior. Behavior repeated over and over again becomes a habit. Our habits produce an outcome (a better life.)
So, if you want a better life try it out.