Over the past few months, I’ve begun to retrain my brain — again. That means changing beliefs, boundaries, and actions. And it means minimizing response and reaction and accentuating the intentional and proactive.
You didn’t get where you are overnight, so turning the boat around may take time. It all starts with a decision, and that’s one thing you can do today. Then, you begin the journey into the life change you want to create. Yes, from this moment, you can go anywhere you want. If you’re ready for a radical change — or perhaps even want to dip your toe into the water — keep reading. I’m not there yet, but winning doesn’t happen by accident. So here are some things that have helped me. It’s a short two-minute read that you will benefit from.
Disappear for six months. I came off social media in June. I haven’t missed anything. I decided to be more intentional, and my intention is not to go back without an action plan. Currently, there is no plan, so I am off social media. I have also tightened my circle of influence. Fewer people, more focused conversation, and less negativity have raised my energy level and provided more margin. Less cable news and diminished browsing don’t mean isolation; it means liking myself enough to stop the craziness and focus on what matters. What do you need to ghost for a few months?
Make it your fault. This isn’t intended to be destructive, so don’t beat yourself up. Own the situation, and take charge of your surroundings. Don’t allow life to dictate your results. What I’m suggesting is to stop blaming people and the circumstances you’re in. Own your failures, circumstances, and where you are today. Allow that to change your perspective, your responses, and your actions. After all, you can only control your attitude, mindset, motivation, effort, work ethic, focus, reactions to situations and others, and your words and actions. Start there. Focus there. Control what you can control and forget the rest.
Find the beast within you. Find what you love and do more of that. Double down on it. Become an expert at it. Don’t just be good at it. Be great at it! 
Throw yourself into obstacles. Don’t let the obstacles stop you or cause you to turn back. Your obstacle is the way through. Don’t climb over it or go around it. Go through it!
Get rid of all the excuses. Just stop it! It’s a choice! Excuses will destroy success every time. You’ll either make an excuse, or you’ll find a way. Don’t let an excuse get in your way or hold you back. Nip excuses in the bud! Do it scared, do it with conviction, and do it now!
Go all in on yourself. Invest in you. Read, write, and spend quiet time. What is the advice you always give to others? Do that! Exercise, eat better, take a class or course, treat yourself to something, and act like you’re worth it — because you are! “Never think twice about investing in yourself. It will pay dividends for a lifetime.” ~Chris Robinson.
Train like a warrior. Resistance is good! It means you have an opportunity to get stronger. Resistance is good, so don’t treat it like your enemy. Learn to run against the wind. It’s an art form that strengthens and grows you. Just like you turn up the resistance on your exercise bike or run hills, meet it head-on in life. “The resistance that you fight physically in the gym and the resistance that you fight in life can only build a strong character.” ~Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Work like a robot. If you’ve ever been to a factory, the assembly lines take no breaks. Computers, robots, and machines don’t get tired. They have a focus and a mission, and they are relentless. Work like them. Take a five-minute break every 30 minutes, then get back to the focus. Be on time, be unstoppable, and never lose focus on the task at hand.
Eat like a king. Kings, celebrities, and leaders eat well. They don’t pinch pennies, time, or effort. Why? Because they understand that eating healthy benefits you in the long run. You don’t have to spend much money to eat right. Make it a priority. “Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” ~Jim Rohn.
Reject bad habits. We’re good at calling out everyone else’s bad habits, but what are yours? What do you need to stop cold turkey? Smoking, alcohol, gambling, and drugs are all at the top of most lists. So are sex addiction (pornography/prostitution), online shopping, speeding (yes, speeding), social media, and eating out. Here’s one of those Top 10 lists, complete with a state-by-state list of things people are trying to stop. What do you need to stop? Negative influence? Talking about others? Wasting time on social media? It’s invigorating, refreshing, and energizing when you beat the odds.
Transform. In short, change the way you think. The Bible tells us not to be conformed to the world (Romans 12:2), but we should be transformed. How? Through the renewing of our minds. That means you have to unlearn some stuff and put new things in. It all starts in our heads so that a single thought can change our direction. First things first: Get rid of the negative stuff by getting rid of the negative influences (e.g., social media, Negative Nellies, Fox/CNN, useless books). Then replace it with good stuff (e.g., uplifting music, books, friends, etc.). You must start somewhere, so pick a thought and shut it down.
Upgrade. You can’t put new wine into old wineskins, and old keys won’t open new doors. Just like you would upgrade a phone or computer, it’s time to upgrade your life. Take inventory of every facet of your life. It’s time for a change. Check this out and find out how well you think.
Create. You were born to create. Don’t believe me? Take a look at the Bible. You were created in God’s image. That means you are a creator. I’m not suggesting that you start painting on canvas or drawing portraits, but it’s time to break through the walls in your brain holding you back. The creative juices will flow once you start taking the steps above. Now it’s up to you to spend quality time thinking — yes, thinking — and bring some of those ideas to fruition. As Mark Batterson says, “Your words create worlds.”
Thrive. It’s time to thrive, not just survive. When you prioritize your life, invest in yourself, and change the way you think, breakthroughs happen, like leaks in an old water hose. When others give out and give up, you’ll stand tall because you have moved to the next level and are thriving. You were created to thrive.
Win. Getting to the top of the mountain is easier than staying there. No wonder teams don’t win back-to-back Super Bowls or World Series very often. Likewise, once you get there, stay sharp, keep learning and growing, and keep building. Surround yourself with the right people, continually look for the right place, and ensure you’re taking the next step at the right time. Be ruthlessly consistent and persistent.