This is a guest post by Jason Anthony, the founder of EvenMinds.
Do you believe in the possibility of creating an extraordinary life for yourself?
At first the notion seemed impossible to me. Prior to my own quest for personal development I struggled greatly with almost everything I encountered. My finances were a mess. The personal relationships I found myself in were unhealthy and so was the way I treated myself.
The change came for me after hitting what I perceived was the bottom. I was so fed up with it all that I knew I had to do something different, and there was only one place I had to look – at myself.
The results were amazing and my life has never been the same since. I discovered that with just a few simple shifts I was able to literally transform reality. It is something that I am beyond grateful for and cannot describe in mere words, but I would love to share the process and ideas that started it all with you today.
Taking Personal Responsibility
It sounds like common sense, but its surprising at the staggering amount of individuals (including myself at the time) looking outward and depending on external factors to rule their world. Even something as trite as the weather or traffic has the ability to influence their perspectives and attitudes.
As Sibyl succinctly put it, what we say and how we think matters. Part of getting it right for yourself is making a conscious choice and effort to focus on how you value yourself and your potential. If we want to make a difference in our personal or professional lives, we must commit to doing things differently.
The act of taking personal responsibility for who you are, what you’ve done, and more importantly, what you’re about to do, is the mark of a mature and high-character person.
Commit To Being Different
Changing your approach today will have a direct effect on your results for tomorrow. It’s easy to look at where you are now and be unhappy. But in order to make a difference you must wholeheartedly look at what it was that got you there.
You do this not by dwelling on the past, but by developing and adjusting your habits. I speak and write often about the three vital dimensions of your life: Health, Wealth, and Love. All three of these areas have a direct influence on each other. When one suffers it affects the rest. Conversely, when you work towards excelling and magnifying one area, all others can be enriched.
By combining your efforts towards refining your personal philosophy, mindset, and actions in each of these areas, you become proactive, rather than reactive. Doing this enables you to create the lifestyle you truly desire, and enjoy doing it!
The Possibility Of Today
1) Refine your beliefs and mindset. This is where the true process of change begins. By changing your mindset and enriching your personal philosophies, it’s easy to discover the path to fulfillment and happiness. Simple adjustments in your thoughts and attitude will start reflect in your beliefs and what you value.
2) Commit to taking action. With a fresh and enlightened perspective, we have the ability to make new choices. Thinking and believing will only get you so far, it’s up to you to put the proper amount of momentum behind it all. By combining your ambition with action anything is possible.
3) Embrace the moments. In shifting your mindset and actions you will start to experience some spectacular results. Part of living an extraordinary lifestyle is just being present for these chances and circumstances. Take in all the details and beauty, as well as the drama, for they all play a significant part in who you are and how you grow as an individual.
Jason Anthony is the founder of EvenMinds. He shares ideas and philosophies with others and believes that when you become a person of high character, integrity, quality and truth, and your life will be respectively enriched.
Thank you so much, Sibyl!
It was truly a pleasure and honor to share here
Thank you so much Jason for sharing such an amazing post. I really appreciate it and love everything you said.
So nice to see you here, Jason on Sibyl’s amazing blog. We do move forward in our life when we take personal responsibility for ourselves and our actions. Thank you for sharing a great post!
Hi Cathy!
Great to see you here as well and get you feedback, thank you!
It was when I, too, got to an all-time low point in my life that I felt like I “gave up.” I gave up all my old ways of thinking and being because I finally realized that they no longer worked for me. It was then that I truly understood what taking personal responsibility meant and implemented it into my life. Things started changing immediately for the better because I had changed. I love the journey! Great post, Jason!
Sometimes getting a little fed up can be the catalyst that puts us in motion. I appreciate the kind words, and that you’ve shared your story. Thanks, Paige!
The idea that one may create and then *live* an extraordinary life is foreign to so many. It is a joy to read your words here, the ideas that you convey so simply and effectively that truly allow one to transform compromise and mediocrity to excellence if one chooses. Within my life, I practice my belief that life is as magical as I allow it to be. If something is “less than magical” that is my prompt to look within and see if there is re-framing or re-leasing to do.
Thank you for sharing!
It took me a long time to realize that myself, Joy. There truly is an abundance of untapped wonder out there for everyone. Glad you enjoyed, and thanks for joining the conversation!
What a great post to start my day! Thank you so much!
Creating a great life for yourself will also mean letting go of some baggage, and I think that the most difficult step of all. It really is harder than it sounds.
You are very welcome, Glori! You’re right moving on past the difficulties can be tough, but staying focused and committed to making that change is the key. Thank you for your comment!
I agree with this. It is all too easy to look around to see who we can point a finger at for the things that don’t go right. All contentment and happiness begins from within us, and so, we have the choice to be happy, or otherwise. You make some excellent points here, Jason. And almost every post of Sibyl’s endorses this. My Mother taught me very early on that we are our own best friends – and it is all in our hands, how we approach a situation. Thank you very much.
Its much easier to point that finger outward than it is inward. Glad you enjoyed the message and got a head start in this line of thought
Hi Jason,
I’m currently working on a healthier diet. I love “Commit to being different.” Love it.
Hi Tess,
Congratulations and thanks for the support!
That’s my story: “My finances were a mess. The personal relationships I found myself in were unhealthy and so was the way I treated myself.”
And my journey into self-awareness and emotional connectedness with self was quite similar. My bottom was emotional, physical, and spiritual and was on March 12th 2006.
For me, the most important was taking responsibility (that no one, even those who loved me the most) could do anything for me. And #2 in your list, ACTION! I sat around and self-educated for years, reading self-help books, seeking counseling, etc. but rarely took action on any of it. Not until I was desperate enough to take action as a drowning man would be, did I get the real results.
Thanks for a great article.
Thanks Jared for the comment and stopping by. I agree with you that Jason’s point #2 is super important. You’ve got to always be focused on taking action and commit to doing that day after day. Thanks again for the comment and thanks for dropping by.
To live an extraordinary life is a gift we can not just to ourselves but also the world.
Thanks Sibyl and Jason for showing us the way:-)
Thanks Arvind for stopping by and thanks for the comment. You are so right — when you are living extraordinarily you are benefiting so many people.
thanks sibyl!
i love what you say ” what you say and how you think matters” i sooo agree!! i have noticed in my own life that there is so much strengrth in the spoken work…and unspoken as a matter of fact! it is so important to stay positively focused…listen to and say positive affirmations. it emits joy and joy is contagious!
On the surface I think we are all different because of our perspectives and beliefs. But on a deeper spiritual level we are not only the same but we are one thing, being part of the one consciousness.
thanks Jason for sharing your thoughts
Akos