8 Bad Habits That Stop You Getting The Most Out Of Life

[success]Man is not the creature of circumstances, circumstances are the creatures of men. We are free agents and man is more powerful than matter. ~ Benjamin Disraeli[/success]

Today, someone, somewhere is going to wake up to the idea that it’s not good enough to settle for less than they can achieve. You may feel that life isn’t too brilliant right now, yet you too were born with the potential to live an incredibly fulfilling and successful life.

Your future is always wide open and here’s eight bad habits that many of us consistently struggle with that stop us getting the most out of ourselves and our life and our future.

1. Stop hoping for things to change

If hope is your one and only answer, you’re in serious trouble. For things to change you have to change. Tomorrow is going to be like yesterday. Next year is going to be like it’s always been. Your life can only change when you change. It’s the only way. To have different life experiences you have to be different.

2. Stop falling asleep in all that’s wrong

Whatever you’re feeling when you drop off to sleep sets the tone for the next day. One certain and beautiful thing about life is that we reap what we sow. Falling asleep in a feeling of contentment or success, or in loving and valuing yourself, is an easy way to sow seeds of confidence and feel good about yourself.

Switch or ditch falling asleep focused on the miseries of the day…it sets you up to experience more of the same tomorrow.

3. Learn to accept uncomfortable feelings

An amazingly powerful technique is simply to sit with feeling uncomfortable about something. Recognize it, acknowledge it, accept it, don’t push it aside. Tackle those feelings, don’t hide from them. They’re a signal that new opportunities await and you won’t have the chance to experience them from your old comfort zone. Decide to accept the challenge and expand your life.

4. Stop wishing your life away

When life is hard don’t wish it were easier, decide to be stronger. You are a being of unlimited power. You might not be able to change the things that have happened but you can change your reactions. Instead of wishing for things to be different accept the responsibility to make them better. Begin to count your blessings instead of your troubles. Life will respond with more things for you to be grateful for.

5. Stop the excuses

It’s easy to argue for limitations. It’s easy to find an excuse not to do something. Problem is, your excuses stand between you and living the life you truly want. Remember successes don’t necessarily come all at once, but in little pieces every day because of what you did and who you are. Any time your day is filled with excuses, is a day that you’re leaking success. Make better use of your time and energy.

6. Stop making small plans

Because you’re afraid of bigger ones. Small plans have no magic in them to stir your heart and soul into action. Everyone knows fear. The only difference between you and the incredibly successful is that they never let fear stop them, or influence how large a dream they can conjure up. You have within you all the mental, spiritual and creative power to do all that you can imagine. Put it to work for you.

7. Stop ignoring new ideas

Write them down, even though they might not seem relevant, or doable right now. The fact that you had them is important. New ideas change the world but if you don’t value them, they slip right away and the brilliance that you might have shared with the world is lost.

“A pile of rocks ceases to be a rock when somebody contemplates it with the idea of a cathedral in mind.” If you’re not putting your ideas into play, who will? You’ll never know what you’re missing until you begin to keep tabs on your ideas.

8. Stop hanging on to things well past their sell by date

Stop hanging on to things that poison you. Don’t hang on to someone who isn’t supportive, who takes more than they give, or who actively prevents your growth.

We’ve all tried to fix relationships well beyond the time to let them go. People tell you who they are by the actions they take.  When someone lets you know they’re a snake…believe them. Love yourself enough to acknowledge that you deserve better. And most of all, don’t let the negativity of one relationship bleed into the next one.

Have you ever struggled with these bad habits…or others? And did you manage to crack them? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

Thank you so very much for reading and for sharing your feedback. Every week I’m inspired by both your brilliance and your encouragement for others.

Please share this article on your favorite social network. Each share or like helps to reach more people who need a little more practical and positive encouragement in their life.

Encourage one another.

Love Elle