IF YOU AREN'T HAPPY - MAKE A CHANGE!

I've always been of the mindset that you only have one life, so live it to your fullest enjoyment.  Furthermore, I believe that anyone can accomplish anything they set their mind to as long as they are willing to put in the work.  I have a lot of people that come to me for advice, which I'm happy to give, but I really feel like its as simple as the diagram below.

  

The diagram seems pretty self explanatory, but we as people in today's peer pressured, guilt tripped, haterade society, we sometimes have issues seeing "the forest thru the trees," towards making actual, positive change in our lives. 

So, here's my attempt at trying to break the process of positive change down into manageable, eye opening steps.  I hope any of you looking for some positive change find it helpful.

Before you start, remember that this exercise is for YOU.  Be completely honest with yourself when answering these questions.  Focus on you and your desires without letting how you think other's will react or feel about your thoughts get in the way.  Don't get ahead of the process by worrying about the next step or trying to figure everything out, just answer the specific questions one at a time.  Allow yourself to green light brainstorm, sky's the limit! 

#1 WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

This is a step purely to build confidence for the mentally taxing steps ahead.  What do you have in your life that you enjoy?  That you can be proud of?  That makes you happy, confident or unique?

For #2 thru #5 - Make a table w/four columns labeled CHANGE (#2), OBSTACLE(#3), OVERCOME (#4) & PLAN (#5).  The number of rows depends on how many answers you come up with in #2.

#2 WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE IF NOTHING HELD YOU BACK?

What do you think that, if it were different, you'd be happier?  Remember, don't hold back!! 

#3 WHAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK?

There is very little in life that you can't accomplish if you're willing to put in the work, so be honest about what's truly keeping you from making your life as happy as possible.

#4 HOW CAN YOU REMOVE, GO AROUND OR OTHERWISE OVERCOME THESE OBSTACLES?

Really think "outside the box" on how you can move forward with these changes you desire.
"So often we live our lives in chains, never knowing we have the key." ~ Don Henley

YIPPEE!!  YOU'VE BUILT YOUR FRAMEWORK!!

#5 YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT, WHAT YOUR OBSTACLES ARE AND HOW TO OVERCOME THEM, NOW IT'S TIME TO DEVELOP A SOLID PLAN!

You've already built the framework for your plan by answering the previous questions, now you need to strengthen the framework by developing a solid plan. 
For example, maybe it was your finances that were in your way, now you must develop a savings plan.  Maybe it was other people's attitudes holding you back, setup a plan for how you are going to communicate to the person(s) and how you will move forward with or without their support. 

You can make any change you want to make, you just have to lay the framework, develop a solid plan and then FOLLOW THRU!!!