Sometimes in life, we need to change our attitudes and the way we view the world in other to forge ahead and make headway.
I realized that transforming one’s life is not totally dependent on how many motivational talks one listens to, but conscious efforts to reflect on one’s life and make adjustments where necessary.
I got to a point in my life where I discovered that leading a meaningful life and attaining greater heights comes with discipline and determination.
I knew I had to quit doing things that I realized were pressing me down or making me stagnant.
Here are things that I stopped doing that transformed my life:
- I stopped taking criticisms personally
I used to be scared of feedback. I didn’t like it when people criticize me.
But I realized that I needed feedback and constructive criticisms for growth and increased productivity.
My life got better when I stopped taking people’s opinions personally. I instead reflect on these opinions and improve on the good ones and do better on the negative ones.
- I stopped leaning on my own understanding and sought mentors
You need mentors to go far in life. Mentors in different aspects of life – career, finance, personal life, spiritual, and even marital.
Mentors provide you with the necessary guidance you need to make better decisions.
This saves one from avoidable mistakes because you learn from your mentors’ mistakes. You climb on their shoulders to rise.
They say experience is the best teacher, but it doesn’t have to be your experience. Also, learning from personal experiences could be costly.
My life got better since I learned to consult great minds who have gone ahead of me in different aspects of life before I make decisions. I’m saved from making avoidable painful mistakes.
- I stopped being negative
I used to be pessimistic. It took a lot for me to see a ray of light in any situation. I understand that it’s good to be realistic, but I focused too much on the dark sides of things than the positive sides.
When I realized my negativity was costing me a lot of opportunities, I decided to stop being negative. I worked at being optimistic. Not only that, I stayed away from the negative people around me. Because negative energy is contagious.
- I stopped setting unrealistic goals
It’s good to be ambitious and goal-oriented. I am. However, setting unrealistic goals is simply a recipe for disaster and disappointment.
For instance, setting financial goals that I knew my monthly earnings would never make happen is unrealistic.
My life transformed as I began to stay true to myself and my circumstances.
I set short-term and long-term goals for myself and work towards achieving them at my own pace.
- I stopped seeing failure as the end of the road
Let’s be honest. Failure isn’t fun. I hate to fail. An average person hates to fail.
But truth is, failure is part of success. Failure is an opportunity to learn to do things in a different or better way.
My life changed when I realized this and stopped defining myself by my failures. I now see failure as a pathway to knowledge.
- I stopped spending so much time on social media
Technological advancements have improved the quality of life by helping us to stay connected to our loved ones and even form new connections.
So, we are grateful for our phones and social media.
However, addiction to social media has led to a variety of problems in the present world – unnecessary jealousy, competition, depression, low productivity, distractions etc.
To be honest, I suffered almost all of these symptoms. Then I realized I had to limit the time I spend on social media.
Needless to say, my life got better.
- I stopped prioritizing the needs of others over mine
Kindness/putting others first is an amazing attribute that makes the world a better place to live in.
However, doing this every time at the expense of one’s well-being isn’t always a good thing.
Women are usually guilty of this. We take care of everyone but ourselves until our bodies start to protest.
I learnt that I can give my best to others only when I’m well myself.
My life changed when I started making myself a priority. I stopped putting myself in difficult situations to please others. I stopped saying “Yes” to every request. I stopped living to please others.
- I stopped underrating myself
Every individual is blessed with a unique ability(abilities). But I doubted mine.
I wasn’t confident enough in my abilities.
When I realized this self-sabotaging belief would limit my life, I began to acquire skills and knowledge to sharpen my abilities.
This gave me the needed confidence to maximize my potentials.
- I stopped wasting my money on frivolities
I love the good things of life.
Who doesn’t?
Wisdom is knowing how to enjoy the good things of life without becoming a financial wreck.
I used to be a shopaholic, always buying things on impulse. Things I would probably never use or even throw away in a few months.
When I realized my spending habits would ruin my financial goals, I gave myself a pep talk and started saving and budgeting.
With budgeting, I can enjoy the good things of life without feeling guilty or running into debt.
- I excused the company of unlike minds
“Show me your friend, and I’ll tell you who you are.”
No matter how old this saying is, it remains true.
You are who you associate with. You can’t be better than your association. Birds of a feather flock together.
My life improved when I decided to stay away from every form of toxic relationship.
- I stopped comparing my journey to others
While it’s good to learn from other people’s journey and success, comparing ourselves to others never amounts to anything good.
It only leads to unnecessary competition, feelings of underachievement, and even depression.
I now enjoy peace since I stopped putting pressure on myself because of other people’s results. I rather learn from them and focus on my own life.
Everyone has a different race to run. You can never run your race well if you’re focused on another person’s race.
- I stopped commenting on every issue
I started saving a lot of time and energy when I understood that I didn’t have to respond to every matter.
I now choose my battles wisely. Not every opinion or issue deserves my reaction.
13. I stopped procrastinating
Procrastination is indeed the thief of time…and opportunities.
Procrastination has cost me a lot of opportunities. I knew I just had to stop it!
Do I still procrastinate?
Sometimes.
Habits die hard. But I’m way better than I used to be. I’ve greatly improved and this has made me so proud of myself.
These are the 13 things I stopped doing that improved my life greatly. A lot of us are guilty of these things.
I believe you can learn from me and start taking steps towards transforming your life by quitting any habit that is limiting your productivity in life.
Don’t expect a drastic change. As you take baby steps, you’ll become the person you desire to be in no time.
Written by Olajumoke Onifade.