You can change your career, your relationship, where you live, the way you look, all of it, but if you really want to change your life, it starts with changing your mind. If you’re rolling your eyes right now, I understand, that was me for a long time and maybe it’s you? I’m not negative, I’m just realistic. My mind won’t change what’s happening to me. I hate to break it to you but the eye-rollers need to change their mind the most, take it from a former eye-roller.

It doesn’t matter what you have, it matters how you see it. The way you view your life and the way you talk to yourself about it has the biggest impact on your happiness. It’s not an easy task to change your mind and the way you think, but it’s worth it so I’m gonna share how I was able to do it in hopes that it can help you too.

Take the Enneagram Test

Another personality test? Ugh. I know, I know. This seriously changed everything for me though. I’ve never believed in these things and I thought it was impossible to categorize people by an online test (and maybe it is) but this freaking test started to change the whole game for me. Once you discover your type you can start reading about it. Healthy levels, unhealthy levels, what motivates you, etc. Start to get honest with yourself and identify where you fall.

I took this test and found it to be SUPER accurate for me and my friends, afterwards I found this website to be the most helpful when I started my research. I feel like I have to warn you though, this is so uncomfortable. Getting to know yourself, especially the things that you need to work on, is never fun but we never grow if we stay in our comfort zone.

Practice Gratitude

Gratitude has been known to open the door to more relationships, improve physical health, improve psychological health and mindset, enhance empathy, help you sleep better, and improves self-esteem. I don’t care what your situation is, I promise you there is something you can be grateful for. Start taking a look around. Right off the bat, I can tell you that I’m thankful for my health, a loving husband, a roof over my head, food in my fridge, coffee mugs, dogs, technology, and a platform to help people.

Podcasts, Books, and Journals

Start diving into podcasts that focus on growth. The first podcast I listened to was The Often Ambitious, this is focus more towards female entrepreneurs so if that’s not you start exploring other shows to listen to that can help with your self development.

Yup — it’s time to start looking into those self-help books. They’re popular for a reason. I’m currently reading The Mountain Is You and it’s been the best and I can’t recommend it enough.

Finally, it’s time to start journaling. If you need some good journals, my favorites have been Feel Your Best, New Mindset, Who Dis? and Unbothered.

Start Doing Daily Affirmations

How you talk to yourself, about yourself, and about your life becomes your reality. Start speaking life into it. Start telling yourself the things you want to hear. Put them on your mirror, as your phone background, write them down in your journal, create cards to read to yourself every day, whatever it is you have to do to speak them out loud to yourself — YES, speak them out loud. It’s weird at first but it works. Some of my favorites:

• I am worthy

• I am strong

• I deserve the life that I’m working towards

• I will live my dream life

• My optimism is contagious

• Nothing can stop me

• Peace and Happiness are inside of me

• I’m successful

• I’m free

• I make time for myself

Get Tired of Your Own Bullshit

Nothing changes if nothing changes. You have to decide that you want something different. You have to decide that being who you are forever is worse than getting uncomfortable in the process of becoming who you want to be. You’ll slip up and fall, go backward in progress, get upset, and you might cry, but keep moving forward. There’s a reason you want to change. Be so tired of your own bullshit that you have no choice but to do all of the above to start the massive change in your mindset and in your life.