We can’t become what we need to be by remaining what we are.
Oprah Winfrey
If you have been wanting to drastically change yourself, your lifestyle and the current situation, you are growing and becoming wiser. But is it easy to become a better version of yourself? And how to develop the willpower? Let’s figure out the basic ways of self-improvement and find out where to start.
Make a clear decision
If you feel that you need changes, do not delay it. If you don’t understand whether this is worth doing, then ask yourself the questions: “If I continue to live like this, what will my life be like in a year? Two? Five? Will my life suit me? What kind of people will surround me,” “ If I change my life, what will it be?”
Find yourself a goal
Sometimes we need some kind of kick, some goal, for the sake of which we will change and change the situation around us. Try to make a list of goals that you want to achieve. Does your current lifestyle give you the opportunity to reach them? If not, then something should definitely be changed.
Start cleaning
To change yourself, it is also worth changing what surrounds you, both in life and in virtual space. Start with social media feed, because what we read or observe on social networks directly affects our mood. Unsubscribe from negative and not interesting people and pages. Revise your communities. Organize and create a new feed for yourself that will motivate, educate and cheer you up.
Time for analysis
Think about your strengths and weaknesses, but rather, write them down in two columns. Analyze what you should do to change for the better. Who or what prevents you from changing? What scares you? Identify it all and decide how to change it. Remember, there is no single way, as everything is individual.
Use your time wisely
When you get a free minute, read a book, watch a movie or listen to a lecture. It’s time to train yourself and stop spending so much time on social media. Instead of seeing people that you are no longer interested in, visit a museum or exhibition. Spend time the way you want, and remember that it’s not always selfish to do it your way.
Changes never end
Remember that the self-improvement never ends. Every evening, find 5-10 minutes to analyze: how the day went, if everything from the list was completed and if you had some quality time for yourself. Plan for tomorrow. As a general rule, do not stop asking yourself questions. Write them down to understand yourself and your condition, to conclude what will be best for you.
Find a friend
It is sometimes difficult to change alone. If you wish, you can find a friend who will help, mentor and support you. You can compare your emotions and feelings, monitor changes and move towards the goal together. Also more interesting!
For those who want to develop their individuality but do not want to read.
☻ CHALLENGE YOURSELF
If you pay attention to the person whose bid has won, you can see the sparkle in his/her eyes. We do not suggest you run away and bet on the local hockey team. You can always challenge yourself. Arrange a “hell week” or risk to do a split in a month (although, we already doubt whether this idea is so good.) Come up with a reward and punishment. This excitement will help you open a second wind.
The book on this topic: “On the limit. A week without self-pity ”- Eric Larssen
☻ CHANGE ROLES
Do you know the film “Love-Carrot” where the characters exchanged bodies? To understand each other, they had to try on completely new, unusual roles. You can take an example and start acting differently. This is especially useful if you consider yourself a victim.
A book on this subject: “SUMO. Shut up and do it ”- Paul McGee
☻ LISTEN TO YOUR BIORHYTHMS
For example, the month before the birthday is most often the time of recession. And what to do in order not to expose the physical and psychological state under attack? There is only one answer: synchronize the biological and social schedule. If you understand that it is most productive in the morning, you should not try to squeeze the last juices out of yourself in the evening.
A book on this subject: “Always On Time” – Michael Breus
☻ DOWN WITH THE EXCESS
First, imagine that the hat on you is the personification of one of the obstacles. Like all the trash that accumulated in the apartment for a long time. Now is the time to get rid of this.
A book on this topic: “A Flexible Mind” – Estanislao Bachrach
☻ INTRODUCE NEW HABITS INTO YOUR LIFE
Yes, sometimes it’s difficult, and laziness often attacks, but you are not required to rush headlong into it. You can start reading daily for five minutes a day. This will be the first step toward success. And so with every habit.
A book on this topic: “Changing Habits” – M.J. Ryan
Life without purpose is life without meaning and life without meaning is life without hope.
Many of us doubt ourselves at times. Many are afraid to try something new, something different. Many feel paralyzed by the fear of failure. And, many feel like giving up. Nick Vujicic is an example of why the most important thing for a dreamer is to hang on to hope.
The Heartbreaking Early Years
Nick Vujicic was born in Australia in 1982 with the extremely rare congenital disorder, tetra-amelia syndrome. He was born without any arms or legs but with two small malformed feet. His left foot, his chicken drumstick as he refers to it, had toes that were fused together. So, early on, Vujicic underwent an operation to separate his toes so he could use them as fingers to independently perform some of his daily activities.
As Nick grew up, other kids made fun of him and bullied him. He would pray to God for arms and legs. As the abuse continued, he started to lose hope. Kids told him he could never get a job and that he would never get married. They mocked that he couldn’t even hold a wife’s hand or pick up his kids if they were crying. Nick started believing he was not good enough. He recounts that “I started believing I was a failure.” At age 8, he began thinking he would be better off dead. He felt there was no purpose in life for him. He wondered if he was just alive in order to die. The relentless bullying continued and he felt he had nothing to look forward to. Most painfully, he considered himself a burden to his parents.
At age 10, Nick tried to give up. He told his dad that he wanted to relax in the bathtub. The first two times he rolled his face over into the six inches of water he was trying to figure out how much air he held in his lungs. Before he rolled for the third and final time, he pictured his parents and brother crying at his grave. He realized then that it would be a greater burden on his parents to bury a child that had given up. This saved him in the short term.
As Vujicic continued to grow up, he was continually bullied. However, his mother was also exposing him to other people’s pain and misery stemming from their own difficult life circumstances. This helped him understand he was not alone and it was okay to not understand why this had happened to him. At age 13, he began feeling thankful for what he had rather than angry about what he didn’t. He was no longer angry that his prayers weren’t being answered.
Hope Leads to Purpose
After not finding happiness for many years and continuing to wonder WHY, Vujicic’s transition to hopefulness was sealed at age 15. He was reading a story about Jesus coming across a man who had been born blind. Jesus told the man that he had been born blind so the works of God could be revealed through him. After reading that, Vujicic thought to himself, “If you have a plan for the blind man, you do have a plan for me.” His plan was revealed by his high school janitor, Mr. Arnold. Mr. Arnold said, “Hey Nick, you’re gonna be a speaker.” Vujicic called him a crazy old man. For three months, Mr. Arnold implored Nick to share his story with a Christian group in the school. Resistant, Vujicic responded that he wasn’t going to speak to the ten people in the “Christian nerd section”. But, eventually, he did.
After that, Vujicic began speaking at high schools, churches and other gatherings. While talking at a high school, a young weeping girl put up her hand and asked to come up and hug him. She cried on his shoulder and whispered in his ear, “No one has ever told me that they love me. No one has ever told me that I am beautiful the way I am.” This was when Vujicic truly became aware of the path he was meant to take.
After graduating from college at 21, Vujicic’s purpose was further cemented after meeting a man in the last throes of Lou Gehrig’s disease. Unable to walk and unable to talk, the man used a laser attached to his head to type and sent out motivational messages to hundreds of people on the internet. Vudijic could walk. Vujicic could talk. He thought that if this man can reach hundreds of people without being able to walk or talk, what could I do?
Vujicic has gone on to become a well-known motivational writer and speaker. In addition to his many books, Vujicic has spoken in seventy-three countries, reaching over 730 million people of all creeds and races. He is the founder and CEO of the nonprofit organization Life Without Limbs and founder of the inspirational company Attitude is Altitude. Vucijic is also happily married and the Father to four children. His wife is his greatest champion.
Nick with his wife Kanae Miyahara
Helpful Thoughts
Like us all, Vujicic has bad days and good. He gets scared. He cries. He wishes he was a better husband. Vujicic has accepted that some things are out of our control and cannot be changed, but he keeps a regular pair of shoes in his closet, just in case. Lufian has compiled a few thoughts from Vujicic which we hope will help you on your own journey:
Your greatest disability is your own mind. Believe in yourself and not in what others say about you. Do not listen to others’ lies as they will take root and become invasive in your mind. Make the choice to believe in yourself.
Persevere toward your purpose. You go through storms in your life and you don’t know how long those storms are going to last. Even when you can’t see it and don’t know what it is, your purpose is still coming. Every time you fail, learn something new and press forward. Make each day count no matter how many times you fall.
Make the choice to get up, not give up. “Once you give up, there is no hope.” Let go of any anger as it will keep you down. You can’t take your next step until you get back up. No matter how many times you fail, as long as you choose to try again, there is always a chance, there is still hope.
Nick Vujicic with his wife and four kids
Find Your Strength
Vujicic found his strength in Jesus Christ but believes that we are going to find our own strength wherever we happen to find it, as long as we don’t give up hope. Lufian believes that a life with hope leads to a life with purpose which leads to a life of meaning. Hope is the soil in which dreams are sown and the nourishment by which they are realized. Never give up hope!
You can learn more about Nick Vujicic and his inspirational message by reading some of his many books or visiting his websites.
Throughout history, women showed courage, intellect, and strength that is worth admiring. Human history was cruel to women at times, but they never stopped proving that everything is possible. We made a list of the most outstanding women of all times who engraved their names in the history of mankind forever.
Try a new recipe twice a week. Impress your loved ones!
Drawing
Take a sheet of paper with a pencil and draw. It doesn’t have to be perfect and might seem hard in the beginning, but sometimes the best thing you can do is start and enjoy the process.
Sports
It’s time to diversify your activities and try something you always had in mind. Maybe it’s basketball, karate, yoga or chess.
Hand lettering or calligraphy
Always wanted to find that special channel of creativity? Then this hobby is definitely for you! It’s not necessary to immediately buy sophisticated tools; try first-hand materials.
Board games
Playing a new board game with a group of friends over the weekend sounds like fun? If it does, you should try a new board/card game that will challenge you. Maybe this one will become your favorite?
Blogging
Have you been keeping your thoughts in a diary? Maybe there’s something worth sharing with others? You can always share your ideas, stories, and photography on Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter, and other platforms. And who knows, maybe soon you will become a popular blogger with a large audience?
New language
Want to travel to Paris, Barcelona and feel like a fish in water? French, Spanish or even Chinese… muscle your brain and learn new cultures!
Movie theater
Do you like to watch good movies? Why not make a hobby out of this and become a movie fan? Your TV and laptop screens can’t cover those emotions that you get from watching a movie on a big screen with an excellent sound in the movie theater.
Do not forget to set goals and deadlines to bring your new activities into your life!
Have you ever wondered what makes you feel or behave one way or another? How many times do you feel that you can’t control it? The truth is, it’s all in your brain. If you learn how to control it, you will acquire a powerful skill. You will learn how to control your emotions, understand your behavior and even take advantage of it.
Lufian made a list of books that will help you learn the structure and functions of your brain. Save the list and discover some psychological tricks that will lead you to success.
“Making up the Mind: How the Brain Creates Our Mental World” by Chris Frith
The book, written by one of the most outstanding neuroscientists, gives us some insight into why we experience the world the way we do. The author emphasizes how the mental state of a person changes under certain outside circumstances and specific behavioral reactions. If your work activities require a lot of nerve cells, this book will come in handy. It will also help answer questions about irritability and nervous instability.
“Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst” by Robert Sapolsky
The New York Times bestseller, the Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal.
This acclaimed book raises an important question: why do we behave the way we behave? The author examines the human behavior context with a number of factors. To answer this question, Sapolsky takes a long journey to take a look before any action. Why some people kill, and some do charity? How can people be so kind and so evil at the same time? It’s not enough to look at the brain only. Sapolsky creates a broader picture by encompassing factors such as culture, ecology, and history of humankind. He piles all of that with his captivating storytelling.
“Sort Your Brain Out: Boost Your Performance, Manage Stress and Achieve More” by Jack Lewis and Adrian Webster
Brain scientist Dr. Jack Lewis and motivational speaker Adrian Webster in this book answer the most frequently asked questions about the brain and its activities. Not only can you find the answers to those questions, but learn how to use your brains to your benefit. If you want to manage your stress, improve your memory and creativity, become the master of your mood and your best decisions, Sort Your Brain Out is what you need.
“Delusions of Gender: How Our Minds, Society, and Neurosexism Create Difference” by Cordelia Fine
How often have you heard that men and women are wired differently? The author, Cordelia Fine, explains the complex issue of differences between male and female brains. Rather than saying that there’s such a thing as a “male brain” and a “female brain,” Cordelia Fine digs into cultural assumptions about gender roles and how they modify our brains. In addition, this book has a unique wit that makes science very engaging and easy to read.
“The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science” by Norman Doidge
The author, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Norman Doidge, M.D., suggests a revolutionary look at the human brain. One of the central things in the book is neuroplasticity which states that brain changes throughout an individual’s life. In the book, you can read real-life examples. For instance, the case of a woman who had half the brain from birth, blind people who learn to see and many other inspiring stories. This book will change the way you look at brains. It’s truly inspiring and moving to see the human’s brain potential.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
A popular book about personality development. This book is not so much about business, but about how to consciously approach your life, building it step by step, achieving your goals.
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
The book is for those people who need motivation for action. Each chapter tells inspirational stories and working formulas for success. After reading, you get a wild charge of ambition and a desire to move forward.
The Answer by Allan Pease and Barbara Pease
The authors teach readers to believe in themselves and not listen to anyone but themselves. The book helps to correctly set goals and not be afraid to change them. Everything that happens in our lives is the result of our thinking and environment.
The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy
The book provides information that is surprising at first glance, which allows you to look deeper into the world. The text is filled with positive ideas, goodness and faith in success. It inspires and truly motivates you to control your thoughts and direct them in the right direction.
I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was: How to Discover What You Really Want and How to Get It By Barbara Sher
The book contains answers to questions that concern many: why should we engage in unloved business and live life aimlessly, how to reveal our abilities and talents which prevents us from realizing and achieving success. It’s recommended to all those who want to understand themselves, striving to become better and find their calling.
Combat medic Desmond Doss, played by Andrew Garfield in this true story from the second world war.
Doss is crazy enough not to carry a weapon. “I never claimed to be sane!” grins Doss. Actually, that is exactly what he claimed to be. Doss was a patriot who had volunteered for military service. Violent abuse in childhood made him become a doctor in the field of battle. No gun...
The Intouchables
The Intouchables tells the true story of a wealthy, physically disabled risk-taker whose world turned upside down after few life-changing events.
Suddenly, he hires a young, good-humored, black Muslim ex-con as his caretaker.
The union of these two extremely different individuals can inspire everyone to fire one’s life up with love, friendship and appreciation.
12 Years a Slave
Based on the 19th-century memoir of Solomon Northup, 12 Years a Slave follows the tribulations of an educated carpenter, musician and family man from New York state who, in 1841, was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the south – a shockingly common phenomenon. Stripped of his past, he tries to identify himself and even (in the eyes of the law) his humanity.
The Revenant
Inspired by true events, The Revenant demonstrates an epic adventure of survival and the extraordinary power of the human spirit.
In an expedition of the uncharted American wilderness, legendary explorer Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) is brutally attacked by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team.
Guided by sheer will and the love of his family, Glass must navigate a vicious winter in a relentless pursuit to live and find redemption.
The Southpaw
Billy Hope (Jake Gyllenhaal), the reigning Boxing Champion, seemingly has it all: a successful career, a beautiful and loving wife, an adorable daughter and a lavish lifestyle.
When tragedy strikes and his friend leaves him behind, Hope hits rock bottom and turns to a run-down local gym.
With the help of Tick Willis, a retired fighter and trainer, Billy enters the hardest battle of his life with the mission to win back the trust of those that he loves.
Million Dollar Baby
Million Dollar Baby is a pure, simple, deep and true masterpiece. It tells the story of an aging fight trainer and a hillbilly girl who thinks she can be a boxer. It's not a movie about boxing. It is a movie about a boxer. Moreover, it covers the deepest feelings and secrets of a human heart, emotional power, life and death...
Into the Wild
The name speaks for itself. It’s a story of breaking free. “I don't believe in careers Mr. Franz, I think careers are a 20th-century invention.” Christopher McCandless decides to leave his profitable career as an athlete behind, give his possessions for charity and embark on a journey to the Alaskan wilderness. It is an inspiring story that shows us what can happen when you choose an alternate life path in today’s competitive world.
Life is Beautiful
Life is Beautiful is a story of hope and imagination. Though Guido has been separated from his wife Dora, he tries to keep his son happy by convincing him that their time in the concentration camp is just a game. The positive spirit that Guido presents, trying to make life beautiful for his little boy and believing with all his heart in the reunion with the family, will become your #1 motivational drive this year.
Forrest Gump
Classy, have to see movie. This is a unique story of a unique character played by Tom Hanks. This movie is not something that you will see every day. It will make you think differently and show you a new perspective of a worldview.
The Pianist
Based on true events, the story of Wladyslaw Szpilman’s struggle to survive during the war will become your number one inspirational drive. The film shows how the power of music was the pianist's only support through his tough times. It’s not only motivational but also a musical marvel.
