NINE ways to align your Present with your Best Future.

How do I get the life I want?

I get it—the life you want seems so far away! I often talk about alignment in the coaching process. Coaching is about helping you access your internal compass and take the steps to “point” yourself toward your best life. So often we wish for something better but in reality we are walking towards the opposite result. After a lifetime of misalignment it’s easy to misplace your directional sense entirely.

The 180 Life is about accessing that spirit that desires health, wellness, love and excellence. The transformation you want is available to you as you claim it! Here’s 9 strategies to align with your best future today.

Alignment Strategy #1: Forgive someone.

Trust me: your best life is not filled with regrets about the people in your life. If you are connected to another human being you are guaranteed missteps resulting in hurt feelings and misunderstanding. It might even be on purpose. I’m not telling you to ignore or stuff your feelings. It’s normal to feel upset when you experience unkindness. Just be careful you aren’t caught in an imperative web. Know what “imperative” is? I’ll fill you in—it’s when you get so hung up on being right, you forget about what’s really important. At the end of the day, your degree of “right” or “wrong” doesn’t impact your best future as much as your willingness to release negative feelings, resolve matters and move forward. Not forgiving only keeps you stuck in your past, reliving an unhappy moment. Forgiveness releases you to move forward in generosity, for yourself, the person who upset you, and the people in your future. Don’t worry, I don’t expect you to be a doormat. You can live and learn from your past. But you don’t need to be trapped there.

Alignment Strategy #2: Change your story.

As you move into transformation, you have access to a library of stories. Many of the tales recount proof of the muck in your present life. Perhaps you want to change your romantic relationship. You start fresh with your partner, open your heart and start to share. Then you notice she isn’t paying attention to you when you are talking and you start to think…”here we go again.” If you want to change your future, you won’t engage in the “again” thinking. You start your 180 venture in your brain first. The circumstances may look the same but you are breaking barriers by seeing it differently. See the hope of the change. Look for any scrap of evidence that you are moving in a different direction. Stand for your new life by claiming the change in any form. You will find your relationship will change with your story. Transformation doesn’t occur in a straight line upward—it’s a rollercoaster of ups and downs. Remember to believe in the ups as much as the downs my friend.

Alignment Strategy #3: Choose the best actions.

Transformation is marked by the BEFORE and AFTER. So much of the real work is left out and unfortunately, I think we have started to believe this edited version of reality and as a result, judge our own progress as inadequate. True movement into your future happens in small steps, almost imperceptible choices. The one time you don’t eat a snack. The day you track all your food. The 20 minutes spent walking. The drawer cleaned out. The honest confrontation between friends. I promise your best life doesn’t show up on your doorstep overnight. It’s the result of a series of actions that align with your 180 transformation.

Alignment Strategy #4: Educate yourself.

Often, the changes you desire are stuck behind a wall of ignorance. When you don’t know better, you don’t do better! You can’t figure out how to get more clients or move further in your career. Don’t resign yourself to an ordinary life. Claim your purpose-driven life by setting aside your pride and learning about how to raise your Emotional Quotient, personal branding or asking for what you want. Technology has made it possible to find the answers through a few clicks and taps on your keyboard. Erode the barrier between you and your best life by learning something every day.

Alignment Strategy #5: Speak it.

Everything changes when you speak your dreams out loud. Your brain thinks it, you say it, you hear it and you register this new reality with a shared experience with another person! Your purpose-driven future may remain a fantasy unless you gather your courage and speak your intentions to the world. Every time I speak on stage, I force myself to tell them one of my dreams: to become a nationally televised talk show host and expert. Even after 10 years I am gratified at the support and kindness of the audience. Together, we believe it is possible! As you communicate your vision, you will continue to find clarity and start to really understand how possible it is and you will enlist the support and encouragement you need to change your life.

Alignment Strategy #6: Clarify your vision.

Have you ever tried to drive in extreme fog? Even if you are familiar with the route, you feel doubt and anxiety. As you transform, you are navigating uncertain territory and will feel a level of stress that comes with not being able to see clearly. Clear the fog and increase your excitement about the impending changes by bringing details of your vision into focus. If you want to go on a trip, find out how much it will cost to travel. If your goal is to start a business, seek out a successful business owner in your space and ask for advice. Clarity clears away the fog to reveal your best actions. See how 180 works?

Alignment Strategy #7: Just start!

Analysis paralysis can be the worst. You think and think and think about what you might do and change the details and the results and at the end of the day you actually convince yourself all that thinking is doing. I’m all for vision (see the last few strategies if you don’t believe it) but if you truly want transformation, you have to begin the journey to change. So whether you feel totally ready, even if your peeps don’t understand, no matter whether you are completely uncertain how it is all going to turn out, it doesn’t matter until you begin.

Alignment Strategy #8: Plan in advance.

Your entire being is rooted in your present reality with all it’s “situations” and routines. You can count of experiencing resistance at the moment of impact, when you have to get out of bed, or set up the conference call, or finish the resume. If you KNOW you are going to feel that resistance, help yourself out by planning and you can sort of skim over the part where you think yourself of doing the right thing. Lay out your shoes and work out stuff the day before. Plan your day the night before. Ask for reinforcement from your friend ahead of time, so when you fight with your partner, your friend is ready to support you.

Alignment Strategy #9: Cut out what doesn’t work.

This is one of the greatest reinforcements for your future. In some ways, the older you get, the more you have to prove, to yourself, that you are serious. It’s the way it goes. We all try to change and our present life with all it’s circumstances can get in the way. This time can be different. Send a signal to you by getting rid of the cookies. Avoid fighting. Get enough sleep. Stop watching so much television. Clean out the clothes that don’t fit. Dump the stuff in the junk drawer. Clear the clutter and make room for your 180 to grow!

 

Friends, you’ll notice, none of these strategies are dramatic. I’m not asking you to move across country or put yourself in harms way. Together we are claiming our change through small actions unseen, at first, by those around us. But as you access your inner compass and point to your best life, you’ll find that unimaginable future is a simple reality to enjoy. I wish you the best on your journey. I’ll be with you every step of the way.

Here’s to your 180! If you are not part of the 180 Life Experience, I invite you to join right now! 

Access today’s 180 Life Experience LIVE PEP TALK- click on the graphic below!