Sometimes you just need a life change. This is a change that applies to all aspects of your current situation like your career, health, relationships, finances, etc. While you’ll obviously always be YOU, I like to think of it as the NEW edition… the platinum upgraded version if you will. To drive this metaphor home (and because I’m a superhero fanatic), picture yourself in a workshop building a suit of armour like Iron Man or Batman or Wonder Woman. Then picture yourself replacing the damaged war-torn pieces for brand new polished ones.
In the past year, I’ve gone through a drastic change regarding various areas of my life. I found a new job, focused on my health, took action in making my life as well as the lives of others better, explored the avenues of creativity I’d been neglecting (like writing and designing), and removed people or left negative situations where I felt like I was being brought down or judged. In short, I’ve got a whole new suit of armour. I’ve learned a lot of things and the most important is not to be fearful of change, to embrace creativity, and to work tirelessly at what you want. With that, here are 7 ways to reinvent yourself and become a brand new upgraded YOU.
Quit your job and find a better one
If you feel stifled or you’ve got a boss who doesn’t respect or appreciate your work, then go somewhere else. Whatever or whoever it may be that’s making you unhappy, leave and go somewhere where you will enjoy coming into work everyday. You can change your situation at any time. Follow your gut when it comes to those questionable “should I leave” moments. Like the time you got kicked out of your annual review. Remember that? No? Just me? Okay great, moving on.
The best course of action for this life change is to have your options lined up prior to parting ways with your current employer. In fact, act like a super-secret undercover agent or a ninja secretly talking to recruiters and going on interviews afterhours or during your lunch break. Ask friends or co-workers for references or ‘future opportunities’ should they come up. Just don’t parade around the office telling everyone you’re looking elsewhere or your leisurely job pursuit will become a forced one really quick.
For me, I quit my old job to go to a company that appreciates me, encourages me to be myself, and celebrates me for my abilities. If that wasn’t enough, they are making a difference towards the climate change crisis, and knowing that I’m working for a company that is trying to change the world completely redefines how I view my job.
Pump it up!
Start a new workout routine or… just start working out altogether. Look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself if you’re happy with the way you look physically and, more importantly, how you feel mentally. Working out is a great stress reducer. You’re going to feel better once you start a routine where you’re regularly going to the gym.
If you need workout inspiration, there are a plethora of resources online for free from fitness videos, exercise tutorials, routines, supplement guides, to workout playlists available. Sometimes watching a video of somebody in peak physical shape is all the motivation you need to get your arm out of the chips bag.
As time goes by and you see the progress you’ve made with your own two eyes, it’s going to be a very rewarding experience. Write down what you want and be honest and realistic. For example, “I’d like to lose 5lbs within the next 2 months” vs “I need to lose 20lbs by tomorrow.”
Eat right or…better
How do you feel? Groggy? Tired? Climb down from your pizza castle and have a salad. Shop organic and start to replace the chips and dips for fruits and vegetables. Honestly, smoothies are great and if you’re not drinking them you’re missing out big time. You don’t need to go nuts and dive head first into a strict no carb no calories diet (if that even exists), but instead a conscious effort to eat a little better.
Give yourself a cheat day or cheat meal here and there as a physical and mental reward for your hard work. It would be overwhelming to think you can’t have the foods you love so don’t eliminate them completely. If you are going to indulge then make sure you’re making up for it in the gym.
Forget the haters!
At no point should you feel like you’re stuck with people that keep you down or compete with you. If separating yourself from them completely doesn’t feel like the best option than perhaps a conversation with them informing them of your issues and concerns might be the better route. However, the majority of the time, if those people were a pain to deal with before, you can bet they’re going to be an even bigger pain in the ass defending themselves later. There’s no time for this. Don’t try to convince them to like you or force your way into their hearts. Just move on and surround yourself with people who do enjoy your company.
Give back to others
Volunteer. Start doing things for others. If you’ve got spare change in your pocket, give it to someone in need. Imagine being in their situation. You don’t know their story but you can help the current chapter get a lot better. Raid your wardrobe and get rid of the clothes you don’t wear by donating them. It’s not about getting a pat on the back or for someone to say, “Hey you’re really nice.”
Do things because in this little world, we’re all in this together and we need to help one another. If you were in an unfortunate situation or down on your luck, you would want people to help you if they could. Do the same for others without the expectation of anything in return.
Take a break
If you’ve been really pursuing a hobby or passion and you start to feel like that thing you love doing is becoming like a job then take a break. Don’t force yourself into doing an activity that makes you upset or stressed. If you start to feel like you’re going through the motions, you need to step back and take a little vacation. These vacations allow you to come back refreshed. They allow you to come back excited because the time off reminds you what you loved about doing that thing in the first place. Even more so, it may help you to explore other areas of your life that you haven’t been looking into.
Take as much time as you need to. If you need a week or a month or a year, take it. The only person who can decide how much time is the correct amount is you.
Quality time
Spend quality time with your loved ones. Not just hanging out, but actually being there, talking, and listening to them. Just BE with someone. Put your phone away and have a conversation where you’re actively listening and you’re not distracted. Look into their eyes and engage with them. Life is short and sometimes you don’t really know how much time you have with people. Today, we tend to focus on our social networks and online presence more so than real relationships. Make an effort to go and see family multiple times a month if they’re local or a year if they’re a little farther away. Even then, you can always pick up the phone and call them.
Down the road, you’ll remember those moments more so than you will remember scrolling through your newsfeed like a zombie. Although, pug pictures on Instagram are a national treasure.
Voyage out to the unexplored
Travel to places you’ve never been before. Look up the top 10 surrounding states or cities, best areas to visit, or just beautiful places to go and schedule time to visit them. Go out and connect with nature and see the lovely world that we live in. Whatever it is, just go out and go on an adventure with your loved ones. Take your girlfriend or boyfriend to a beautiful place that you didn’t even know existed. Then watch the ridiculous amount of geese in that area hiss at you while you laugh hysterically. These are the spontaneous moments that you’ll remember forever.
Imagine your dreams coming true
When it comes down to it all, it’s important to actively imagine what you want in life. Picture it in your head. If you want to be a famous singer, close your eyes and see yourself on a stage belting it out in front of thousands. If you want to be an actor (like I do), picture yourself at the Academy Awards giving your acceptance speech thanking your family and friends. Whatever it is, envision it coming to life. Dream it then do it.
In addition, write it down and be specific. Buy a whiteboard or use an app on your phone and update it every day with short-term and long-term goals you’d like to accomplish for the day, week, month or year. Write what you want here and look at it every single day.
Just remember, no matter what your goal is, if you put it out into the universe, the universe will work with you to make it happen. When it comes down to it, look at your life and decide whether it’s time for an upgrade or personal reinvention. It all starts with the decision to change and the courage to go through with it.
1 comment
Loved this article, Ryan! I look forward to reading more of your stuff. 🙂