5 Things You Absolutely Need to Stop Doing in 2017
The new year is here, and with it come resolutions, promises and hope.
I’m sure you have a lot of plans for 2017. This is the year that some of you decide to start your own business, buy a new house, get married or start a family, or make this the best year in business yet. This is the year you’ve decided will be the best year of your life. Maybe you want to be successful than you’ve ever been. Maybe you want to be happier, healthier, more productive.
Before you proceed, I would invite you to consider the idea that your success this year might be defined more by the things you don’t do, rather than the things you do.
Does that sound far-fetched? Let me explain.
Right now, you’re like a sub-optimal version of yourself. You’ve had your successes, but they’ve always been tempered with some failures. You’re probably aware that you have the skills needed to make it, but there’s something missing. If you can relate, it’s probably because you’ve got some bad habits. You’ve got some ideas and beliefs that are holding you down and sabotaging your progress in other areas of your life without you even knowing about them.
So, let’s make 2017 the year we let go of the things that are holding us down and move onward and upward. Without further ado, here are the things you need to stop doing this year.
Stop playing the victim.
It’s an easy trap to fall into – blaming your circumstances or other people for your current lot in life. STOP. By constantly repeating this sob story to yourself, you are essentially ensuring that success (and successful people) will stay far away. Nobody likes to be around someone who’s constantly whining and complaining.
Look around you. Everything you have is a product of your own actions. That’s it. And that is a powerful thing to understand, because it means that you (and you alone) have the power to completely transform your life.
Stop keeping up with the Joneses.
“Oh, I made $100,000 this year, but my friend made more.”
“If only I could afford to buy a Mercedes instead of my Toyota…”
“My house is fine, but I would be happy if it had two extra rooms.”
If you want to ensure that you spend the entirety of 2017 unhappy, keep comparing yourself to other people. On the other hand, if you want to take back some control, forget about what anyone else is doing. There’s only one person’s progress that matters – your own. There’s always going to be someone more successful, more wealthy and more good-looking. Always. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else.
Stop doubting yourself.
Let 2017 be the year that you finally quell that inner voice that says “But what if?” and take risks. There’s always going to be uncertainty in your life. No one can say for sure whether this new business plan or strategy will work. No one can guarantee that you will be happier if you move into your own apartment. There are no sure things in this life. All you can do is stack the odds in your favor, and believe. If you keep listening to your inner critic and succumbing to your doubts, you won’t get much done this year.
Stop bearing negative people.
The people you spend most of your time with have a huge impact on the way your life progresses. They can either function as boosters, elevating your life to greater heights, or they can become heavy weights that make it difficult for you to move. Resolve to stop spending time around people who are energy killers or aren’t doing anything meaningful with their lives. Step out of your current comfort zone and find people who share your hopes and dreams. Being around successful people is one of the fastest ways to accelerate your own growth.
Stop neglecting your own needs.
If you’ve been incredibly busy leading up to 2017, you might have started the new year in a bit of a funk. Maybe you’re burnt out, or there’s some lingering unhappiness that you just can’t shake. Resolve to take some time out for yourself every day this year. What are the things you like to do? What activities or people bring you the most joy? Seek them out. You are in charge of your own happiness. Meditate, take up yoga, revisit your favorite hobby. Give yourself some love.
Once you rid yourself of these negative and self-defeating patters, you’ll feel much lighter and happier. You will be able to take more effective decisions because they’re coming from a place of love. This is your year. Make it happen.