Written by: Jennie Patricia, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Our whole lives so far are this way because of the thoughts we think, the beliefs we believe, and the actions we take. And so, when we take a look at our lives and say ‘I don’t want it to be like this anymore’ It can be hard to know where to start.
We might have an idea of what we’d like our lives to look like but when we look around us right now, we can’t see how we’re ever able to bridge that gap. I remember thinking to myself that it seemed like there was just too much that needed to be done and changed which just became too overwhelming.
And so, I stayed where I was. Hoping that things would change even if I wasn’t going to. But, alas, life doesn’t work that way. So, another year went past where I didn’t change anything, I was right where I was a year ago. For my life to change, I needed to change. But where do you even start when it feels like everything needs to change at the same time?
Firstly, and most importantly, we need to start calling ourselves out on our own bullsh*t. We have to stop with the excuses, maybe we’ve been doing them to project ourselves, maybe it’s so we don’t have to take responsibility for how our lives have gone so far but by constantly making excuses you’re keeping yourself trapped. Get completely honest with yourself, it’s not easy but change isn’t always easy that’s why not everyone does it but remember, you are not your mistakes; your mistakes are what you did, NOT who you are.
Everything becomes a lot easier once we’ve started being completely honest with ourselves. We’re able to see where we’ve been holding ourselves back, where we’ve let fear take the lead, and what bad and unhealthy habits we need to stop doing.
The next thing we need to do is just start taking small little actions aligned with our next-level selves. We’re looking for small progress here, not perfection. For me, it was waking up earlier than my daughter and at the start, if I didn’t wake up earlier than her I felt like I’d failed, thought’s like “my next level self is doing it so why can’t I’ would creep in and this actually happens to a lot of us. We put the versions of ourselves that we want to become on a pedestal, thinking they are doing it all perfectly, but they aren’t. They are us humans, and humans aren’t made to be perfect we are made to progress and grow.
Kindness is key here. On the days I don’t wake up earlier than my daughter, I kindly remind myself, that today my Next Level Self isn’t waking up before her.
Whatever we think is the truth. If I’m telling myself that I’m a failure because I didn’t wake up early today, that’s the feeling I’ll be creating and then the action I’ll be taking but, if I tell myself that not every day does my best version wake up early, I’ll still be allowing alignment with my next level self.
It can be easy to get overwhelmed when we are putting the person we want to become on this pedestal. Don’t do it. Remember they have bad days, lazy days, and sick days. Rather than think they don’t have these types of days ask yourself, how do they react, respond, think, feel and act on these days. This is going to help you for when those days do arise, you’ll know how your next-level self would be reacting instead of acting like they don’t have these types of days.
Stepping into the version of you that you love and accept can sometimes be a scary and lonely journey. Because of this, I’ve set up a brand-new Facebook group Next Level You where you’ll be able to connect with like-minded women on the same journey as yourself. With monthly guest speakers, live training, and a monthly Q&A all for FREE. Please follow the link on my Instagram bio to join.
Jennie Patricia, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Jennie Patricia is a leader and expert in her field of mindset, self-worth, and transformation.
After hiring her own coach and going through her own transformation, Jennie knew this was the path she was meant to be on, and at the beginning of 2020 became a certified coach and opened the doors for Jennie Patricia Coaching
Jennie is a transformation life coach and is on a mission to empower as many women as possible to step into their 'best self' and start living a life they feel truly aligned with through free online training and her 1:1 personal coaching program: A Life Transformed
