Today I’ll continue to share more powerful tips on how to hit the reboot button on your life. If you missed yesterday’s email, you can access it here: Is it Time to Hit Life’s Reboot Button?
So far, you’ve started with an open mindset about the possibility that you can create change in your life. And you’ve created a specific list of those areas of your life you’d like to change.
What’s next?
3. Now you’re going to make another list. This one may be more difficult than the ‘magic wand’ list you’ve started in the previous step, but is equally important. This list requires that you be honest with yourself- perhaps painfully so- about what you need to ELIMINATE from your life. Make a list of all those things- including people- that are unhelpful or unhealthy, especially those that are toxic. Is it food choices? Excessive alcohol consumption? Physical inactivity? Smoking? Abusive relationships? A career/job where you compromise your values every day? Is it your constant negative self-talk? Or is it ‘friends’ or family who constantly tell you that you’ll never amount to much, or tell you all the ways you’re a failure or disappointment? You know who and what these albatrosses are. Put them on the list and keep going until you can’t think of any more.
YOU CAN’T FIX IT IF YOU DON’T FACE IT FIRST.
4. Now review the lists you’ve created in steps 2 & 3. With list #2, what are the top 2 or 3 areas of your life you’d like to reboot? Put them in priority order. The first priority item should be one that, WHEN you reboot it, this area alone will bring major joy and happiness to your life. What’s the 2nd and 3rd reboot area? Now move to step #3- same question. What is the first priority area that, WHEN you remove it from your life will bring immediate mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional relief? What’s the 2nd and 3rd area to eliminate?
I understand that you may be listing a person’s name in this exercise. I understand that it might be painful. But ask yourself, is it more painful than continuing to live with the pain they bring to your life now? Note- relationships may be salvageable, but only if 2 people are willing to make it so.
Later this week I’ll share additional tips on how to approach these challenging conversations to help you determine if it’s time to reboot these toxic relationships entirely.
Tomorrow’s email addresses the reasons why rebooting your life is often so difficult…but doable!
