 Today I want to break it down and make it very, very simple. The seven steps to leading a happier life are:
1. Taking Responsibility: Without taking responsibility for your current situation you quite simply cannot move forward. Imagine that where you currently are in life is within your comfort zone. It’s everything you already know, have already learnt, and are comfortable doing. Now I want you to imagine another circle, this time encompassing the first zone. In this second circle lies opportunities and challenges, it’s where all growth must come from and where learning and change take place. If you are to make change in your life you firstly need to recognise that something needs to change, that you are the only one capable of making that change and essentially stepping outside your comfort zone and into the ‘change zone’. Are you truly taking responsibility for your life or are you still blaming others for your position?
 2. Focus: Now you have taken responsibility, the control really is in your hands to change whatever needs changing. I liken focus to walking into a massive mansion. This mansion is six stories and has in excess of 3000 rooms, and each room holds a different experience or emotion. As you walk through the mansion you are able to open different doors and have different life experiences. Our focus is how we choose the rooms we will live in. Where does our focus lie? Is it on obstacles, problems and poverty? Are they the rooms you’re focusing on? Or is it on love, abundance and joy? Personally I’d much rather live in those rooms!!! Now I’m not saying once we’re secure in our rooms, that that’s it. Life will often open different doors for us, perhaps sadness, sorrow or even anger. The point is, if we continue to focus on these things, then that is what will shape our lives. We may open the door, experience something for an hour, or even a week, but ultimately we must choose where our focus lies to begin improving our world. When we talk about focus, the simplest concept is to focus on what you want to create in your life, and avoid focusing on what you don’t want. Create a clear picture in your mind of how you want your life to be, and allow that to guide your focus.
3. Gather resources/ information: Once you know where you’re heading, and you’re focused on getting there, you must take time to gather the information and resources required. Make a list now of all the things that you need to learn or get. Perhaps you need to convince a partner of your idea and vision? Perhaps you need to research competitors in the market place, or even read a book or two on the subject. This step is critical in determining that this is indeed the right path for you and that it’s feasible and really likely that you will achieve it!
 4. Decide and Commit: Here’s the real deal! Without a decision to really change your life and move towards happiness, nothing will actually happen. To commit to this path will redesign things in your life and really propel you forward. I read an article this morning that speaks of the difference between 99% commitment and 100% commitment. Having 100% commitment is destroying the backup plan and moving forward! I’m going to just let that sit. It’s an interesting concept though isn’t it!
5. Take Action: I regularly give seminars and workshops on Motivation, and one thing that I always mention to people is that motivation doesn’t get you anywhere without action. You must have both! Having a brilliant plan is only half of the solution; actually putting it into place and following through is the other half.
6. Feedback: How often does a brilliant plan and significant action really work the first time round? My guess is about 60 per cent of the time, so the other 40 per cent needs to seek out feedback, revise the plan and take action again. Perhaps in the same direction, or perhaps in a completely different direction. Thomas Edison made over 10,000 attempts at making the electric light globe, each time he could have given up, instead he viewed it as feedback, and documented another technique that didn’t get the result he was looking for.
7. Revise, take action and reward yourself: Making changes in your life is never easy, unfortunately nothing is handed on a silver platter and no rules are in place ensuring things always go our way. But really, each time you take action, and it doesn’t seem to work out, have faith that something better will come along. Be safe in the knowledge that ‘everything works out for the best’! ALWAYS!!! It’s pretty challenging sometimes when you’re in the thick of a massive disaster, but move forward with the faith that things will work out, and this is just another part of your journey.
I hope these seven steps will help you move towards the happiness you truly deserve in life, and I trust that as you become more and more happy in yourself you will also share that happiness and joy with others!
"If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves."
- Thomas A. Edison
 This audio CD is available on ‘Discovering Happiness’ and is for sale for $22.
Contents include:
- What is Happiness?
- The Facts on Happiness
- Effects on our Happiness
- Practising Happiness and
- The Happiness Revolution
Just send me an email if you’d like to purchase a copy. What a great Christmas Gift, The gift of Happiness! jodie@advancedcoachingsolutions.com.au
If you’re really ready to step up and start living life and need a little assistance to get started, please give me a call on 4296 9331 or email me and we can work on it together. If you like what I’m writing or would like to give me some feedback, I’d love to hear from you. Shoot me an email at jodie@advancedcoachingsolutions.com.au | 
