The year is not as new anymore but it is still quite fresh and plannings and resolutions have not stopped being the order of the day. People often speak of how necessary it is to make plans, plans that could come to realization with efforts and of course, consistency. I find however that to make plans that would yield result, and results that would stand the test of time, there are certain things that have to be done differently. They span across the different aspects of life and I would be highlighting a few of them below:
Think Differently
Positive planning cannot be done by a negative thinker. It takes courage to decide to change things about your life, and even more courage to believe you can make it happen.
Sometime ago, I came to realize how much of a pessimist I was. How I was almost always waiting to hear you spill bad news. How when things seemed to be going “too well to be real”, I would think to myself “something is definitely not right”. It was a tiring phase of my life that I needed help overcoming. When I figured this out, I had to make conscious efforts to change my thinking.
First, I told myself the truth, the truth that the events that take place in my life are more than halfway controlled by my mindset. So, subsequently, when I caught myself thinking negative thoughts, I would immediately change them.
{Read: The Power of Thoughts and How to Take Charge}
Thereafter, every morning when I woke up, I would choose to think things like “today is going to turn out fine”, “everything is working out in my favor” even when the facts that were fearlessly glaring at me screamed otherwise.
I would like to state how much things have changed for me ever since then. Of course, there are the bad days, the ones you never see coming, the ones all your positive thoughts cannot hinder but I find that thinking differently (and positively) about the little changes you need to make in life will definitely go a long way in bringing them to pass. Henceforth, dare to think differently and remember you can do anything you put your mind to.
Speak Differently
If you’ve done well enough to put up a good plan, you have to speak differently about your expectations concerning them. Instead of saying “this plan could never work”, go ahead and say “I’m working to make sure this plan works and I really hope it does”. This is different, right? Good different even more so.
You are listening to every word YOU say and this means you should not be caught speaking ill of and to yourself, most especially about your desires and intentions.
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Also, bear in mind that more than half the times you open your mouth to speak, your integrity and character are at stake. So, think carefully about the things you want to say, not only to yourself but to other people.
Nobody likes people who kill other people’s dreams with their speech. In other words, nobody likes a naysayer and people are more drawn to those who encourage and push them to become the best version of themselves possible.
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The next time someone confides in you about a mistake they made, instead of saying “oh wow, how could you do such a stupid thing?”, say “it’s perfectly human for you to make mistakes…”, then go ahead to give some good advice and watch how they cling to you afterwards.
Act Differently
By acting differently, I mean that you should be intentional about bringing all of the plans you’ve probably put in writing into fruition. I mean that it is not enough to dream, as you should be willing to put in the much-needed work to see your goals transform into your reality. You cannot sit around and expect that things would change because you are now thinking positively or speaking positively about them.
Do not be lazy or careless. The price of discipline is better paid than the price of regret. Work hard consistently and watch the universe align for your victory.
Acting differently also entails reacting appropriately to the situations around you. 90% of the time, what happens next is a product of how you are handling whatever situation you currently find yourself in. It may be difficult to do but no matter the circumstances, work to always keep a cool head and a hopeful heart.
Spend Differently
What two things do you need to spend differently?
- Your time.
- Your money.
As a youth, time management is especially important at this stage of your life. The ability to think long term when spending time is a skill that is not possessed by many.
Time spent carelessly cannot be gotten back and can, in the long run, predispose the spender to regrets. You have to learn to prioritize your activities.
Here’s a tip on how to do that effectively.
If you are not sure you’re spending your time wisely, you could try asking yourself these three questions per time:
- Is whatever you are doing currently helping you grow?
- Will this activity bring you closer to your goals?
- Will this matter in five years?
The answers you get will be useful in determining how well you are managing your time.
When it comes to money spending, things are better done with a budget. A budget contains your needs and the funds you want to allocate to meet those needs. Budgets are very important as they help keep you in check.
Budgets are not for a particular group of people or organization, everyone needs them.
So, are you an entrepreneur? A student who doesn’t earn and has to wait on allowances to get by? A working-class individual who gets paid salaries? Use a budget. Ultimately you could use your budget to reflect on your expenses and even make better choices next time. Every month, ensure you have one and that you are working with it.
{Read: Budgeting- How to do it Right}
Apart from making budgets, ensure you have savings. Your savings can come in handy at any time. They could save you from a financial mess, settle emergencies or even acquire your wants.
To save money, you can do this by leaving out a percentage of your earnings as they come, no matter how little. In the long run, you would be amazed at how much you’ve been able to put together. It does not matter if your money is in a bank, a piggy bank, a cooperative society, or somewhere different. Just ensure you have savings.
{Read: Additional Saving Tips for the Year}
Live Differently
Last but not the least, live differently. This means that this is the perfect time to work on those bad habits, to cultivate better ones and to be the best at what you do. You are the main character in your own story, so if you are not exactly content with the way things have been, take charge and make the necessary changes.
Soon, it would be one of the best decisions you ever made…
Basic ways to live differently include:
- Serve God.
- Work hard.
- Eat healthily and drink lots of water.
- Exercise regularly.
- Read books.
- Build good relationships.
- Be kind.
What do you plan to do differently this year? Think about it.
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