The Enemy Within--3 Steps to Victory Over Yourself

My client Connie gave up.

Her life was a disaster--financially, emotionally, and now legally. Worse, even after months of therapy, she still couldn't see how she caused almost all her problems.

If her husband would communicate, her life would be perfect. Well, that, and if her mother would be more supportive--and then her supervisor at work . . .

Unfortunately, Connie's not alone.

Lots of people I see these days try and solve their problems by looking outside themselves. Doing this ensures you will never resolve those issues.

On the other hand, if you focus on improving yourself, many times you'll find the outside world follows suit.

Now, I'm not saying it's easy to do. In fact, owning up to your shortcomings and looking your demons square in the eye can be well . . . scary, if not downright painful.

If you feel up to the task, however, here's what you've got to do.

Identify

This seems obvious, but you'll be surprised how much in denial most of us keep ourselves. Victory over yourself, however, means identifying the enemy.

It takes courage to admit you talk too much, or that you're lazy. Worse, you may not even have a clue as to what others see as your major issues. What do you do then?

Simple . . . ask and listen. Ask your friends, family, bosses, bartender, or spouse what are your least tolerable traits. The answers may surprise you.

Modify

Modify means to change. Armed with the knowledge of who the enemy is, you now move into action. This takes time.

You don't want to try to modify everything all at once. Instead, pick one or two traits and put special emphasis on making changes in those areas.

For instance, let's say you're always late. For at least a month, make being punctual your number one priority.

Solidify

Why a month? Research shows that it takes 30 days to
form a habit. After that, it's almost automatic. Like brushing your teeth.

If you do this, within a year your life today will be virtually unrecognizable to you when you get there. I personally guarantee it. How can I be so sure?

Not only do I counsel people in ways to improve their lives, I actually practice what I preach. I've made some dramatic changes in my life using these techniques, and continue to do so.

If you've got the guts to "Dare Something Worthy," then I challenge you to look at yourself.