10 Simple Tips to Make Positive Change and Live a More Fulfilling Life

Do you feel lost and wonder how to make a positive change in your life? 

I understand how you feel.

You wonder what options you got. And how to move forward. You may have tried stuff like a new habit, hobby, or even a new job. Still, you feel stuck and frustrated.

But don’t give up yet. 

You’re on the right track and you shouldn’t feel like you should have it all figured out.

The reason you read this article is a sign you’re moving in the right direction. It shows that you want to make a change and create a better life for yourself.

That’s always the first step, right? 

The next step is to let go of any unrealistic expectations. We want everything to happen yesterday. But that’s not how the world works.

Instead, focus on the smallest step you can take to move forward.

Making small consistent steps is the fastest way to build the life you desire. And making sure to enjoy each step along the way ensures happiness and fulfillment.

These 10 simple tips help you to focus on those small yet meaningful steps.

So let’s dive in to learn how to make positive changes in your life.

Tip 1: Focus on You

Sounds cliché?

Maybe it does. But it’s the most underestimated tip in this list.

Here’s why:

Today, expectations are higher than ever before. Think about how social media put the bar higher for everyone. You no longer only compare yourself to your friends – but the rest of the world. 

You feel like you’re always one behind. And thus, you look for fast ways to get ahead. 

It’s a big cause for frustration.

Because life has many complexities and different flavors. And the more you compare yourself to others, the less you stay true to yourself. 

And when you lose touch with yourself – as so many have – you feel unsatisfied.

That’s why you should focus on yourself first.

• Who are you?
• What do you truly enjoy?
• What are your superpowers?
• Who do you want to become?
• What are your values?

Whether it takes you 1 or 10 years to discover the answers, it’s well worth pursuing.

Experiment.

Try new stuff.

Figure out what is meaningful to you. And then focus your energy and effort on that.

Put your happiness first and the rest will follow.

Tip 2: Focus on What You Control

Focus on what is important to you in the macro. And in the micro, focus only on the stuff that you can control.

Focusing on what you control is the path to freedom and personal power.

So what can you control?

• How you talk to yourself
• How you think about yourself
• What you say and do
• The meaning you give to your thoughts
• The meaning you give to the stuff that happens around you

And here are some examples of what you cannot control:

• What others think and say about you
• How other people act
• How people perceive you
• The economy
• The government
• The news
• Can you think of more examples?

Why is it important that you focus on what you can control?

Because if you focus on what you cannot, you give your power and freedom away. 

Say you blame the economy for your situation for instance. Now you no longer have an incentive to make a change, right? After all, it’s because of the economy. 

Imagine how disempowering that feels.

Now imagine how you feel if you would focus on what you can do. How does this different perspective shift the way you feel?

It requires responsibility to make that shift.

But it makes you more creative and happier. Besides, there is an opportunity in every situation.

For example:

When someone says something ugly to you, would you become defensive? Most people would. But this could also be an opportunity to practice empathy. After all, when someone says something bad about you, it’s almost always because they’re in a bad place.

It often has nothing to do with you.

Learning to let go of the stuff you can’t control is challenging. But practicing it comes with the benefits of experiencing more personal freedom and happiness.

Tip 3: Take Small Steps – Not Big Leaps

We already mentioned how we always feel like we’re one behind.

And as a result, you feel like you have to make one up to get ahead. So you look for a fast way to make it happen. How can you score big?

It’s why “how to get rich quick” schemes are still a success to this date. 

We expect results – yesterday. 

And we fail to realize that we can’t get to the top of the mountain in one big leap. 

You need to make small steps to get there. 

One after the other.

We don’t expect to jump straight to the top of a real mountain. So why do you expect that to happen for other things in life?

After all, the mountain of life is quite big and changes as you get older too.

So simply start walking instead.

Maybe you take the wrong route and have to adjust. Or you might face a dead-end and have to go back a little before you can move forward again. Either way, it’s part of the process. And it’s progress nonetheless. 

Life does work in the exact same way.

Focus on who you are and what you want. Figure out what path you want to take right now. Yes, your path may change over time, but it’s important to start walking to figure out what it changes into.

Taking small steps is the fastest way to experience personal growth and make positive changes. Even if it means that you take some steps in the wrong direction.

Tip 4: Learn a New Skill

A fun way to make a positive change in your life is by learning a new skill.

This could be anything, from a new hobby to a new skill in your career or business. The most important thing is that you find joy in learning the skill. That way, you stay consistent until you’ve mastered it.

Learning new skills also leads to more confidence.

And that’s a nice benefit if you seek to live your best life.

When learning a new skill, remember the small steps you have to take. Don’t worry about not seeing progress for a month. Instead, keep going and zoom out at the end of the year.

You’ll see how far you’ve come. 

Tip 5: Sprinkle Positivity in Your Day

What is the first thing you do when you wake up?

For me, it’s either reading a book or the combination of yoga and listening to a podcast. Especially a book or podcast that inspires me.

Why do I do this?

Because it feels much better to start my day like this. Much better than checking the news or Instagram first thing in the morning.

An inspiring podcast or book helps me to start the day with a smile.

It triggers my creative genius (or at least, I believe it does).

This is only one example of my positivity triggers. And having a couple of those triggers to use throughout your day, makes you feel more positive.

Notice how we’re not saying you should always be positive. 

Negativity has a place too. Life sucks from time to time. But sometimes it’s good to feel and experience sadness, loneliness, misery, frustrations, and the likes. It’s all part of life.

The full range of emotions makes life beautiful.

(Though it doesn’t always feel like that.)

But it’s no secret that getting stuck in negative emotions serves no good purpose. Instead, it lowers the quality of your life. And if you experience that, it’s very difficult to make positive changes.

Instead, choose to sprinkle a pinch of positivity in your life.

Tip 6: What Inspires You?

While we’re on the topic of positivity, what inspires you?

What puts a smile on your face – even on a bad day?

I enjoy reading a good book for example. Also, a very long walk outside (on sunny days) generates a lot of clarity and inspiration for me. 

Knowing a couple of things that inspire you helps you to make a positive change. Whenever you feel stuck, you can do one of those activities to refill your inspiration.

So what inspires you?

If you find it difficult to answer that question, try some new things. 

Read a book if you never read one. Or try a non-fiction book if you happen to read fiction. Perhaps you can write your own. 

You can also learn to cook a new recipe. Take a painting lesson. Or start a blog.

More into sports but lost the joy a little?

Try different things. Play a game of tennis. Go for a climbing session. And take up that opportunity to join a free kickboxing lesson at your local gym.

You will only discover what you enjoy if you try out different stuff.

Go into it with an open mind. Don’t expect to enjoy everything. But perhaps 50% of it was a lot more fun than you thought. And if you develop a real interest in 10% of the stuff you try, wouldn’t that add up to a whole lot of new things? 

It takes that 90% to find the 10% that truly inspires you.

Collect experiences to find the hidden gems that inspire you.

Tip 7: Seek Small Discomforts

Making positive changes helps you to be more confident. These two go hand in hand. 

It’s scary to make a change.

It makes you feel uncomfortable or even fearful. But how do you feel when you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone and did it anyway?

At first, a sigh of relief. 

But the second emotion is almost always a good feeling, right? When you do stuff that scares you, you always feel better when you’re on the other side of it. 

It expands your comfort zone.

And it boosts your confidence.

It’s a good thing even when you made a mistake or experienced a failure. Think about a presentation that didn’t go very well. Or what about an awkward situation while enjoying the first date with someone?

At that moment, it sucks. But you always learn from it, right?

Or at least, you become more comfortable in such situations. You become comfortable in the presence of fear and discomfort.

And the opposite is true for shying away from change. 

When you don’t push your boundaries and shy away from fear, your comfort zone shrinks. And you increasingly become more uncomfortable with the slightest amount of discomfort.

That’s why actively seeking discomfort is important. 

Challenge yourself.

It’s a good idea to start small. To do the stuff that is just outside your comfort zone. That way, it won’t cripple you if you make a mistake or experience awkwardness. 

Even saying hi to someone on the street could be a good starting point for you. As your comfort zone grows, keep expanding it. 

It’s a never-ending process. But if you do it often, it becomes a habit. 

And before you know it, you have unshakeable confidence. 

Tip 8: Eat Healthier

A practical way to make a positive change is to simply eat healthier. The stuff you put in your body has a direct impact on how you feel. 

It’s no rocket science.

Healthy food makes you feel good. 

Poor foods – though good while you eat them – make you feel less good after digestion.

If you don’t believe this to be true, I’ve got a fun experiment for you. First, eat terrible foods for a week. Eat fries and pizza for a week for example. 

Then compare that to a week in which you only eat healthy stuff.

And if you did, please send me an email to tell me how you experienced this. Personally, it opened my eyes to learn how much of an impact food has on the quality of my life.

So where do you start?

A simple rule is to limit processed foods and focus on whole foods instead. This means more vegetables, rice, beans, potatoes, and fruits into your diet. 

To make a positive change in your life, start with the food you put inside your body.

Tip 9: Start Exercising

It’s no secret that just like eating healthier, exercise has a positive impact on you. 

Though it may not be your most fun thing to do, it has many benefits. And it’s a great way to make positive changes and improve your self-esteem.

And did you know that you can make exercise fun too?

There are many sports and exercise routines out there. Whether you prefer to do it alone or rather in a social setting, there are many options for both.

Even if you want to stay home and workout no longer than 30 minutes, you have numerous choices. Think about yoga, pilates, strength training like pushups, or high interval training.

The question is, what do you enjoy the most?

This is where we fall back on the same advice given in an earlier tip: experiment. Try stuff and see what sticks for you.

Tip 10: Or Go for a Long Walk

One of my favorite ways to feel good is to go for a long walk. Long walks work so well for me, that I often do this when I feel stuck and need clarity.

And it might just work for you too.

Walking is a proven method to trigger positive emotions. Especially when you go for a walk in a green environment.

Long walks can make you feel more creative too. Which makes it a perfect activity for when you feel stuck, face a problem, or have to make a complex decision.

Choose to go for a walk alone if you normally only do it with others. Walking alone forces you to look inwards and sit with your thoughts. Try it for yourself and discover what I mean. 

In general, a walk every once in a while goes a long way to boost a positive change.

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There you have it, ten easy tips to make a positive change in your life.

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