You live in your own head every day, 24/7. You hear yourself tell yourself the same thing day in and day out. Usually, it’s not particularly nice or different.  You think if you just try harder (doing the same thing) or work longer hours (without changing anything else) you’ll eventually get over this plateau and begin living “the life” you know you are meant to live.

But truthfully, what are you doing differently, how are you thinking differently to make that change?

It is a cliché by now, but remember, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result… it really is insanity. Even if you think that if you just do more of it, it’ll be different this time.

There really can be a simple solution – and that’s to change a mere1% of what you do – or, to do one thing differently.

Because you don’t relish the idea of changing anything, and, you’re in your own head, often it’s hard to see what that one thing might be. Maybe it’s a change in focus, an idea you’d never thought of before, a change in attitude.

Maybe it’s to shift the niche of your business, tweak the way you present your material, look at your partner in a different light. These are things that seem obvious, but sometimes get overlooked.

Let me illustrate: put your finger in your “frenulum.” (HA! What’s a frenulum? Fun fact:  It’s the little divet above your lip – see this is what comes when you listen to an acupuncturist/coach!)  Now, move your head from side to side, looking for your finger. You don’t see it, do you? Why? It’s right under your damned nose!

That’s what happens when we can’t get out of our own heads. We miss opportunities, we miss the obvious. We miss what has been there all along.

How do you work with this? Here are some ways to get outside of your head:

• Join a mastermind group.
  • A mastermind group, originated by Napolean Hill in Think and Grow Rich, is a group of people with similar goals but different backgrounds. You get together and spend time on each of your “issues” or blind spots. When you come together like that, it is as if you’ve formed one big “master” mind. Solutions flow in this setting.
• Hire a coach (ahem). It simply is so important to get objectivity, outside ideas (similar to a mastermind, except one on one), accountability and inspiration.
• Act “as if” for awhile. Ask yourself, “Who do I need to BE to get a different result? You can’t continue to be that same exact person you’ve always been and expect to do things differently. Start embodying the person you want to be.
• Pick one or two people you really admire who are successful – all the better if they are successful in the area where you feel your skills are lacking. Read about them. Follow them. See what they did differently to change their circumstances.  Figure out what makes them tick. Find some inspiration and clues from their paths and adopt one or two of them
• Do something different.
  • It seems simple, but seriously, try to approach something from either an opposing point of view or a completely different perspective. For example, what would happen if you were afraid to try something, but you did it anyway? If you succeed, that could be the most thrilling experience.

Once you’ve had the experience of success in a different format, you’ll take bigger chances, make bolder moves. Take your small successes and build on them. You don’t believe you can do this because you’ve not had the experience before – so give yourself the experience of something new!

You just might find that that 1% change can really make a quantum difference in your life. It will allow you to see yourself in a different way, which will change your thoughts, feelings and actions too.

Think way outside the box. Be uncomfortable. Remember, if you’re really comfortable, it means you’re not growing.

Let me know how it goes!

Affirmation of the week:

Today I decide that I’m in the 1% because I’m doing things differently. Today I am thinking outside the box, into the stratosphere of possibilities, and it feels so good! Today I am trying something totally different. 

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