How to Start From Scratch
when you don’t know what you want
There really is no big secret, just a firm decision. If you are dissatisfied with your life just decide “I am not going to live like this anymore.” Then start where you are at with what you have, however meager or unclear, and do whatever it takes right here right now to take any small step in the right general direction.
I found that every single successful person I’ve ever spoken to had a turning point and the turning point was where they made a clear, specific, unequivocal decision that they were not going to live like this anymore. Some people make that decision at 15 and some people make it at 50 and most never make it at all.” Brian Tracy
Don’t worry if your goals are not clear at the start. Use “how you don’t want to live” to determine “how you do want to live.” It will be the opposite, and you will surely know at least parts of what you want to change. Start with what little is immediately obvious to you to change next and then grow from there later.
The main business is not to see what lies dimly at a distance but to do what lies clearly at hand.” Thomas Carlyle
In other words, decide to do whatever it takes starting right here right now with whatever is in front of you . Once you get going the next steps will become obvious.
A good analogy to help avoid planning too far ahead is the headlight analogy: At night headlights show only the next thing to be done. When planning life the main two things to consider are (1) am I headed in the right general direction and (2) what’s next. Keep aware of what road you are on, but don’t waste attention worrying about the twists and turns ahead you can’t see yet.
Here are some questions and ideas to help you get started on any particular day:
- Ask “What one thing can I do today that will make everything else easier.”
- Ask “What good can I do today.” Source: Ben Franklin.
- Ask “What strengths & opportunities can I take advantage of today. SWOT = strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats.
- Ask “How can I make work play.”
- Set a schedule of times to work on goals rather than a schedule of when to reach goals. The former is in your control; the latter often is not.
- Establish habits first, before goals. Habits are great vehicles for more easily reaching goals.
- Stay positive open alert ready connected controlled (POARC). Be mindful and ready for any opportunities and ideas you run across. Success is often about adapting to and taking advantage of changing environments.
- Demand to know the divine design. Seriously ponder it and demand wisdom and an answer from your inner self. Then wait for intuition to tell you as you go.
Then, to maximize your momentum, as you go through the day keep in mind:
Just do the best you can every moment given the situation. Realize your best and the situation will not usually be perfect, but that’s OK. Don’t get hung up with fancy, complicated thoughts. Most important, don’t get hung up berating yourself. Just keep taking the next step, no matter how small, in the right general direction.
Longer Term top
Here are some approaches on how to achieve longer term success once you know what you really do want:
- Deliberate focus – Use mindful concentration to intelligently adapt as needed given the ever changing environment. I.e., keep your wits about you as you focus.
- on a persistent desire – Like using a looking glass to start a fire, keep focusing until the flame starts burning. It takes time for your thoughts to come about.
Another similar sequence that leads to long term success:
- intelligent/intuition – wisdom/awareness/destiny
- desire/intention/demand – direction/focus/ control/passion/interest
- attitude/make it play – fuel/energy
- faith/assumption/acceptance/indifference/mental equivalent – oxygen /substance
- persistence/controlled focus/mindful concentration/time/schedule – growth/morph