Keys to Success: Self-Mastery

Being successful means different things to different people, but too often we are encouraged to live life according to someone else’s definition. There are really only two ways to live. You can surrender control of your life and constantly be at the mercy of the people and circumstances around you. Or, you can choose to be the master of your own life: self-mastery. You can be focused, resilient, and create the type of life you desire and deserve. If you control yourself, you can control your destiny.

Ready to take control of your life? Here are five strategies to help you get you started:

Take personal responsibility.

One of the reasons you don’t achieve success is because you don’t take personal responsibility. You make excuses and blame others or you allow yourselves to become a victim to life. You become a victim to certain thoughts, events, beliefs, emotions, and perceptions that hold you back from success. This leads to thoughts and feelings of guilt, fear, worry, self-doubt, lack of self-confidence and low self-esteem. You must have a clear understanding and clarity of what you want out of life. Know your why and purpose and know what success means to you. You must also have the confidence and courage to take risks, allowing for NO more excuses.

Embrace discomfort.

We all like to feel secure and be comfortable. Generally, we are only comfortable with the things we do on a regular basis. These things that we continue to do on a regular basis is what has led to the life you are currently living. This level of comfort and security prevents you from achieving the life you truly desire. Unfortunately, to achieve the success, you will have to step outside of your comfort zone. Discomfort can be overcome by overruling your mind. Like any new activity, taking action in spite of discomfort gets easier with time.

Do the hard things.

Often when we are working on our goals, we put off doing the hard things. Understand the actions you least want to take are likely the actions that will improve your life the most. Think about that. The things you’re really dreading might be the very things you need to do to turn your life around. Move the hard things to the top of the list. As you accomplish the hard tasks, the satisfaction you receive from completing the tasks will motivate you to move forward in achieving your dreams.

Find someone to hold you accountable.

With all the distractors in life, it is easy to lose focus. We get back into a mode of telling ourselves why we can’t do something or we listen to all the people that tell us why we can’t. Have a trusted friend, mentor or coach that can help you when you lose your motivation or find yourself getting stuck. You can also join a mastermind or inner circle such as the Infinity Coaching Inner Circle that will help you steer the course.

Realize life is short.

Simply put, life is short. Too many people look back and think of all the things they wish they could have done. Don’t be one of those people! You are in control of your destiny and you deserve to have success on YOUR own terms.

If your level of success and happiness leaves you less than thrilled, consider making some positive changes. Self-Mastery can be a challenging but rewarding process. Imagine if you could get yourself to do all the things you know you should be doing and truly desire to do. How would your life look a year from now?

Take time this week to do one uncomfortable thing that you have been putting off, even if it is as simple as doing an internet search on a career or industry that interests you or eating dinner at a restaurant you always wanted to eat at. Try to do something every day, no matter how uncomfortable, that leads you towards achieving your goals and dreams, to achieving self-mastery. Master yourself and create the life you desire. It’s time for you to achieve success on YOUR own terms.

Carolyn R. Owens has over 25 years of proven experience and serves as a Career Strategist, Executive and Leadership Coach. She is the President of Infinity Coaching, Inc. where she can help you up-level your skills, so you can up-level your income, career, business or life. Infinity Coaching, Inc. provides one-on-one and group coaching, organizational training, personality assessments, and a signature program, the Infinity Coaching Inner Circle.  Carolyn is certified to give both The Energy Leadership Index Assessment and Myers Briggs Type Indicator Assessment. You can find out more he about both assessments and other products and services at https://infinitycoaching.net