Make Inner Changes for Outer Changes

We spend too much energy trying to change from the outside in. While it’s possible to force yourself to behave in a certain way, it’s nearly impossible to maintain that change if you don’t make the necessary inner changes to support that behavior.

If this weren’t true, we would all eat healthy food, go to the gym, do our homework, and be perfect people.

The most effective way to change your behavior and your results is to make inner changes:

1. Beliefs. Your beliefs impact your behavior. If you think failure is bad, you’ll behave very differently than someone that believes failure is just part of the game. What are some significant beliefs? Consider these:
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• Money is the root of all evil versus money creates freedom
• People can be trusted versus people are greedy and selfish
• Life is a game versus life is a competition
• Success is all that matter versus happiness is all that matters
• Freedom is the most important thing versus admiration is the most important thing.
• Healthy food is boring versus healthy good can taste great

It’s easy to see how different beliefs can lead to different approaches to life and different outcomes.

2. Thoughts. Your beliefs influence your thoughts. But your thoughts can also be chosen. Consider your fears. You can’t be afraid of something unless you have a scary thought to go along with it. Is a baby afraid of a snake, a gun, or a scary movie? They have no concept of these things.

• The thoughts you hold affect your mood and your focus. They also influence the things you pursue and avoid. Managing your thoughts can shape your behavior out in the world.

3. Attitude. Your attitude affects your view of the world and your behavior. An optimist creates a different life than a pessimist. Are you angry or happy? Are you hopeful or fearful?  Even how you view failure has a huge impact on your approach to living. People who avoid failure at all costs also avoid success. View failure as a learning experience and something that comes with the territory. If your attitude is to embrace failure, your level of success will increase.

It’s important to monitor and change your behaviors if you want different results. However, your behavior is heavily influenced by your beliefs, thoughts and attitude.

Focusing on making the necessary inner changes can give better results than simply trying to modify your behavior. Make the inner changes you need in order to manifest the behavior and results you want in your life.