"The difference between an amateur and a professional is in their habits...We can never free ourselves of habits...But we can replace bad habits with good ones." Steven Pressfield
There is power in making a small shift in your life to make yourself happy. It has nothing to do with shifting something you dislike about yourself, but has everything to do with reshaping yourself. If you feel you cannot reach your breakthrough, begin to replace anti-breakthrough habits (negative thoughts, lack of gratitude, unworthiness) with successful habits that will bring you into new opportunists and help you grow.
Take a minute to think about your own life path. Were there habits that kept you stuck in places you did not want to be in? When you shift these habits your happiness will increase in every area of your life such as work, love, health and play.
Below are examples or scenarios of how you can shift old habits to make room for new ones:
WORK
Old habit: I waited for external validation to feel successful, good enough, and accomplished. I was always waiting for someone to tell me “Good job” or “I am proud of you” to feel good about my work.
New habit: Asking myself FIRST about how I felt about the work I delivered. Did I put my best foot forward? Was my heart actively engaged in the process? Once I stopped waiting for external validation and made my own voice more important, my confidence increased tremendously and I experienced a huge creative boost.
LOVE
Old habit: I changed myself to fit whatever I thought men found attractive in a woman. I was chronically single and always dating the wrong type of guy.
New habit: I slowly started to show up in my life as the person I truly am and spoke my mind openly. Instead of going out thinking I had to show other people a good time, I focused on simply having a good time. When I met my now fiancé, it felt totally natural, easy, and fun.
HEALTH
Old habit: I thought that my body had to hold up and run with whatever I wanted it to do. I ignored its signs and was mad at my body if it didn’t look, function, or respond the way I wanted. Then I was diagnosed with herniated disks in my lower spine and had surgery.
New habit: My back pain was a humbling experience because it made me realize the power of my body. I slowly let go of reacting to my body with anger and hate, and instead began to pay it the utmost respect. When my body hurts, it’s simply trying to tell me that something is off balance, so I listen and take its clues to course-correct my life accordingly.
PLAY
Old habit: I told myself that I unless my to-do list was completely checked-off, I wasn’t allowed to have fun. I was in the habit of running at a 150 miles per hour and then crashing… again and again.
New habit: Having fun is essential in a healthy life, so instead of letting my to-do list run my life, I took the power back and now make room in my schedule for something fun or relaxing every day. I am way more productive and happy.
What habits are you holding on to in your life that are keeping you stuck, small, and unhappy? How can you change those habits so you can quit being an “amateur” and start becoming a “pro”?
Copyright 2014,
Winsome Campbell-Green
www.cgwritingservices.com 
