It All Comes Down to You

Everything you hope to accomplish in life lies in wait for you to act. You are solely responsible for the quality, course, and construct of your life. Every choice you make—from the use of your time to the selection of your mate—makes a difference. So, if you’ve been blaming everything and everyone for your “circumstances,” that stops right here, right now.  

If you are not happy with your life, the only one who can change things is you. Change is one of the most difficult things for people to accept because change introduces a new unknown to our life. Most people are uncomfortable with the unknown because they are afraid of what it will ask of them. 

Unfortunately, most people view change as a threat or as something that will require some kind of sacrifice or payment. The fact is, they’re right. Change will require something from you, but it will always give you something in return. This simple but powerful truth is based on the Law of Reciprocity, which tells us that if we give something of ourselves, we will receive, often in overwhelming abundance, something in return.

“Growth is painful. Change is painful. 

But nothing is as painful as choosing to remain stuck where you are.”

I get it, life can sometimes suck. Been there, done that…far more than I care to admit. But even the worst of circumstance is lined with opportunity. It’s there if you look hard enough. Oh, and keep in mind that there is always someone else who is worse off than you. So, as my military warrior friends would often say… 

“Embrace the Suck”. 

In other words, look for the good in an otherwise less-than-desirable situation and you will always find it. More often than not, when you look back upon a difficult time you will see the lessons with clarity. You may even value those moments as some of the best growth periods of your life as well.

A Universal Truth: You will always get what you settle for. 

Attitude is everything when it comes to creating the kind of life you desire. No matter what happens to you or around you, you have a choice. You can choose to feel sorry for yourself, project discontent, cast blame, and settle for mediocrity or…you can decide, right here and now that you are the master of your life. Does this mean you’ll never go through anything difficult or uncomfortable? No, but your attitude is the difference-maker in the perspective you cultivate in life. 

The formula is simple: what you project is what you get. So, instead of accepting the circumstances of life, choose instead to poke your finger into the eye of defeat and declare “enough!”

If you’re ready to wake up and take responsibility for your own life, then declare today as that day you will begin to reprogram the thoughts, beliefs, and actions that will set you on a new course. 

Here are a few simple habits that will empower you to change your perspective and begin projecting the right attitude to create the kind of life you desire. 

Be Grateful.

Most people give so much power to their misery that they overlook the magnificence of what is right in front of them at any given moment. Be thankful for what you already have and watch the miracles unfold before you. Be grateful for the people in your life, the fact that you have shelter, the sights, sounds, and scents you get to experience. 

Something happens when you stop to appreciate the things that are right in front of you. Colors become more vivid, details become more prevalent, and love grows as you become more attuned to the subtle nuances of life. There is nothing more tragic than wishing you had said or done something well after the opportunity has come and gone. Turn off the damn TV and appreciate what the silence has to offer. You may, in fact, hear the sounds of love that have been trying to make their way to you through the voices of your children or significant other. 

Dream.

Every great achievement, advancement, or contribution began in the mind of someone. They dared to dream and to believe that their dream was possible. Take some time to yourself to contemplate the power of your innermost self. Use your creative imagination to remove the limits of the natural world. Wake up to the possibilities that are waiting specifically for you to experience. 

Your greatest breakthrough lies in wait for you to unlock through the power of your imagination. Take stock of your unique abilities and pursue that which you have been called to do. Do not leave this world without knowing the gift of you.

“Imagination is everything. 

It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” ~ Albert Einstein

Change your mindset.

Be rich-minded. Rich-minded people don’t focus solely on money but on the richness of life. This mindset adds to the quality of life they get to experience. 

Far too many people think there is not enough to go around in the world. Theirs is a fear-based mindset. Their answers are based on insufficiency and lack—things they cannot see…things they fear. A poor person’s mindset selects security above love, safety before self-expression, and protection over possibility.

Rich-minded people understand that, with a little creativity, a willingness to be unconventional, and an open mind, they can indeed experience an abundant life. When you build your life with the right mindset, you will see opportunities most others simply cannot see. This is the fundamental difference between those who do and those who don’t and those who can and those who won't. 

Be intentional.

You’re creating the reality of your life at this very moment. But chances are you’re not being very intentional about the reality you’re creating. Reality is subjective. That is, it is highly personal. Once you realize the power behind that statement you will quickly realize the power you truly have to shape your life through the reality you create. Once you realize that you are indeed choosing whether or not to believe something, then you can choose to believe that you can do something about it.

Grow.

Challenge yourself to grow. Produce more ideas than you need for yourself so you can share your wisdom and insight with others. True wealth and happiness reside in the spirit of giving. Produce more than you need for yourself so you can begin blessing others, blessing your community, and enriching your life in the process.

A simple exercise…


Change begins with action, so I’ll leave you with this. Write down the beliefs you have about yourself. On one side, list the things that empower you and move you forward, the things that make you more confident, that give you the courage to move forward. On the other side, list the things that hold you back or move you away from your goals. Chances are, you will begin to see with clarity the power you truly have and you will be compelled to do something about it. After all, it all comes down to…you. 

Until next time...

- G -

"Real and lasting change always begins with you." ~ G. Westfal 

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COMING SOON!

Your Ultimate Guide to 

Setting and Achieving 

Every Goal You Can Imagine

“Gary Westfal rolls-up everything I have learned in a 40-year military career about Strategic Action Planning in one book.”

Lieutenant General Bradley Heithold, USAF (retired)

Coming Soon!

-----------------------

333The Power of Equilibrium

"A powerful book that provides an interesting

 cross-section of three different points of view for 

the balance of body, mind, and spirit."

~ Amazon Reader Feedback

Get your copy of this insightful book

on Amazon.com TODAY!

Available Now!

-------------------------------------------------------------

Get your copy of Gary's best-selling novel 

Dream Operative, 

 NOW AVAILABLE 

on Audible.com!

FEAR Is a Thief is on Amazon.com 
and is NOW AVAILABLE on Audible.com too! This inspiring book is the first in a self-empowerment series that was written to help people get past fear using five fundamental truths as a basis for understanding and taking action for a better life. 
Get your copy today at FEAR Is a Thief/Amazon.

Also be sure to check out: KEY HORIZON, the second novel in the G. Weston spy series. This thriller is receiving rave reviews across the spectrum and has captivated a new following of "spy-fi" readers. 

Order your copy of these exciting novels today at Amazon.com

How to Change Your Circumstances...Once and For All!

One of the most significant steps you can take toward achieving your greatest potential and to literally change the conditions of your life is to learn to monitor your outlook and its impact on your personal performance, relationships, and everyone around you.

To be clear, your outlook is largely responsible for the way you see life and is driven, in large part, by the attitudes you develop along the way. Far too many people fail to recognize the critical role that attitude plays in the construct and quality of their life experiences. 


“We are not defined by our circumstances, but rather by the CHOICES we make  in spite of our circumstances.” ~ G. Westfal


I typically begin most of my speaking presentations and coaching encounters by asking a fundamental question: 

What attitude did you bring to this meeting?

Quite often, this question comes as a surprise to most people. In truth, people generally don’t have a high level of awareness when it comes to their attitude. It’s something they have become so accustomed to that they have unknowingly adopted their “default attitude” as part of who they are. They’ll know if they’re hungry or if they’re uncomfortable, but they usually don’t have a grasp on the state of their attitude or the manner in which it affects virtually every area of their life. 

Attitude is Everything

Attitude governs the way you perceive the world and, perhaps even more profoundly, the way the world perceives you. So, if attitude is so important, how do we manage it? 

The good news is that we can manage it through the one power no one can ever take from us—the power of choice. We can either choose an inner dialogue of self-encouragement, determination, and self-motivation or we can choose one of defeat and self-pity. Choice is a power we all possess. 

Admittedly, we all experience difficult times, disappointments, rejection, heartache, and physical and emotional pain. The key is to realize it’s not what happens to you; it’s how you choose to respond to what happens that matters most.

We are blessed with an amazing mind that can be programmed to accomplish nearly anything we desire in life, to include the outlook or attitude we possess.

Don’t care for the hand you’ve been dealt? Take action to re-configure the default outlook you currently have on life. Your efforts to reprogram will have a profound, life-altering effect on the way you see things. Following this course offers far more assurances than the alternative. 

Our inner dialogue is largely responsible for shaping our attitude, which determines how we present ourselves to the world. Despite some opinions to the contrary, we have control over the narrative of that dialogue. That’s not to insinuate that changing or managing it will be easy. In fact, you may find it to be quite difficult at first. The question you must ask yourself, however, is whether or not it will be worth it. 

Whatever we program our minds with can and will be a reflection of what we see and experience as a result. CAUTION: This is a two-edged sword that works both ways. So be mindful to feed your mind with the thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors you intend to experience in life. 


“We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are.” ~ Anias Nin


Many of us have behavior patterns and beliefs today that were programmed into our brains during very delicate and vulnerable times of our lives. The information that was recorded and stored by our mind over the years could have been completely accurate or inaccurate, traumatic or outright cruel. The sad reality of life is that we will continue to be exposed to things that are not conducive to a positive outlook, but we don’t have to allow that narrative to become part of who we are. 

Awareness is Essential

The loudest and most influential voice you hear is your own inner voice. This inner voice is at the core of who you have decided to become. Yes, make no mistake, who you are is formed by the choices you have made over the years through the filter of your thoughts, beliefs, and actions. Each of these elements has been shaped by the things you have been exposed to as well as the reactions and opinions you have formed over the years. 

Every circumstance—good, not-so-good, or outright miserable is an opportunity for you to accept or reject as a part of whom you wish to become. Your awareness of how this part of you is shaped is critical to understanding how to change the manner in which you view the world. 

Change the way you view the world and your world view changes.

Your inner voice can work for or against you, depending on the messages you have allowed or accepted over the years. It can be optimistic or pessimistic, constructive or destructive, apathetic or determined. It can exhaust you or invigorate you. Once you realize you have a choice, your life will change according to the very choices you make, but only if you consciously take responsibility for your inner conversation.

Pessimistic attitudes are often the product of painful past experiences, continual defeat, disappointment, and frustration. It takes serious work to examine and overcome the roots of a pessimistic attitude, but the rewards of ridding ourselves of this heavy burden can reinvigorate the soul and change so many aspects of life.


5 things you can do—right now—to shift your attitude, effectively changing everything, once and for all… 

1. Create a Strong Vision 

The psychology of peak performance has revealed that most achievers use visualizations to crystallize their goals and objectives to enhance and focus their skills. It has been said that if the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve. Nowhere else does this statement come to life more than in creating a burning desire to reach your goal through the creation of a crystal-clear vision. Your vision should contain enough vivid detail that it is difficult for the subconscious mind to distinguish what is from what is yet to be. 

2. Be Determined

While a crystal clear vision helps you to act on your goals, acting on that vision must be sustained in order to create the momentum it takes to reach your goals and objectives. Determination is the ingredient that is required as we encounter inevitable obstacles along the way. Every step we take toward our goal reinvigorates the drive and determination we develop. Progress fuels consistency and determination which, in turn, fuels results. Results make us happy and reinforce a positive attitude. A positive attitude is a game-changer in the reflection of an outlook that effects what we experience in life.

3. Master the Power of Your Words

Words, once spoken, cannot be unspoken. Therefore, it is wise to be mindful of our words. The words we speak reflect the condition of our hearts and is based upon all the things we have come to believe about ourselves. Speaking judgmentally or disparagingly about our circumstances or those around us serve as an indicator that the condition of our heart is in need of change. 

You can create a direct path to success by what you say and how you say it. Positive self-talk and optimistic declarations are just a couple of ways to override past negative programming. These powerful habits replace old, worn-out narratives with a fresh, conscious, positive message that helps to create new and exciting life experiences. So take a closer look at what you are saying to yourself and the messages you have begun to accept as “ordinary” and know that you were never supposed to live an ordinary life. Indeed an extraordinary life awaits. 

4. Display Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is to attitude what breathing is to life. Genuine enthusiasm is difficult to contain. Enthusiasm enables you to apply your gifts more effectively and to attract goodness into your life. It is the genuine desire that communicates commitment, determination, and happiness. Enthusiasm evokes emotion, which is perpetuated by motion. It is driven by an internal spirit that speaks through your actions and your belief in what you are doing. Enthusiasm is one of the most empowering, attractive, and contagious characteristics you can have. Share it openly and often.

5. Ask

I quite often proudly proclaim that we can have, be, do, or become anything we want in life with one simple, powerful word…Ask. The reason I can proudly proclaim this is because it has worked every single time in my own life. The beautiful nature of asking is that we don’t have to know how the answers will come. All we have to do is ask and then be on the lookout for the answers.

The next time you find yourself at odds with seemingly elusive questions or overwhelming frustration…just ask. Ask for insight, awareness, guidance, answers…

Unsure of what motivates you? Ask why, who, what, where, when, how. What motivates you to take action? Why do you want change in your life? Questions—even those posed to our inner-self—invite contemplation and put into motion the answers that will inevitably find their way to us. 

You can indeed change your circumstances. It all begins with a subtle but significant shift in mindset. Consider the 5 steps above as a practical starting point. When you do, you will see the conditions of your life—your circumstances—begin to change in a most extraordinary way.

Until next time...

- G -

"My circumstances do not make me what I am, they reveal whom I have chosen to be."  ~ Wayne Dyer

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If you'd like to receive a notification anytime I publish a new article (currently about once per month), visit my Facebook page: G. Gary Westfal, Author

Once there, click on "G-Life! Magazine" in the left column.  You'll then be subscribed and will receive a notification whenever I publish a new article or provide updates to my books or appearances.  

If you like this post, please recommend it to others!

-----------------------

COMING SOON!

Your Ultimate Guide to 

Setting and Achieving 

Every Goal You Can Imagine

“Gary Westfal rolls-up everything I have learned in a 40-year military career about Strategic Action Planning in one book.”

Lieutenant General Bradley Heithold, USAF (retired)

Coming in the Spring of 2020

-----------------------

333The Power of Equilibrium

"A powerful book that provides an interesting

 cross-section of three different points of view for 

the balance of body, mind, and spirit."

~ Amazon Reader Feedback

Get your copy of this insightful book

on Amazon.com TODAY!

Available Now!

-------------------------------------------------------------

Get your copy of Gary's best-selling novel 

Dream Operative, 

 NOW AVAILABLE 

on Audible.com!

FEAR Is a Thief is on Amazon.com 
and is NOW AVAILABLE on Audible.com too! This inspiring book is the first in a self-empowerment series that was written to help people get past fear using five fundamental truths as a basis for understanding and taking action for a better life. 
Get your copy today at FEAR Is a Thief/Amazon.

Also be sure to check out: KEY HORIZON, the second novel in the G. Weston spy series. This thriller is receiving rave reviews across the spectrum and has captivated a new following of "spy-fi" readers. 

Order your copy of these exciting novels today at Amazon.com