No, this will not be a post about Klaus Schwab, conspiracy theories, and the New World Order. It will be about starting over, or at the very least, giving your life a significant refresh. Previously, I talked about getting your life back on track. But maybe you no longer want that life. Maybe you have gone through something traumatic or you have hit rock bottom. You feel like you can’t continue down the same path. Maybe it is time for a life reset. Here are some tips for embarking on something completely new.

Self-Reflection

The first step in a reset is self-reflection. This is a realistic look at your desires, your strengths, and your weaknesses. This is not to be confused with a psyche-up session. You must be prepared to be brutally honest. It requires you to take responsibility for your actions, both good and bad. And some of your reflections are likely to be quite painful. Questions you might ask yourself include: What do you really want from life? What has caused you to fall short? What are your talents that have served you well? Only when you have completed your self-assessment, will you be ready to tackle your reset.

Accept The Past

The next thing you need to do is accept your past. You don’t want to linger on it but simply accept that it happened and attempt to learn from it. There might be a tendency to ruminate on things you might have done wrong but that will only hold you back. Look at it as a mindfulness exercise: you can examine your past behavior without judging it. As Winston Churchill said, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” The point is to acknowledge what you have already done so you can reset your thoughts and behavior. That can’t happen until you release yourself from the past.

Change It Up

Now that you have explored your past actions, you are prepared to take a different tact. If something isn’t working, it is time to try something new. After all, you can’t expect to do the same things you used to do and have a different result. It isn’t easy to break old patterns but it is necessary if you wish to reset your life. In fact, you may have to blow up your life a bit, which can be scary. But, as long as your actions don’t break the law or put you in the poorhouse, nothing is off the table. In short, do a little brainstorming and figure out what else you may want to try.

Adopt A Fresh Perspective

Cognitive theory teaches us that you won’t be successful in your reset without a change in perspective. Much like you will need to alter your behavior, you will also need a change in mindset. This could involve becoming more positive in your outlook or starting to think outside the box. If you are having trouble changing the way you think (and don’t expect it to be easy), a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) workbook or some psychotherapy might help.

Anticipate Roadblocks

A reset is a major undertaking. It won’t all be smooth sailing. You will defintiely have hurdles to jump along the way. And nothing is more disheartening than gaining some momentum only to hit a roadblock. Anticipating beforehand what obstacles you might encounter is an effective way to manage expectations and problem-solve for their soultion. Plus, if you know what is coming, you won’t be overly dissapointed when they occur. It is important to note, however, that no matter how much you prepare, unexpected problems will always pop up. You must be prepared to ride a roller coaster, but anticipating roadblocks certainly will help.

Embrace The Fear

Majorly changing your life is a scary proposition. It is truly a courageous act. Change is always uncomfortable and this isn’t a small change. The only way to cope with the uncertainty of a reset is to embrace the fear that surrounds it. Accept that you will be scared everyday and there will be multiple setbacks along the way. When you embrace fear, it no longer seems as scary.

Visualize Success

Visualization is a technique popular in sports psychology. You imagine yourself being successful and it helps you shut out negativity, increase confidence, and achieve your goals. It is the self-fulfilling prophecy at work. You might be wondering, what does that look like for a life reset? Well, If your reset involves a new career, for example, you may picture yourself having the greatest job interview of your life and getting the job. Positive vizualization can be the pick-me-up you need to get yourself over the hump.

Ask For Help

Very few people succeed without assistance. And I can almost guarantee that you won’t be able to reset your life all alone. Don’t be afraid to ask your loved ones for help. Maybe they have a contact that will help you with a job or know someone who will become your new best friend. And you know what? Most people like to help. This is especially true if they know you are making the effort to reset your life because it has not gone the way you wanted. They want what is best for you. Let them be part of your success.

Don’t Give Up

A life reset is a challenging process. It is filled with anxiety, uncertainty, and numerous ups and downs. It might be tempting to surrender if it is not smooth sailing right away. Don’t give up! Remember, you are doing this for a reason. Your old life wasnt working for you. You definintely don’t want to settle for unhappiness. While it may be a struggle at times, it will be worth it. It is a chance at a better life. Isn’t that what a reset is all about?