Take Charge Of Your Life

Imagine your life as a dog walker with multiple heavy dogs tugging on the leashes out in front of it. Would you say the dogs are running carefree down the street dragging your life behind dangerously? Or would you say that your life is in control and the dogs are walking politely, going only where they are directed by you?

It may take a moment to absorb that situation and decide how in control your life is at the moment. If you have to admit that the dogs are walking the master rather than the master walking them, you are in the perfect position to step back, refocus on your priorities, and start anew.

Stepping Back
This is the hardest thing to do when you feel there is chaos all around you. Yet, it is one of the most important things to do if you want to bring some control and order back into your world. You can choose to let those dogs drag you down the street so you don't have any control over what happens, or you can let go of the leashes and take a moment to refocus your life.

Stepping back simply means to stop doing what you are currently doing. It obviously isn't working very well for you, right? The first step is always to admit that something is not working and stop just long enough to figure out what the dysfunctional piece of your life is.

You don't have to step back for long. Take a full day or half a day and just focus on figuring out your priorities and making some small adjustments.

Refocusing Your Priorities
Take a piece of paper and write down the things you spend the most time doing and thinking about right now. Those are the things you have been making a priority in your life.

Now make another list of the things you know should be the priority of your life. If you are like most people, this list will be much shorter than the first list because the things you really need to be focusing on aren't as numerous as the things you choose to focus on. It's called over-extending yourself and can be a big part of why you feel things are so chaotic.

What small changes could you make in your life to shift the focus to those things on the second list? You don't need major, dramatic changes...or perhaps you do! If you decide to do something major to refocus on those priorities, make sure you are dedicated and ready to make a go of it long term.

Starting Anew
This is the final step to getting your life back under control. This is where you call the dogs back, pick up the leashes, and show them that you are now the one in control. This is where the plan comes off the paper and enters your daily life.

You really can do this in a single afternoon. If you do the work to honestly assess where your priorities need to be and what is not working for your life, you can decide to turn it around with small changes or perhaps one big change. You just have to make a commitment to putting the plan into action.

Without action, it does no good to identify the problems!

Please visit The Personal Development Company for more information about How To Take Charge Of Your Life and other Self-help products by Jim Rohn