Take some risks, seek out positivity to be who you want to be, suggests motivational speaker and lifestyle coach Vinee Ajmera.
Do you ever imagine a healthier, happier, more successful you? I do!
That is not to say that my current life is bad, it is not. Really
But sometimes it is easy to overlook the things that make my life the amazing adventure it is, especially when I am up in the middle of the night worrying about not having enough money, very few friends, and too much belly fat.
I take comfort in the fact that I am not the only one. It seems a lot of us believe that there is a better version of ourselves out there. And if only we had more ambition, better discipline and enough will power, we could become the fit, contented and wealthy people we were meant to be.
The good news is, it is never too late to begin working on becoming the best version of ourselves.
True, not all of us will be managing successful business empires or running marathons any time soon, but by staying focused on our ideal life, we can make better choices that will keep us on the right path toward a happier and healthier life.
1. Figure out who you are and who you want to be
After nine years of working as cabin crew for several domestic and international airlines, Vinee transitioned into a corporate career. “At one point I realised that there was a lot I still had to offer. That’s when I decided to chart a different path,” says Vinee who is now a TEDx speaker and a corporate trainer and podcaster.
She adds that you can start by being very clear about what the best version of yourself looks like. “It is important to be sure that the version you’re chasing is genuinely you and not just somebody else that you wish you were. A lot of us feel pressured to be something we are not by society or people who are close to us.”
2. Believe in yourself and do away with negativity
Our thoughts control us. So, cut the negative self-talk and switch on the positivity and optimism.
“Once we believe we can, we will identify the ‘how’ of it and then go about doing what it takes to get there without doubting its possibility at every stage.”
Vinee points out that by practising mindfulness we can bring positive change in our lives and stay away from pessimism. “Have the right self-conversations, set goals with achievable and measurable milestones, celebrate small victories, and then move on to the next task.”
3. Don’t be afraid to try new things
We can’t expect to be the best version of ourselves if we always play it safe and don’t take risks. Taking up something new can also lead us to opportunities we didn’t know existed, says Vinee who started waking up at 5 am four times a week for her morning jog.
“My social life started taking a backseat but eventually seeing my dedication, my friends started making plans around my running days, respecting my passion for fitness. Today, this has led me to having my own podcast on running which combines both my passions—fitness and well-being.”
4. Develop strong habits
Sometimes we are unaware about the habits holding us back from living up to our potential.
Vinee suggests doing the following to enhance your personal and professional self:
When you catch yourself thinking negatively, switch on to a positive statement. For example, “I failed” can become “I will keep trying until I make it.”
Cultivate an attitude of abundance and gratitude. Remember that all of us have a lot to be thankful for.
Use food to nourish your body, and enough sleep and exercise to lower stress. This will help you be healthy because you can’t be your best self if you don’t take proper care of yourself.
5. Keep going and growing
“Your profession and dream job may not always be the same but if you dive into whatever you take up, your choice will manifest into newer dreams with the same feeling of satisfaction and rigour,” says Vinee who grew up wanting to “excel as an engineer”.
“However, I ended up journeying through the airlines industry, a corporate stint and finally entrepreneurship but my dream did not change. It was still ‘to excel’ – only the role and path to get there has evolved over time, that of a speaker and coach. And everything else I did along the way, I pursued the same principle which is why I remained happy and kept getting better.”
