3 Simple Ways to Enhance the Quality of Your Life

All of us are on the constant search for better ways to live. We get only one life. So our desire to constantly improve the quality of life is justified. It is more important to add life to our years than to add years to our lives. So here are a few ways you can improve the quality of your life.

Man is a creature of habit. Consciously or unconsciously we develop many habits. Some of these habits might not be serving you anymore. In fact, a lot of your old habits hold you back from upgrading yourself. But the problem is that you are comfortable with these habits. You aren't willing to let go of them. They have become a part of your identity and your personality.

Exercise

Examine the things you do on a daily basis. Figure out why you do them. Analyse if these actions are empowering you or stealing your energy. If they are killing your time and energy start working on changing them.

Replace, don't remove

Old habits die hard. You cannot get rid of them instantly. You'll have to replace them with something else. If you try to get rid of them, it will leave a vacuum in your life. Chances are that you will relapse into your old habits to fill that void. So replace them with something else.

Example

Let's say you're trying to quit smoking. Every time you feel the urge to smoke, do 10 push ups or squats. This will slowly start breaking your old habit and forming a new one. Every time you feel stressed, you will start craving for physical activity instead of smoking. This process will take time too. You cannot break a 10 year habit in 10 minutes. But replacement is the best way to go about it. It breaks your old habit. It also helps you develop a new healthy habit.

Everything seems impossible before somebody achieves it. Most of the time your mind holds you back. Limitations are often a result of limited thinking.

The story of the 4 minute mile

For a very long time, it was believed that it is not possible to run a mile within 4 minutes. But there was one person, Roger Bannister, who believed otherwise. He trained himself physically just like everyone else. But he also started preparing mentally. In his mind, he rehearsed breaking that barrier over and over again. He got to a point where he was absolutely sure that it was possible. The subconscious mind cannot differentiate between real events and imagination. So subconsciously he believed that he had already broken the record. On May 6, 1954, he achieved the feat and clocked 3 minutes and 59 seconds. Once he achieved it, so many runners achieved the same feat in the upcoming years. This was simply because the mental barrier was destroyed.

Identify your mental blocks

We have so many mental barriers. Every time you say " I can't ", it is a result of a mental barrier. The first step is to identify them. Think of everything you wanted to do in the past. How many of them have you actually done? You will notice that you didn't do a lot of things. This is mainly because you thought it was not possible. You either thought the time was not right, or that you are not skilled enough, or that it is too far fetched. All these are limitations you have created for yourself.

Clear your mental blocks

The best way to break your self imposed limitations is through mental rehearsals. Make your mental imagery as vivid as possible. Just like Roger Bannister, be absolutely sure that you can achieve it. Consistently accomplish your dreams in your mind. This will clear all your mental blocks. And once you have visualised it, It's just a matter of time before it happens in the physical world.

The Difference

We need to understand the difference between pleasure and happiness. Pleasure comes from activities which require zero effort, There is no skill required neither is there a challenge. Drinking, watching television, eating junk food etc are examples for pleasurable activities. Happiness comes from activities that are productive. You are required to use your brain and your skills. There is an element of challenge too. It feels rewarding and fulfilling once the activity is over. You are filled with pride and a sense of achievement. Gardening, composing poetry, making a present for a loved one, organising a party etc. are activities that make you happy.

Reason

We have an innate need to be challenged everyday. Otherwise we lose interest in life. You might have noticed that pleasurable activities are initially fun. But eventually, you start feeling bored. The absence of a challenge makes you feel uninterested. After the activity, you feel dull and uninspired. This lowers your energy levels and creativity. So always seek activities that challenge you and ultimately make you happy.