“Be change you wish to see.” Mahatma Gandhi

In last issue of Along The Purpose Path I told story of a client who’s been working to make a change in her life. She wants to grow her business while at same time, decrease her stress level and increase how much she enjoys herself. She’s not alone.

My client’s breakthrough began when she made a mental shift from a state of striving to state of thriving.

What seems to make difference between those who thrive versus those who strive comes down to willingness to identify what is and isn’t working in life; and then making appropriate changes. Yet, studies indicate that most - over three-quarters of us - fail to follow through on changes we set out to make.

The reality is change is difficult for just about everyone. Those who do manage to follow though on life changes aren't simply lucky. Instead, they've mastered skills to not only make change easier, but also to make their changes sustainable over time.

It's a cliché that bears repeating. Rome wasn't built in a day. Change happens one step at a time. The most effective change a person can make is when it’s taken in small increments. People often get stopped because they don’t shift their focus from big picture long enough to effectively plan. When you don’t have a solid plan, and support for your plan, it’s easy to get bumped off course and become disillusioned.

The good news is every time you successfully implement a change, small or large, your life gets better. Success builds new evidence that change is possible. It spreads confidence and a sense of achievement throughout your life.

It’s New Years Resolution season. It seems there's something magical about new beginnings that inspires most of us to reexamine our lives, renew our commitment to a goal or resolve to make changes. Some of us aim even higher toward a complete reinvention of our selves.

As a Coach, I earn my living by helping people make changes in their personal and professional lives. So it won't surprise you to hear me suggest these five strategies you can begin using to make changes, stop striving and begin thriving in year ahead.

1. Identify “gap A “gap” represents difference between where you are currently and where you want to be. An example of a gap might be: I want to be exercising regularly but I’m currently not exercising at all. Or I want to start my own home business and I’m currently employed. There can be small gaps or there can be big gaps.

Having life you want is really a matter of identifying and closing your gaps. This perspective can reduce feelings of overwhelm. Instead of looking at life as one huge problem, you begin to see a series of gaps that needs filling one at a time.

Once you identify your gaps, you have a road map to follow.

2. Reveal and disqualify disempowering beliefs that energize your gap

Now that you have identified your gaps you can begin to close them.

by Patric Chan copyright 2004.

I had just purchased another motivational book by Anthony Robbins last week. In fact, that's fourth Anthony Robbins book that I had bought.

When I got home that day, I realized that I got a shelf full of self improvement books!!

Sometimes, we never did finish reading books that we had bought.

That's why, I've come up with 5 ways on how you can make full use of self improvement books that you've bought.

1. Read it several times.

Don't read books as if it's a marathon competition that you must finish reading as many books as possible in your life.

It's better to learn and understand 5 books content that you had read rather than to complete reading 20 books but you cannot understand or remember.

From my experience, I realized that I'll be able to absorb more knowledge and understand what book is teaching on second time of reading it.

2. Share knowledge learned.

Research has shown that if you share with others what you had learned, you'll learn and understand information much more better. When you shared, you’ll also help those who you shared with.

You can also share your thoughts at online forums. One of online forum that I post is Anthony Robbins's online website forum, http://www.anthonyrobbins.com/community/

3. Swap book you have with you friends.

I know it is fun to collect books. But sometimes, there are some books that you like to read, but you do not necessary need to own or buy it.