We all want change.

We all yearn for better lives, better health, better relationships. It’s part of being human, and it’s also an integral part of growth.

And yet… sometimes, despite all our ardent yearning, things don’t change, nothing moves. It feels like three steps forward, and then six steps backward, and we feel perpetually caught in this strange sort of progress-impeding-vortex.

It’s the pits.

So how do we create lasting change? (Keep reading…)

Now, it must be said, that some people aren’t ready to change their lives because it would require them to a) take action, and b) take responsibility for it all. And furthermore, many people are addicted to the dramas of their life because it gives their existence a twisted sense of “significance.” Something to complain about. Something worthy of notice or pity or who-knows-what.

This post isn’t really for the self-sabotagers. (Unless you’re ready to give all that up.)

This list is for those who are ready to give their lives a hard (yet compassionate) look and take things to the next level. My sincerest hope is that this list, by no means exhaustive, will help you to  jumpstart change in your life.

But, first off, and most importantly…

Sounds obvious, doesn’t it? Yet so many of us continue living the same way we’ve been living, and expecting different results, becoming über frustrated when change just doesn’t come. Truly the definition of insanity.

We need to take a hard look at our lives, because it’s a classic case of cause and effect.

If you change the makeup of your life — activities, thoughts, patterns, (i.e. the causes), then your life (effect) can’t help but be affected. Life is constantly providing us with feedback. So we just have to analyze the data, then take action.

In short, don’t wait for “life” to hand you better cards. Inspect the cards that you’ve been dealt and that you’ve created, and take responsibility for changing them. Once we take the reins of responsibility, instead of wallowing in victim-land, we stop waiting for change, and instead, we start instigating it.

Responsibility = empowerment. Empowerment = action.

Now that we’ve got that sorted, let’s move on to some action steps. The following tips have truly made a huge difference in my life, and I’m eager to share them with you.

You knew it was coming.

Chances are that you, too, have seen a documentary or two, or heard about someone’s life being forever changed/healed/resurrected by yoga. It’s not a coincidence. It’s not hype. Yoga is a gift from God almighty.

It’s a connection of the breath, body, mind, and spirit. It’s flexibility, strength, discipline, and relaxation, all rolled into one fricken fantastic practice.

Regardless of which kind of yoga you opt for — iyengar, hatha, jivamukti, kundalini, bikram/hot yoga, etc. — if you are consistent, it will change your life. It’s proven.

(Read about Chloe’s yoga month, and maybe join in!)

In essence, just:

1. Sign up for yoga. (Or start doing it at home — see Chloe’s article.)
2. Do it at least twice a week.*
3. The practice will do the rest. Magic.

*Obviously, if you want quicker and more profound results, do it more often. The law of increasing returns, guys.

And this tip is especially for those who don’t already practice yoga, or who think they’re “too old”or “too inflexible.” (There are yoga classes for all levels.) If this is the case for you, once you start to practice regularly, get ready for a total life up-watt.

If you already consider yourself a yoga-master, see how you can deepen or challenge your practice. Keep in mind the golden rule:

“If you change nothing, nothing will change.” – Tony Robbins

Repeat after me: Juicing only works if I drink it. 

I feel like a lot of us love fresh juice — we love it! — but that doesn’t mean we successfully drink enough of it. (Myself included.) Because lawd knows it’s expensive to buy (‘spesh in Paris), or it’s literally an hour-long activity of rinsing and chopping and juicing and then cleaning cleaning cleaning all the cotton-pickin’ parts of the juicer… after which you’re too tired to drink your juice and what you really want is a stiff tea and a nap.

I know.

But drink it we must. (Here’s why.)

You don’t need me to tell you that juicing can and will change your life if you let it. You know this. You’ve seen A Beautiful Truth, Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead, and Jason Vale’s Super Juice Me. (Haven’t you?) Now you just have to put your juice where your mouth is.

In terms of how much should you juice? Well, if you want your life to change, shoot for: a lot more than you’re drinking right now. (And I’m talking freshly squeezed veggie and fruit juice. I’m talking kale and parsley, or this delicious zingy beet juice.)

So maybe you’re feeling hella fly because your yoga practice looks like this chick’s, and your morning kale juice has your skin sparkling, but maybe you’re still feeling stuck. The truth is, we need to clean out the inside and the outside of our environments in order to cause lasting change.

For example, let’s say that insecurities and limiting beliefs from the past have been holding you back. It’s highly possible that it’s because you’ve been holding on to old possessions that are energetically doused with all those old beliefs and insecurities. Photographs, papers, books, trinkets… whatever. Take a look around your home, and really inspect. Are there areas that are filled with old, stagnant stuff that, when you think about it, doesn’t really make you feel all kinds of stellar? You may be loathe to part with it for x-y-z reason, but part with it. When we clear out the old, complicated, and metaphorically dusty, we make space for the new and fresh, and hence, we make space for change. 

My absolute favorite books on this topic, which have truly been life-changing for me, are Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui, and The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. (Plus, Chloe and I have been on the minimalism bandwagon for over a year now, here’s our take on it.)

In the words of Marie Kondo:

When you tidy*, you gain a little confidence.
You start to believe in the future.
Things begin to go more smoothly.
The people you meet change.
Unexpected things happen in a positive way.
Change begins to accelerate.
And you begin to really enjoy your life.

* Marie uses the word “tidy” to mean de-clutter/getting rid of stagnant, unloved stuff.

In short, friends, the power is in your hands.

If you do all of the above – yoga, juicing, and getting rid of stuff – plus take a hard look at your habits and practices in order to stop doing what you’ve been doing, your life will change.

But progress isn’t linear. Be patient with yourself, and remember: There’s no substitute for consistency.

We’d love to hear from you! Have you tried any of the above? What are some of the things that have helped you to do an about-face in your life?

To a better life,