Recreating your life

Here is some info that I found on WikiHow. I have found some of this helpful as I can relate parts of it to my own life. Hopefully someone else that is reading this can find something valuable in it too. I think that everyone, no matter who you are or how happy your life is, could benefit in some way from at least considering some of these points.

Recreating your life…

Have you recently come to the abrupt realization that your life isn't anything close to what you wanted it to be? Whether it's spurred by a mid-life crisis, a near-death experience, a shattering recognition of something you were in denial about, a psychedelic epiphany, or a painful separation, here's how to change the direction that your life is heading.

Steps

1. Try to remember what you've always wanted. What did you dream about being and doing when you were a child? Or an invincible teenager? Or an idealistic college student? At many points in our lives, when we encounter obstacles, we tend to settle. What have you settled for? What did you give up on when you settled?
2. Be honest with yourself. Pretending that your life is great when it's really not is only going to make things worse. Sure, you've got plenty to be grateful for, but there's nothing wrong with seeking more growth and fulfillment. Don't ever feel that by wanting more, you're forsaking what you already have.
3. Write down your goals. Where do you want to be in 5 years? 10 years? What do you want to accomplish before you die? Make lists and time-lines. Keep them close to you, and read them every day, preferably when you wake up.
4. Consider making a big change. Switch careers, move to a different area, or end a relationship that's bringing you down. Stop your life from becoming one big routine.
5. Expand your comfort zone. Do something that's completely out of character. Shave your head, wear a miniskirt, try karaoke, do a cartwheel barefoot on the grass, etc. Be spontaneous and daring. Even if it has nothing to do with your goals, stepping out of your comfort zone will help you get used to facing your fears, especially people's reactions when you do something they'd never expect you to do.
6. Remember that it is your life to live. You should choose what is best for you.
7. Try to join a group that supports you and teaches you to enjoy the simple things in life. People spend lots of money going to scenic places to enjoy the natural elements when many or all of those elements are in their own backyard.

 Tips

• The key is to stay focused on your dreams, no matter how far you may be from accomplishing them. If you don't remember what you want out of life, it's awfully easy to lose your way. 
• Focus on what matters the most to you and pursue it unmistakably to the point of being able to grasp only a moment. 
• It is better to have experience than not. 
• Don't ever think "It's too late," or "I'm too old." It's never too late, and you can never be too old to find happiness. Read Maria Shriver's book "Just Who Will You Be?" 
• Visualize yourself as being the way you want to be. See yourself being congratulated, or hugged for what you have done. 
• Visualization is very powerful. If done often, it can work. 
• You can provide yourself with an extra measure of motivation by using the Best Me Techniqueof self-hypnosis to pre-experience the rewards of a long-term goal, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for "will power." 
• Don't hang out with people that bring you down no matter how close to you they are (family, old friends, etc). 
• Tend your garden of life one leaf at a time and learn to enjoy it. 

Starting Over

• Never say, "I should have done things differently," or "if only I had taken them to the doctor sooner." Blame can be like poison in the body. Accept what has happened and go on with your life because you really cannot change a thing. 
• Finding a new job, or a new sport can be the start of a new life. You may find that it will be the best thing that has happened to you, something you have always wanted to do, but never had the nerve to change. 
• Rearrange the furniture. Sometimes the memories of a room or a house can be hard to shake. Take an afternoon and rearrange the furniture, pictures, etc. It will start feeling new and fresh and the memories of your new place will be all yours. 
• Spend time with people that make you feel good and make you feel positive. You may find that old friends are bringing you down. Change the patterns and surround yourself with people who make you feel better or encourage your self improvement. Sometimes the best way to start over is to cut out the negatives. 

Starting over again, whether if is a result of a divorce, or death of a spouse, or the loss of a job after many long years, can be painful to experience. Starting again, has caused many a hardship,anxiety, separation or depression. We all, at one time or another, have had to pick ourselves up and start again, even if the cause was injury that resulted in changing sports. Once finally accept these changes as a part of life can we once again move forward.We only live once,and we can't live in the past forever.

Not only has this been helpful to me at this point in my life, but these are the kind of ideas that I can share with people in need as a Social Worker. Still kind of a work in progress...