A Systematic Approach To Changing Your Life (In 10 Minutes)

Summary

This video script outlines a systematic approach to life transformation, emphasizing the importance of understanding your 'why' to guide change. It suggests identifying core values and envisioning an ideal life at both macro and micro levels. The script advocates for creating a personal tracker to monitor progress and establishing core habits aligned with one's values. It also encourages setting both short-term personal goals and long-term life-altering objectives, recommending a timeline for achieving these goals and the importance of regular reviews for staying on track.

Takeaways

• 🕒 Change takes time and doesn't happen overnight, but significant steps can be taken to start living the life you want.
• 📈 The first phase of change is planning, which includes understanding the 'what', 'why', and 'how' of the changes you want to make.
• 🌟 'Why' is crucial as it provides a guiding principle to return to when facing challenges.
• 🔍 Identifying core values can help align your life with what's most important to you.
• 📝 Creating a personal statement or code of ethics can guide your daily actions in accordance with your values and beliefs.
• 🎯 The 'what' phase involves creating a clear vision of what you want your life to look like, both in the big picture and on a day-to-day basis.
• 🚫 Knowing what you don't want in life can sometimes be easier than knowing what you do want, which can help clarify your goals.
• 💡 Using role models can provide inspiration for the changes you want to make.
• 💡 Consider what you would do if there were no limits, such as financial constraints, to help define your true desires.
• 🔄 Your daily actions should reflect your long-term goals and contribute to the overall direction of your life.
• 🛠 Building systems and habits is key to maintaining accountability and structure, which are essential for achieving your goals.
• 🔄 It's important to regularly review and adjust your goals and habits to stay on track with your desired life changes.

Q & A

What is the first phase of the systematic approach to changing your life mentioned in the script?

The first phase is the planning phase, which involves understanding the 'what', 'why', and 'how' of the change you want to make in your life.

Why is the 'why' important when planning to change your life?

The 'why' is important because it serves as a North Star, providing a guiding principle to return to when facing challenges during the change process.

What are core values and how do they relate to changing your life?

Core values are the most important things to an individual. If something in life needs to change, it's likely because it doesn't align with these core values.

What is a personal statement and how does it help in life change?

A personal statement is a rule of life or a personal code of ethics that aligns daily actions with one's values and beliefs, helping to shape the kind of person one wants to be.

How does the 'what' phase help in creating a clear vision for life change?

The 'what' phase involves creating clarity about what one wants their life to look like, both at a macro level (overall life) and a micro level (individual days).

What is the 'Anti-Life' prompt and how does it assist in defining life goals?

The 'Anti-Life' prompt involves writing down what one does not want their life to look like, which can help clarify what they do want by identifying what they wish to avoid.

What is the role of role models in the process of defining life goals?

Role models can provide inspiration for life goals. By identifying aspects of someone you admire and why, you can define what you want to emulate in your own life.

How does the 'no limits' prompt encourage thinking about life changes?

The 'no limits' prompt encourages thinking about what one would do if there were no constraints like money or time, allowing for expansive and creative goal setting.

What is the significance of the systems phase in the life change process?

The systems phase is about building structures and habits that keep you accountable and on track with your goals, as systems create the framework necessary for consistent progress.

Why is it recommended to have both a smaller personal goal and a bigger goal when planning life changes?

Having both a smaller personal goal and a bigger goal allows for immediate progress and satisfaction while also working towards a significant, long-term life change.

What is the purpose of a weekly review in the context of life change?

A weekly review serves to assess progress, realign with goals, and make adjustments as necessary, ensuring continuous momentum towards the desired life changes.

Outlines

00:00

📈 Systematic Life Change: Planning Phase

The paragraph introduces a structured approach to life transformation, emphasizing that change is a gradual process. The speaker outlines the 'planning phase' as the initial step, focusing on the 'what,' 'why,' and 'how' of personal change. The 'why' is crucial as it provides motivation and direction during challenges. The audience is encouraged to reflect on their current life, identify areas for improvement, and consider whether they wish to make significant or minor changes. Methods to discover one's 'why' include examining core values and creating a personal statement. The 'what' phase involves envisioning the desired life, both at a macro (overall life) and micro (daily life) level. Prompts are provided to help clarify these visions, such as identifying an 'anti-life' scenario, considering role models, and imagining a life without constraints.

05:03

🔨 Building Systems for Accountability

This paragraph delves into the 'systems phase' of life change, highlighting the importance of creating routines and structures to maintain accountability. The speaker suggests setting up a tracker to monitor values, systems, goals, and tasks, which should be integrated into daily life for regular review. The concept of establishing three core daily habits is introduced, recommending one each related to health, work, and personal life. These habits should align with long-term goals and replace any detrimental habits. The paragraph also discusses setting both short-term personal goals and long-term, life-altering objectives. An example of a personal goal is a hobby-related achievement, while a significant goal might involve career or residential changes. The speaker advises dedicating the first week to planning and the following two weeks to system building and habit implementation, with the remainder of the time focused on achieving the set goals.

10:04

🔄 Embracing the Process of Self-Improvement

The final paragraph addresses the ongoing nature of self-improvement, acknowledging that setbacks are a natural part of the process. It emphasizes the importance of getting back on track after deviations from the plan. The speaker shares their personal practice of a weekly review, which includes goal assessment, habit review, and planning for the upcoming week. This review process is crucial for staying aligned with one's objectives and making adjustments as necessary. The paragraph concludes by reinforcing the idea that while self-improvement may be messy and imperfect, it is ultimately worthwhile for achieving a life that aligns with one's desires.

Keywords

💡Systematic Approach

A systematic approach refers to a methodical and organized way of tackling a problem or process. In the context of the video, it is used to describe the structured method the speaker outlines for changing one's life. The speaker emphasizes the importance of a step-by-step process that includes planning, setting up systems, and establishing habits, which are all part of a systematic approach to self-improvement.

💡Core Values

Core values are the fundamental beliefs and principles that guide an individual's behavior and decision-making. The video suggests identifying one's core values as a crucial step in aligning one's life with what truly matters to them. The speaker implies that if there is a disconnect between one's life and core values, it may lead to a desire for change, hence understanding one's core values is essential for personal development.

💡Personal Statement

A personal statement is a declaration that encapsulates an individual's identity, values, and aspirations. In the video, the speaker mentions creating a personal statement as a tool for aligning daily actions with one's values and beliefs. It serves as a reflection of the kind of person one aspires to be, both aspirationally and realistically, and is used to guide one's life changes.

💡Macro and Micro Level

The terms 'macro' and 'micro' level are used to describe different scales of life planning. The 'macro' level refers to the big picture or overall life goals, while the 'micro' level pertains to the details of daily life. The video encourages viewers to define what they want at both levels to ensure that daily actions contribute to long-term life goals.

💡Anti-Life

The 'Anti-Life' in the video is a concept used to help individuals identify what they do not want in their lives. By writing down the aspects of life one wants to avoid, it becomes clearer what one should strive for. This negative visualization is a technique to clarify one's desires and goals by contrasting them with undesirable scenarios.

💡Role Model Approach

The role model approach is a strategy where individuals identify someone they admire and use that person's qualities as a guide for their own life changes. The video suggests considering what aspects of a role model one likes and why, and then using those insights to shape one's own goals and aspirations.

💡No Limits Thinking

No limits thinking is a mindset where one imagines what they would do if there were no constraints such as financial limitations or societal expectations. The video encourages this mindset as a way to dream big and identify life goals that might otherwise seem unattainable. It's a method to uncover deep desires that can be pursued once practical considerations are taken into account.

💡Systems

In the video, 'systems' refer to the routines, habits, and structures that one puts in place to ensure consistent progress towards their goals. The speaker emphasizes that it's not just about setting goals but about establishing systems that hold oneself accountable and provide structure, which are key to achieving those goals.

💡Core Habits

Core habits are the fundamental behaviors that one commits to on a daily or near-daily basis, which are aligned with their values and goals. The video suggests creating three core habits that are manageable and directly contribute to the desired life changes. These habits are meant to be small, consistent actions that accumulate into significant life transformations over time.

💡Weekly Review

A weekly review is a practice of reflecting on the past week's actions and planning for the upcoming week. In the video, the speaker recommends this practice as a way to stay on track with one's goals and habits. It involves reviewing progress, recalibrating plans, and making adjustments as necessary to ensure continuous movement towards one's desired life changes.

💡Timeline

The 'timeline' in the video refers to the schedule or duration over which the life change process is expected to occur. The speaker outlines a timeline that starts with a planning phase, moves into system building, habit formation, and then focuses on achieving both short-term and long-term goals. The timeline provides a roadmap for how to pace oneself through the life change process.

Highlights

Changing your life takes time, but significant steps can be taken quickly.

A systematic approach to life change is shared in a ten-minute video.

Phase one of change is the planning phase, focusing on the what, why, and how.

Understanding 'why' you want to change is crucial as it provides a guiding North Star.

Methods to discover your 'why' include identifying core values and creating a personal statement.

The 'what' phase involves creating clarity on what you want your life to look like.

Use prompts like 'The Anti-Life' and 'role model approach' to define your life vision.

Consider what you would do if there were no limits to your life choices.

The 'systems phase' is about building structures that keep you accountable to your goals.

Create a tracker to monitor your values, systems, goals, and to-dos.

Establish three core habits that align with your daily and long-term life vision.

Replace bad habits with these core habits to improve your life.

Set both a smaller personal goal and a larger life-altering goal within a six-month timeframe.

Spend the first week planning and the following two weeks building systems and habits.

Maintain your system and habits with regular check-ins and weekly reviews.

Embrace the messiness of self-improvement and the iterative process of getting back on track.

A weekly review helps in staying aligned with your goals and making necessary adjustments.

Transcripts

Changing your life takes a lot of time,

and I'll be the first person

to tell you that you can't be a completely new person overnight,

but you can take some incredible steps to make your life much more like the life

you actually want to be living, and not that much time at all.

In this video, I'm going to share a systematic approach

to changing your life in exactly ten minutes.

Phase one the planning phase.

The what, the why and the how.

If you've been around the channel

for a bit, you know I almost always start with why.

And this is really important because a why gives you a North Star.

It gives you something to come back to when things get tough.

So why do you want to change your life?

What's wrong with your life right now?

Do you like most of your life?

And is there one big thing you want to change?

Or do you like your life mostly and want to change a few small things?

Or is there so much you want to change that you don't even know where to start?

Here are a couple methods for figuring out your why.

Core values.

Basically, the idea here is that if we feel like

something in our life needs to change, it's likely

because it doesn't align with our core values.

The things that are the most important to us.

But if we don't know what our core

values are, how can we live in alignment with them?

So the goal here is to figure out what your core values are.

If you don't know where to start, I have a video about that.

I will link that up in the card and down in the description.

Personal statement.

Some people like to create a rule of life or a personal code of ethics.

This is a statement that aligns your daily actions with your values

and your beliefs.

This is a personal statement about the kind of person you want to be.

Both Aspirationally and realistically.

The what phase

This might just be the hardest part of the process

This is about creating clarity about what we want our life to look like.

There are two elements to this.

The macro element. What we're looking at.

The big picture, what we want our overall life to look like.

And then the micro level, which is what we want our individual days to look like.

Now there are many ways to figure this out.

What I'm gonna do today is walk you through a few prompts

that I've used in the past when trying to figure this out for myself.

The key thing here is write this down, because this is not a linear process.

You'll be referring to this again and again and making changes to it.

The Anti-Life.

Sometimes it's a lot

harder to know what you want than it is to know what you don't want.

So for this prompt, take a minute and write down

exactly what you do not want your life to look like.

The role model approach.

Is there someone you want to be like?

What parts of them do you like?

Why do you want to be like them?

Take a minute and write that down.

Next, what would we do if there were no limits?

We often feel limited by money or vacation days or the people in our lives.

Take a step back.

Cut all ties and think about what would you do if money and time

were no object?

Now, once you've gone through these prompts,

you should be able to create a pretty decent draft of what

you actually want out of your life.

The key thing here, though, is this takes time and it will change over time.

So as I've done this multiple times over the years,

my answers have changed pretty dramatically.

That is totally okay.

That's part of the process because we grow and change as people.

Okay, so now we've thought big picture macro.

Now let's zoom in and think micro.

What does your ideal day look like?

I love this prompt.

In one of my college classes,

we actually went around the room and shared individually

what each of our ideal days looked like, and the answers varied wildly.

Some people talked about work.

Some people talked about relaxation.

Other people talked about spending time with the people they loved.

Others talked about hobbies and the way people approached.

This was very different to some people started in a very structured way.

Other people were very broad and general about it.

Either way, take some time and do this prompt and enjoy the process of this.

I think thinking about your ideal day is one of my favorite things to do.

It's just a lot of fun to think about all of the possibility within a day.

Now, once you're done with this, this micro level

element should line up with the macro level.

If it doesn't, then we need to go through

and kind of work through this cyclical process

until they are generally pointed in the same direction.

What you're doing with your day

should translate into what you're doing with your weeks, months, years,

and ultimately the direction your life is going.

The systems phase.

You do not rise to the level of your goals.

You fall to the level of your systems.

James. Clear.

Building systems is key to keeping you accountable to the things

you want to change.

Systems create structure, and structure is the best way to achieve your goals.

There are two main things that we're going to want to set up in this phase.

The first step in this process is to set up somewhere to keep track

of your values, systems, goals, and to dos.

This is the best way I can think of to actually make measurable progress

and keep yourself accountable to changing your life.

This could be a Google document.

Maybe it's a notion template that you build out,

or maybe just a paper binder.

But the point here is that it needs to be

something that integrates naturally into the workflow of your life,

because you'll be checking this every single day.

Now, this tracker is a great place to keep track of this next element,

which is create three core habits.

These are things that we do every day or most days,

that are small and manageable

and aligned directly with what we want our life to look like,

both on a daily basis and overall big picture.

I would personally recommend one habit that's related to health

or fitness, one that is related to work and one that is personal.

Now, this is a subtractive process as much as it is an additive process.

So this would be a great time to replace

maybe a bad habit that you have with one of these core habits.

So now that we've built this really good foundation of the why and the what.

And these three core habits,

now we can actually jump in to making the bigger changes.

These are probably the things

that you think about when you're like, I want to change my life.

Well, this is where we get into that in this area.

I would recommend two goals.

One would be a smaller personal goal, something like hobby or personal interest,

something that you can really dive into and invest in

and be fully immersed in or have completed within six months.

The other is a bigger goal, something that we can start within that six months.

This could be something

that is much more big picture, life altering, like changing careers

or moving to a new city or something like that.

So I want to take a minute to give some examples of these different goals.

So an example of a smaller goal for me personally would be a hobby related goal.

I had a couple disc golf goals that I actually have a video

coming out about next week.

It's a banger. You're going to want to check it out.

A bigger goal would be back in April.

I decided I wanted to shut down my video production company

once I left my job, and so I'm in the process of ramping that down.

But that's not something I can change in 3 or 6 months.

It's a process of shutting down a business and completing the obligations

you have in front of you.

Okay, let's talk timeline on this.

We could just stay in this planning phase forever, or we could actually start

taking meaningful action in the direction that we want to change.

This is part of that process.

So this first section that is kind of the planning section, the why in the what.

I would say that's your first week.

Spend a week in the evenings on this.

Really figuring it out and doing this correctly.

This is the groundwork. This is very important.

Then on this building your system's goal, let's say that two weeks.

So now we're at three weeks into the process.

You're building these systems making sure they are functional and good to go.

Similarly you're adding in these daily habits.

So by the end of 3 to 4 weeks you should know what you want,

why you want it, have implemented this system.

And then start doing these habits right away.

There are daily thing.

Use that system and start building that momentum.

Then use the rest of the remaining time, be it

three months, six months to focus in on those other goals.

So your smaller personal goal is something you can complete within that time.

And then secondarily start planning that bigger, long term goal.

A super key element to this is keeping up with your system.

So a couple things.

One, if you fall off your habits for a day or two, turn around and get back on.

You don't need to be perfect with this.

Change is a process.

It takes time and it takes effort and it's going to be hard.

But it's definitely worth it for living a life that you actually want to live.

The second element of this is something that's called a weekly review.

I sit down every Sunday and I review the previous week.

I look forward to the next week.

I make my calendar.

we do meal prep, I do finances for the week,

and this is a great time to sit down and actually look and review these goals

that you set out.

Review these habits.

Review your tracker, your values, all this stuff, and make sure

that you are actually on track with what you're wanting to do.

And if you're not.

Make a plan to get back on track because that's just part of being human.

It's getting on track, being on track, getting off track and doing that process

over and over again.

And that is just kind of the process of self-improvement.

It's going to be messy.

It's not going to be perfect, but overall, it's absolutely going to be worth it.

So there it is, a systematic approach to changing your life in ten minutes.