4 Ordinary Actions That Empower You to Create an Extraordinary Life
Why are there only a few that truly live an extraordinary life while the majority is “dying” inside and giving up on their dreams? Were they born special or more significant than you and I?
When I was a child, I believed that only the “chosen” ones get to know what extraordinary feels like. I was raised in a low-income family and we often didn’t have money. When I looked around, it always seemed as though others were better off than us.
Fortunately, when I was 20 years old, someone handed me the movie “The Secret.” It was a starting point when I realized that we aren’t born special. We all have the opportunity to live and experience an extraordinary life. We all have the greatness within us. Being extraordinary means doing the ordinary activity on a constant basis.
Here are 4 simple actions which will help you to produce remarkable results and create a magnificent life:
1. Commit yourself beyond possible
Have you ever heard about highly talented people who live miserable lives? Do you know anyone who wasn’t as talented as others but achieved significant results? I certainly do because the world is full of these examples. Talent is important, but commitment pulls you through the worst and keeps you on track.
People who are firmly committed scare me in a good way. There is something “crazy” about them. Their energy is intense, and you can feel that they are not going anywhere until they get what they want.
Being committed requires your patience and dedication. Always focus on the end result. Don’t beat yourself down with temporary failure because it only disempowers you. Your goal is clear so always keep your head up.
“A change is brought about because ordinary people do extraordinary things.” – Barack Obama
2. Have the courage of a lion
Is there anything you always have wanted to try? Have you been stopping yourself with excuses and disempowering self-talk? If so, change it. Find a way to motivate yourself and do it in spite of fear. Everyone is afraid at some point in life. The important thing is to overcome this illusion of fear.
A great way to take the first step is to remember a courageous moment from your past. Maybe you moved to another country that scared the heck out of you? Maybe you went to college which seemed impossible before? Or you experienced some hardships and overcame it?
Visualize this moment, feel it as it is happening right now. Put your mind and body into that state so you can experience the feeling of confidence and courage again.
3. Be in service to others
If you look at any successful person, they all have one thing in common. They are in service to others. They are donating money, building schools in developing countries, improving animal shelters, helping people with cancer, you name it.
They are extraordinary because they are making a significant difference in the lives of others. It doesn’t matter what you decide to contribute. Maybe it is your time, money or clothes. The important question is: “Are you making a difference in someone’s life?” That’s all you have to ask yourself.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” –Mahatma Gandhi
4. Accumulate enough pain to make a change
What bothers you in life? Do you feel strongly dissatisfied with who you are? Do you feel stuck and it seems like you are walking in a circle and can’t get out? Something is stopping you from making a change, and it’s painful. I totally get it because I was there.
Do you know what pushed me over the edge? Intolerable pain. I couldn’t take it anymore, and it forced me to do anything and everything to change it.
You don’t act when you are happy. You act when you are frustrated, dissatisfied and unhappy because this is what forces you to change. Use it to your advantage and destroy this pain by becoming the person you always wanted to be.
Extraordinary results are often the outcome of dissatisfaction and suffering in life. It is a signal which lets you know that change is necessary in order to create something significant.
Exactly Thea Dunlap. Pain is magical. We don’t want to feel it, but once it passes, we are proud of ourselves how we were able to handle it. And this is what makes us stronger. I am thankful for your comment.
Thank you JustPost for sharing your opinion. I always believed that pain is a great motivator. From my personal experience, when I went through tough times, I made the best decisions of my life. Pain gave me the courage to change.
Tim I can only agree with you. Knowing that we can help someone out of difficulties and support them make us truly grow. I appreciate every single post from you here on Addicted2Success or your personal website which I already got the chance to explore. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and wisdom.
No pain no gain. Sometimes we have to commit to all of our potentials in order to achieve our goals.
Great post, Great inspiration.
Nice points here. I like the ‘Accumulate enough pain to make a change’. Yes we will encounter some pain as we go through life but we can turn that pain into something much better.
Silvia, service to others is so important. It should be the driving force behind every business and it’s where success lies. My goal is to inspire the world through entrepreneurship and personal development and I have this dream because I want to serve others.
Yes, Bryan, I think commitment and courage can take you beyond anything. I am grateful for your comment and that you enjoyed this article.
Glad you liked it, Chris. You are right that is better to make changes in life when we are happy and full of energy. Unfortunately, many of us don’t because we feel good and comfortable. Sometimes when you are going through the biggest pain, you make biggest breakthroughs. Thanks for sharing your opinion, Chris.
“Talent is important, but commitment pulls you through” – Love this part of your article. Everyone has the same opportunities in life, it’s the successful ones that take hold of them and don’t let them go.
And you’re right, most people only make change when they are unhappy. Why not make the change when you are happy and are living life to the full- surely this is a better time to make change as you have a lot more energy and drive.
Great article, thanks
Love these points, Sylvia. I especially like the commitment and courage. You are right, there is a different energy when you meet someone that employs these.