I will admit, I was quite a bit skeptical about the 5 AM Miracle book. Because Jeff Sanders isn’t a mom with young kids, I wondered if his methods would be applicable to my life. I was pleasantly surprised to find so many helpful tips and insights in it.
I loved this quote: “Whenever I feel stuck or burdened by my circumstances, I look for a new perspective. I ask myself, ‘What am I missing? If I absolutely had to, how could I solve this problem?'”
Want to know what the number one thing is that is killing your success? It’s the belief that you can’t do it. When you believe you can’t, it paralyzes you from being able to move forward and be successful.
Success begins with your mindset. When you believe you can’t, you cheat yourself from reaching your goals.
Ask Yourself “What’s Possible?”
Don’t say:
- “That’s impossible.”
- “That’ll never work!”
- “I can’t.”
Instead, ask yourself: “What’s possible?” and go from there. When you tell yourself you can’t do something, then you aren’t even giving yourself a chance to see if you can. Get rid of those self-limiting thoughts and open your mind to the possibilities before you.
Have Honest Dreams
When I talk about dreaming and thinking “what’s possible?”, I’m not talking about pie-in-the-sky dreams. I could say, “I’m going to believe I will win the lottery or buy an airplane”, but those things are likely not going to happen.
That’s not what I’m challenging you to do. I want you to have honest dreams that are realistic and based in what you do have the ability to do.
Surround Yourself With Cheerleaders
You need to have people around you who believe in you and believe that things are possible. When you surround yourself with people who are full of negative talk (constantly saying things like, “Life is hard. This is awful. I can’t don’t it. You can’t do it.”), it’s going to bring you down.
Some of those people might be living in your house or they might be related to you. You can’t cut them out of your life, but you can choose to bring new people into your life to counterbalance the negativity.
Develop new friendships, find good podcasts, read encouraging books, follow inspiring people on Periscope, surround yourself with cheerleaders. These might be people that you never meet in real life, but they make you feel like you can do it.
Tell Yourself the Truth
All of us have lies about ourselves rolling around in our heads. Lies that tell us we’re not good enough, we don’t have what it takes, that we don’t measure up.
When you start thinking, “I’m a failure; I failed; I’m no good” those are lies and you need to replace them with truths about yourself. You do have worth, you are good enough, the world needs your story and your gifts.
Remind Yourself of Your Successes
Take the time to think back over some of the things you have been successful at in the past. Let those wins fuel your drive to tackle the problems before you.
Also, read success stories of others. This is a great way to feel inspired and push forward in your life.
I am cheering for you! Take the next step. Do the next right thing. The world needs your gifts and your story. The world needs you!
Dianna says
Crystal,
What did you think overall about his book? Honestly, I am limited on resources, and our local library doesn’t have many of these books you talk about, so I want to download books that will give me the most bang for my buck, so to speak. I received a Amazon gift card for Valentine’s Day from my children. So would this be a book worth buying and downloading to my Kindle? Also, any other books you have read so far on your year of rest that you highly recommend? Thanks!
Crystal Paine says
Have you asked your local library about ordering books for you or going through interlibrary loan? That might be something to check into, if you haven’t already.
Carrie says
Thanks for another great pep talk, Crystal! After a day full of homeschooling, cooking, cleaning, etc., it is so easy to feel like that is all there is and all there ever will be. Although that may be where God has me now, it’s good to keep focus not only on today’s goals, but future dreams as well.
Question – what does that first picture say? I’m sure it’s just me, but I cannot figure out that word after “Whatever you have to do.”
Mae says
show up and give it your all
Carrie says
Thank you!
Monica says
Thank you for this today! It is so easy to get discouraged trying to do all.the.things. I have noticed that I feel scared when I start to “dream.” I don’t really feel that I have the energy left to accomplish much after taking care of the required things. The things that I’d really love to do get overshadowed by the pressing matters. All of that sounds pretty much like an excuse when it’s typed here, doesn’t it? 😉 Here’s to tomorrow. Thanks again for encouraging others!
Crystal Paine says
Yes! Here’s to tomorrow!
Swapna says
“Some of those people might be living in your house or they might be related to you. ”
This is something I struggle with. To deal with negativity constantly has led me to start being negative myself while my innate nature is not to be so negative or critical.
Rosanna says
I know I comment here all. the. time, but I love your mindset and that’s why I keep coming back again and again. Just last night, I was talking with my mentor via Facebook video and she was telling me how I am such a Leader and have so much potential. Literally, I sat there and listened dumbfounded. I realized that I don’t think of myself as a leader at all. I don’t even think it’s possible, but yet I know that’s what God has called me to. I recognized that I need to begin speaking that over myself daily, if not multiple times a day. So when you say the biggest success is thinking you can’t, I can definitely attest that that’s been true for me.
janet says
but isn’t sometimes the truth “I have failed”?
if I say I have failed I might actually be telling the truth not a lie
Aimee says
“Tell Yourself Truth.” As I have tried to become more aware of how I speak to myself I have been surprised by the negative internal dialogue I often have- things I would never, ever say to a friend. Speaking truth to myself is so key for me to be able to speak truth into the lives of my family.
Crystal Paine says
Yes, yes, yes!
Melissa says
This is perfect and just what I needed!! I was feeling discouraged reading other people’s blogs and comments on certain things, thinking “they’re such a better writer. I don’t have anything to say!” But hanging my mindset and finding people who are encouraging are key…thank you for this reminder!
Crystal Paine says
You are so welcome! I’m so grateful that it was encouraging to you!