Have you ever forgotten to pay your phone bill? Or been late for an important meeting? Or misplaced your wallet (or your keys, or your passport…again)?
If you’re feeling disorganized and out of sorts, you’re definitely not alone. You need to ask yourself what’s wrong with your life, pinpoint the cause, and figure out how to fix it.
Yes, that may sound like a lot of work. But the next step should be easier: before you make a change, take a step back and lower your standards.
This advice may run counter to the positive, encouraging tone of the books you’ll often find in the self-help genre. But setting realistic goals is half the battle in self-improvement projects, and getting started is almost always the hardest part. If you adjust your expectations downward, you’re more likely to succeed in the long run.
Optimism may work for some people. But pessimism can be powerful, too. Learn more about the power of negative thinking with our Instaread on Get Your Sh*t Together.
