How to Realistically Increase Your Standard of Living

Standard of living translates into different things based on who you ask. Your quality of life usually forms itself through thousands of factors, many of which we are born into and/or can't control. But did you ever stop to think that each person's standard of living has most to do with their 'why?'

Each person has their own settling point or standard for what they expect in their day-to-day. It becomes the core of who they are. It is their identity. Even if they want to change, they won't be able to unless it becomes one with their essence.

The Fit Folk

You ask a fit person how often they work out and they respond with 4 or 5 times per week, if not more. Does this person have more time in the day than you do? Are they less busy than you? No - they still have to work, cook and clean, pay bills, etc. They're just normal people like you and me.

But somehow, exercising is such a massive part of who they are that it is their standard of living. There's no question about doing it. Their fitness routine is part of their identity. They have a strong 'why' and nothing can change that, no matter how big the hurdle. It's a must. It is part of who they are and the standard of living they created for themselves.

After a while, there's little effort required. It's just the regular that happens without even thinking twice about it. This can also be applied to any lifestyle. It just is. It's their must.

The One that Wants to Quit Smoking

This person believes they are finally ready to quit smoking. When they express their journey and challenges to others, they don't realize they see themselves as someone who has always been a smoker. They're implying that their identity tied to smoking is far stronger than their desire to quit the habit.

Do you think this person will successfully never smoke again? Despite their best efforts, that's unlikely if they don't mentally and permanently expand their identity to that of a non-smoker.

This ideology can be applied to someone who wants to lose weight, change their career, is struggling to have kids, and so much more. It's up to the individual who craves such change to expand their identity to include the aspects of themself they hopelessly want.

To be healthier, make more money, be a parent…

Wants don't get met consistently. Standards do. - Tony Robbins

We All Pave Our Own Quality of Life

I recently became interested in taking my personal development to the next level. While I see progress in the quality of life I am seeking, I know that I should never be comfortable because that's dangerous in a world jam-packed with abundance.

Having gratitude and being comfortable are wildly separate states of being. So I set out to make one small change I could effortlessly implement every day. I started listening to podcasts immediately in the morning upon waking.

Most people have heard of renowned public speaker, author, and coach alike, Tony Robbins. While I listened to him before, all that he said seemed just too good to be true. After all, it's easy to speak about abundance and being grateful when you have money out of the wazoo and are set for life. But years later, I stumbled across him again. This time, his words sat differently with me.

In this one particular motivational speech, he focused on identifying yourself in a new way and owning it.

Do You Call Yourself a Writer?

When I first started writing a few years back, I didn't call myself a writer. In my head, my identity as a "writer" was not even on my radar. I was someone who dabbled in it but wasn't any good. I just did it for fun and not money. I didn't have the goal to be a successful writer who could make a livelihood out of the talent. I was just a college kid trying to figure out the next steps I should take to find an average paying job. One that I didn't absolutely hate post-grad.

And now, after so much has changed, I confidently, honestly, and humbly refer to myself as a professional writer. I write for money. I write as my passion. I have clients who pay me to write for them! The entire narrative transformed into something I couldn't have predicted in a hundred years.

As a child, I never said I would be a writer when I grew up.

My standard of living changed. My why changed. I decided what I wanted and I did things to make it happen.

I set out on a goal to learn everything I could about writing. I taught myself what copywriting is, SEO, graphic design, how to write landing page content, SMS, how social media works, how to pitch clients, how to write invoices, how to gain confidence in my flat rates…

I did that because my "why" for becoming a professional writer is that I love to write so damn much. I realized I couldn't live without it. I didn't want to.

It became my standard of living.

My brain soon accepted that I am a writer.

When you decide you want something to be a part of your identity, your brain figures out a way to make that standard real.

How Can You Expand Your Mindset to Enhance Your Personal Standard?

You must become clear on what exactly it is you want. What is your ideal? What is your absolute must and standard? You can focus on one area of your life at a time. Want to lose weight? How much? Can you actually visualize what you will look like and feel like when you accomplish this feat?

You have control over the influences that shape you. Changing your life comes down to shifting fundamental basics. Slowly but surely, everything else begins to shift.

Raise your standard.

Rituals Lead to Results

Little things lead to momentum. Small victories become compounded into helping you meet larger goals.

Rituals define us. - Tony Robbins

Success happens when you see small things through on a daily basis because you know they will contribute to a better quality of life. Rituals don't have to be difficult. It's your life and you are free to experiment and change them up.

Find what works and what doesn't. Add new ones. Start your days differently. It's the little stuff that adds up.

Start right now. What is something you want to improve? Better yet, choose something you ideally want for yourself, even if it seems unrealistic and out of reach at this very moment.

Career

Relationships (especially intimate ones)

Body Image

Spirituality

Finances

Once you pick something to improve on, be honest about where you currently stand with it.

What are the rituals that have put me there? It's usually not one thing but a handful of small things that leave you overwhelmed and contribute to your current results.

What do you want?

What are the rituals that will get you there? Be specific. Be consistent. Make it automatic. It's not about willpower. It's about rituals.

Don't try to change everything at once. Be realistic and change one or two small things. Gain momentum.

Changing the standard of your life comes down to daily routines and habits. It's truly possible to live the life you want to.

What are rituals you practice every single day that you complete without question that have helped pave the way for the life you live today? I would love to learn about them.

Best,

🆂🆄🆉🍊