The simplest way to get out of a stuck mindset is to do something, anything.Action is the biggest Motivation. Stop procrastinating and start engaging with the world.

Do Something

Recognize that everything you do has a cost decide if you're willing to pay it. Freebies and shortcuts do not work in the long run.Ask yourself not what you want, but what you're willing to suffer for.

Pay the Costs

Few people actually care about you. Because you’re not as special as you think and also, most people are too concerned with themselves.Use this piece of knowledge to liberate yourself and do what you want.

No One Really Cares

It's ok to have goals, but obsessing over them is often counterproductive because, in reality, achieving a goal isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. Create a system of healthy habits for the most important parts of your life.

Focus On Habits, Not Goals

Self-awareness is extremely beneficial to start to change your life.There's no way to change your life in a meaningful way if you don't know what you want to change about yourself in the first place.

Figure Out Who You Are

To live a more meaningful life, focus on fewer things, and get good at them, as we have a finite number of days.

Focus On Fewer Things

Trying too hard to make friends or being cool has the opposite, repelling effect. Just be grateful for what you have, and enjoy simple things.

Stop Trying so Hard

<div>
So you want to change your life, eh? You want to turn it all around and ooze silky smooth confidence while you kill it in a new career with a new car and a new spouse and a new dog because the old one smells like a dead rat?
When most people set out to change their lives, they often focus on all the external stuff, like a new job or a new location or new friends or a new romantic prospects and on and on.
The reality is that changing your life starts with changing the way you see everything in your life. So below are some specific ways you can start to change your life right now.
You can also get the ebook I wrote, 3 Big Ideas that Can Change Your Life.
<h2>Get the 3 Ideas to Change Your Life Ebook</h2> 
<img src="https://markmanson.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/3-Ideas-that-Can-Change-Your-Life-Ebook-Cover-3d-300x412.jpg"> Sign up below and get the free ebook. Plus, every couple weeks I send out a newsletter with new articles and exclusive content for readers. It's basically my way of keeping in touch with you and letting you know what's going on. Your information is protected and I never spam. See my <a href="https://markmanson.net/privacy-policy">privacy policy</a>.
<h2>7 Ways to Change Your Life</h2>
<h3>1. Do something. Anything.</h3>
A lot of people get stuck when they try to to change their lives because they don't know "where to start" or "what to do." The simple answer is: to do <a href="https://markmanson.net/do-something">something-anything, really</a>.
The motivation to do anything-like change your entire life around-doesn't just come from some magical, mystical place within you. Action is both the effect of motivation and the cause of it. You'll figure out whether or not it's right or not in good time (trust me), but only if you <a href="https://markmanson.net/why-you-procrastinate">stop procrastinating</a> and start engaging with the world.
<h3>2. Recognize that everything you do has a cost-be willing to pay it</h3>
A lot of life ultimately amounts to a series of tradeoffs. Everything has an opportunity cost, and the big things we want in life-like <a href="https://markmanson.net/hidden-costs-of-happiness">happiness</a> and <a href="https://markmanson.net/healthy-relationship-habits">healthy relationships</a> and <a href="https://markmanson.net/the-real-value-of-money">wealth</a>-they all have big opportunity costs. You don't get to have the dream career at the top without putting in your time at the bottom, then taking a risk or twelve and <a href="https://markmanson.net/risk">breaking a few hearts</a> along the way.
So the most important question you can ask yourself isn't about what you want, it's about <a href="https://markmanson.net/question">what you're willing suffer for</a>. As I've previously said, <a href="https://markmanson.net/find-what-you-love">doing what you love is not always loving what you do</a>. So what kind of <a href="https://markmanson.net/life-purpose">shit sandwich</a> can you stomach? And-importantly-do you even <a href="https://markmanson.net/dreams">really want your dream in first place</a>?
<h3>3. Embrace the Fact that No One Gives a Shit</h3>
Look, I know you were told that you're a special little snowflake in a sea of otherwise normal people, but I have some bad news for you: very few people actually give a shit about you because <a href="https://markmanson.net/being-special">you're actually not all that special</a> (that, and people are too concerned with themselves to begin with). But before you take your ball and hit the back button on your browser, I want you to consider just how liberating that is: No one gives a shit. You are free to do whatever the hell you want and no one will care if you fail spectacularly. If anything, they'll respect you more (for like, 5 seconds and then they'll go back to <a href="https://markmanson.net/fear-of-missing-out">posting selfies on Instagram</a>). 
<img src="https://markmanson.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/how-to-change-your-life-nobody-gives-a-shit.jpg">So instead of basing all your life decisions on what others think of you or what you do or how attractive you'll appear in your new car, figure out exactly what it is you value most in your life and <a href="https://markmanson.net/not-giving-a-fuck">cut all the other bullshit out</a>.
<h3>4. Focus More on Habits, Less on Goals</h3>
A lot of books and self-development advice focuses on goals and "systems" of developing, like, S.M.A.R.T. goals and creating an unrelenting focus on ACCOMPLISHING EVERY SINGLE GOAL YOU EVER SET NO MATTER WHAT OR YOU ARE A FUCKING LOSER.
The truth is, in and of themselves, <a href="https://markmanson.net/goals">goals are pretty overrated</a>. There's nothing wrong with having goals, but obsessing over them is often counterproductive because, in reality, achieving a goal isn't always what it's cracked up to be. Instead, I like to focus on creating a <a href="https://markmanson.net/downloads/habits">system of healthy habits</a> that focus on the <a href="https://markmanson.net/80-20-your-life">most important, highest impact</a> areas of my life. My goals pretty much take care of themselves at that point.
<h3>5. Figure Out Who You Are</h3>
Simple question: do you really <a href="https://markmanson.net/downloads/self-knowledge">know who you are</a>? I mean do you know <a href="https://markmanson.net/question">what drives you</a>, what terrifies you, why you do the things you do, and do you know how others perceive you too? Self-awareness is, somewhat paradoxically, in short supply these days (self-delusion, on the other hand, is not). But there's really no way to change your life if you don't know what you're changing about yourself in the first place.
<h3>6. Focus on Fewer Things (and Get Really, Really Good at Them)</h3>
In our modern-day culture of make more, buy more, fuck more, be more, I'm guessing that some jackass on the internet telling you that <a href="https://markmanson.net/disease-of-more">"more" is not actually always "more" in life</a> is sure to be drowned out pretty quickly with all the "life hacking" and "lifestyle optimization" podcasts and blog articles and blah blah blah out there.
One of the consequences of living in a time with seemingly endless opportunities is that you have to choose which opportunities to pursue (everything has a cost, remember?). And I hate to break it to you, but <a href="https://markmanson.net/you-cant-have-it-all">you can't have it all</a>. And so, for the vast, vast majority of things you do, you will simply be average. <a href="https://markmanson.net/being-average">That's OK</a>. You don't have to be a superstar at everything you do to <a href="https://markmanson.net/the-meaning-of-life">live a meaningful life</a>.
But if you can do one or a few things really, really well, you'll be ahead of almost everyone else who's distracted by their <a href="https://markmanson.net/smartphones">smartphones</a> and <a href="https://markmanson.net/outrage">arguing about things</a> they have no influence over on Facebook.
(That reminds me: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Markmansonnet/">like me on Facebook</a> so we can argue about things.)
<h3>7. Stop Trying So Hard</h3>
As counterintuitive and counterproductive as it sounds, a strange thing happens when you try too hard to do just about anything. Trying too hard to make <a href="https://markmanson.net/5-levels-friendship">friends</a> or <a href="https://markmanson.net/amazing-person">meet someone who's willing to see you naked</a> every now and then often has the opposite effect of chasing them away. Trying to hard to be cool often makes you look desperate and uncool. Trying to be happy <a href="https://markmanson.net/stop-trying-to-be-happy">often makes you miserable</a>.
But there's a simple fix, and no, it doesn't involve lowering your standards. It only requires that you look at things a little differently than you have been. As hokey as it sounds, <a href="https://markmanson.net/shut-up-and-be-grateful">be grateful</a> for what you have while you're working towards what you want. Everything you need to be happy is <a href="https://markmanson.net/everything-you-need">likely right in front of you</a>. Start taking the time to appreciate the <a href="https://markmanson.net/joy-and-meaning">simple pleasures in life</a>, like having a beer with a friend, taking a walk in nature, calling your grandma and telling her you love her, going to a game with your buddies.
These things might seem mundane, but if you can't enjoy the simple joys in life, you won't enjoy much if and when you actually do change your life either.
<h2>6 Books That Will Change Your Life</h2>
<h2>Articles about Changing Your Life</h2>
Below is a list of articles I've written that will you get started changing your life. Take your time. There's a lot of information covered here (and hopefully a real mind fuck or two sprinkled throughout). Enjoy.
</div>

Change can be a difficult and slow process, but if you can see things just a little differently, you can start to see big progress. Here are 7 ideas that can help you figure out how to change your life.

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

habits

Habits

So you want to change your life, eh? You want to turn it all around and ooze silky smooth confidence while you kill it in a new career with a new car and a new spouse and a new dog because the old one smells like a dead rat? When most people set out to change their lives, they often focus on all the external stuff, like a new job or a new location or new friends or a new romantic prospects and on and on. The reality is that changing your life starts with changing the way you see everything in your life. So below are some specific ways you can start to change your life right now.

Get the 3 Ideas to Change Your Life Ebook

You can also get the ebook I wrote, 3 Big Ideas that Can Change Your Life. Sign up below and get the free ebook. Plus, every couple weeks I send out a newsletter with new articles and exclusive content for readers. It's basically my way of keeping in touch with you and letting you know what's going on. Your information is protected and I never spam. See my <a href="https://markmanson.net/privacy-policy">privacy policy </a>.

A lot of people get stuck when they try to to change their lives because they don't know "where to start" or "what to do." The simple answer is: to do <a href="https://markmanson.net/do-something">something -anything, really </a>. The motivation to do anything-like change your entire life around-doesn't just come from some magical, mystical place within you. Action is both the effect of motivation and the cause of it . You'll figure out whether or not it's right or not in good time (trust me), but only if you <a href="https://markmanson.net/why-you-procrastinate">stop procrastinating </a>and start engaging with the world.

2. Recognize that everything you do has a cost-be willing to pay it

A lot of life ultimately amounts to a series of tradeoffs. Everything has an opportunity cost, and the big things we want in life-like <a href="https://markmanson.net/hidden-costs-of-happiness">happiness </a>and <a href="https://markmanson.net/healthy-relationship-habits">healthy relationships </a>and <a href="https://markmanson.net/the-real-value-of-money">wealth </a>-they all have big opportunity costs. You don't get to have the dream career at the top without putting in your time at the bottom, then taking a risk or twelve and <a href="https://markmanson.net/risk">breaking a few hearts </a>along the way.

So the most important question you can ask yourself isn't about what you want , it's about <a href="https://markmanson.net/question">what you're willing suffer for </a>. As I've previously said, <a href="https://markmanson.net/find-what-you-love">doing what you love is not always loving what you do </a>. So what kind of <a href="https://markmanson.net/life-purpose">shit sandwich </a>can you stomach? And-importantly-do you even <a href="https://markmanson.net/dreams">really want your dream in first place </a>?

3. Embrace the Fact that No One Gives a Shit

Look, I know you were told that you're a special little snowflake in a sea of otherwise normal people, but I have some bad news for you: very few people actually give a shit about you because <a href="https://markmanson.net/being-special">you're actually not all that special </a>(that, and people are too concerned with themselves to begin with). But before you take your ball and hit the back button on your browser, I want you to consider just how liberating that is: No one gives a shit. You are free to do whatever the hell you want and no one will care if you fail spectacularly. If anything, they'll respect you more (for like, 5 seconds and then they'll go back to <a href="https://markmanson.net/fear-of-missing-out">posting selfies on Instagram </a>).

So instead of basing all your life decisions on what others think of you or what you do or how attractive you'll appear in your new car, figure out exactly what it is you value most in your life and <a href="https://markmanson.net/not-giving-a-fuck">cut all the other bullshit out </a>. A lot of books and self-development advice focuses on goals and "systems" of developing, like, S.M.A.R.T. goals and creating an unrelenting focus on ACCOMPLISHING EVERY SINGLE GOAL YOU EVER SET NO MATTER WHAT OR YOU ARE A FUCKING LOSER. The truth is, in and of themselves, <a href="https://markmanson.net/goals">goals are pretty overrated </a>. There's nothing wrong with having goals, but obsessing over them is often counterproductive because, in reality, achieving a goal isn't always what it's cracked up to be. Instead, I like to focus on creating a <a href="https://markmanson.net/downloads/habits">system of healthy habits </a>that focus on the <a href="https://markmanson.net/80-20-your-life">most important, highest impact </a>areas of my life. My goals pretty much take care of themselves at that point.

Simple question: do you really <a href="https://markmanson.net/downloads/self-knowledge">know who you are </a>? I mean do you know <a href="https://markmanson.net/question">what drives you </a>, what terrifies you, why you do the things you do, and do you know how others perceive you too? Self-awareness is, somewhat paradoxically, in short supply these days (self-delusion, on the other hand, is not). But there's really no way to change your life if you don't know what you're changing about yourself in the first place.

6. Focus on Fewer Things (and Get Really, Really Good at Them)

In our modern-day culture of make more, buy more, fuck more, be more , I'm guessing that some jackass on the internet telling you that <a href="https://markmanson.net/disease-of-more">"more" is not actually always "more" in life </a>is sure to be drowned out pretty quickly with all the "life hacking" and "lifestyle optimization" podcasts and blog articles and blah blah blah out there.

One of the consequences of living in a time with seemingly endless opportunities is that you have to choose which opportunities to pursue (everything has a cost, remember?). And I hate to break it to you, but <a href="https://markmanson.net/you-cant-have-it-all">you can't have it all </a>. And so, for the vast, vast majority of things you do, you will simply be average. <a href="https://markmanson.net/being-average">That's OK </a>. You don't have to be a superstar at everything you do to <a href="https://markmanson.net/the-meaning-of-life">live a meaningful life </a>.

But if you can do one or a few things really, really well, you'll be ahead of almost everyone else who's distracted by their <a href="https://markmanson.net/smartphones">smartphones </a>and <a href="https://markmanson.net/outrage">arguing about things </a>they have no influence over on Facebook. (That reminds me: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Markmansonnet/">like me on Facebook </a>so we can argue about things.) As counterintuitive and counterproductive as it sounds, a strange thing happens when you try too hard to do just about anything. Trying too hard to make <a href="https://markmanson.net/5-levels-friendship">friends </a>or <a href="https://markmanson.net/amazing-person">meet someone who's willing to see you naked </a>every now and then often has the opposite effect of chasing them away. Trying to hard to be cool often makes you look desperate and uncool. Trying to be happy <a href="https://markmanson.net/stop-trying-to-be-happy">often makes you miserable </a>.

But there's a simple fix, and no, it doesn't involve lowering your standards. It only requires that you look at things a little differently than you have been. As hokey as it sounds, <a href="https://markmanson.net/shut-up-and-be-grateful">be grateful </a>for what you have while you're working towards what you want. Everything you need to be happy is <a href="https://markmanson.net/everything-you-need">likely right in front of you </a>. Start taking the time to appreciate the <a href="https://markmanson.net/joy-and-meaning">simple pleasures in life </a>, like having a beer with a friend, taking a walk in nature, calling your grandma and telling her you love her, going to a game with your buddies.

How to Change Your Life