Creating the desired alternative for everything I don't like

We start change by first creating a mental alternative

This is a principle which I had forgotten about. The principle is that when there is anything in your life that you are unhappy about, you should create the alternative that you desire. Once you have created that alternative, you are to begin thinking about it regularly, until it becomes solid in your mind, and then you will be able to begin to see the path from where you are now, to where you want to be.

But what about the small things?

We often apply this principle to big things in our lives – such as wanting a new job, or getting married. However, the real art of a happy life must lie in the ability to apply this to the proverbial stones in our shoes.

Think about the day that lies behind you – either today or yesterday, depending on the time of day. Now identify just one thing in this day which you are unhappy about. Let it be something that recurs, something that is a regular part of your life.

Create your alternative

Now use some creativity, and create an alternative. What would you rather have had in that time slot, or what would you rather have had happen, or how would you have things to have been different? Begin to create that new image, begin to reprogram your expectation, and soon you will begin to see the path to change that specific part of your life, from the way it is now, to the way you want it to be.

I’m going to make teaching more exciting

A simple example. I find that I get bored with teaching. Now I could make a major change and ask myself what I want to replace teaching with. But I don't want to do that, because I still enjoy teaching. It's just that I sometimes get bored. So instead of making a big change – trying to change to another job or career or pass-time, I am just going to make a small change.

I don't know exactly what it is yet, but I'm going to start picturing classes with excited students and an excited, passionate lecturer. That's me! And I know it will work, because I'd done this before. I've just forgotten about it lately because I'd made so many great wonderful changes in my life that I'd become slack about keeping a watch on the small things!