We spend too much energy trying to change our world directly. While it’s possible to force yourself to behave in a certain way, it’s nearly impossible to maintain if you don’t make the necessary inner changes to support that behavior.

Otherwise, life would be so easy! We would all eat healthy food, go to the gym, do our homework, and be perfect people.

The best way to change your behavior and your results in life is to make inner changes:

1. Values. Do you think Donald Trump and the Dalai Lama have the same values? Of course not. Their results in life are very different, mainly because of their beliefs. They spend their time in different ways because of their beliefs. Their beliefs are likely the opposite of each other.
   
   
   • If you change your values, you can change your life. The values needed to be a successful corporate raider are very different from those required to be a thriving preschool teacher. Do your values match your objectives? If they don’t, you will struggle.
     
     
2. Beliefs. Your beliefs also impact your behavior. If you think failure is wrong, you’ll behave very differently than someone that believes failure is just part of the game. What are some other significant beliefs? Consider these:
   
   
   • Money is the root of all evil versus money creates freedom
     
     
   • People can be trusted versus people who are greedy and selfish
     
     
   • Life is a game versus life is a competition
     
     
   • Success is all that matters versus happiness is all that matters
     
     
   • Freedom is the essential thing versus admiration is the most important thing.
     
     
   • It’s easy to see how different beliefs can lead to different approaches to life and other outcomes.
     
     
3. Thoughts. Your values and beliefs influence your thoughts. But your thoughts can also be chosen. Consider your fears. You can’t be afraid of something unless you have a scary thought to go along with it. Is a baby afraid of a snake, a gun, or a scary movie? They have no concept of these things.
   
   
   • The thoughts you hold affect your mood and your focus. They also influence the things you pursue and avoid. Managing your thoughts can shape your behavior out in the world.
     
     
4. Interpretation of failure. How you view failure has a significant impact on your approach to living. Those that avoid failure are also avoiding success. View failure as a learning experience and something that comes with the territory. If you can embrace failure, your level of success will increase.
   
   
5. Qualities. You have the power to change yourself. You’ll change your world if you become more confident or develop your communication skills. You can learn to be bolder, more determined, or happy. You can learn to program a computer or to speak Russian.
   
   
   • Your personal qualities, skills, and attributes give you more capability to change your life.
     
     
6. Attitude. Your attitude affects your view of the world and your behavior. An optimist creates a different life than a pessimist. Are you angry or happy? Are you hopeful or fearful? It’s easy to see that a positive attitude leads to a better place.

It’s essential to monitor and change your behaviors if you want different results. However, your behavior is heavily influenced by your values, beliefs, thoughts, and attitudes.

Focusing on making the necessary inner changes can give better results than simply trying to modify your behavior. Make the internal changes you need to manifest the behavior and results you seek in your life.

Until tomorrow, stay safe, and keep the faith.