Vision with action can change the world

Nelson Mandela's above quote has a deep meaning to follow. Your actions will change your habits, if you do certain things often enough. Great habits have the potential to change your perspective, and even direction in life. A new direction is often what we need to get out of a rut, depression, boredom, or an unhealthy situation. How do you know if you need to take new actions?

Ask yourself: Are your current actions making you happy? Are your current actions keeping you balanced and healthy? Are they driving and pulling you towards your goals? Do you think they're sustainable for the next 5 years, or rest of your life? If you've answered "No" to one of these questions, it's probably time to change something.

Because new actions = new energy that might just end up changing your life, and maybe even those of the people around you. If we truly want to do something, then we find a way. If you want to be kind to people, be kind! What is stopping you? I guarantee you this; you can be all the things you wish to be. But it won't be easy, and it requires effort. That's all.

And also everyone has to struggle. But everyone has strengths as well. For eg. While I procrastinate a lot, there are things in my forte like wanting to do well which give me some measure of comfort to face my weaknesses. I used to wish to improve in the same way you do. It really feels as though your question could have been something I could have asked in the past and so I do relate. In my mind, I came to the conclusion of the word how, being a series of 'whats'. You already know what you wish to do. It is just a matter of prioritization and sequencing. A simple matter of making a To-Do list.

And before I speak about the to do list, I will tell you something I discovered. The main problem lies in our believing it to be difficult. If we truly believe in something, then we can make it happen with far greater ease. You may have experienced this. Every now and then, something just hits us and we start thinking in a different way. We begin to believe it is possible, and there is this feeling it is not so risky anymore, and success is within our grasp.

Somehow we get conviction by reading a book, about doing the actions. But it is far easier to do something you believe in, than what you may be skeptical about. So try to think and truly believe in, why you are doing what you are doing, because our beliefs dictate our actions. "You always get what you argue for." - If you say you can't do it, then you start to list reasons why you can't do it.

It is the same as arguing for your own failure. So instead, tell me why you're the person for he job, so to speak. Perhaps you already know that, so my best advice would be to focus on one thing at a time. We as human beings cannot multitask. You may have too many goals and you don't know where to start. Pick one thing and stick to it. When you have succeeded with it, then proceed to the next step.

Now for example, one thing to pick would be honesty. I noticed your list does not mention it, (although you said you wanted to stick up for what's right). If you are honest, and try your best at it, you will automatically attract other good qualities. You will answer truthfully, you will be responsible, you will have discipline and integrity. People will trust you more because they find what you say to be dependable.

And you will be brave. You won't slack off. You won't brag. You won't gossip. You will also be respectful to everyone, since you will believe in innocent until proven guilty. You will overcome temptations, and you won't hurt others or cheat anyone. The list goes on. The idea is to pick one quality and develop it to such an extent, that other related qualities can be developed as well. Kindness, patience, cheerfulness, compassion, humility, fearlessness, etc. They're all expressions of love and a sweet disposition. They'll come to you one by one.

Moreover, now as I was saying about the to do list. When you say you don't wish to procrastinate. You must know what your duty/task is. So write it down on your daily list. Make a schedule for the week/month as well. Then get it done. Work before playing. Play needs to be earned. Since it is all Parkinson's law, which means that "work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion." So if you play before working, you'll use all your time up in playing and have less time later!

And the qualities you've mentioned, are not impossible to attain and embody. They just require mindfulness. So just try your best as far as possible and keep thinking about this as much as possible. That's 'how'. Think of the reason why and pick one thing to focus on. Believe and find your conviction. Make a plan; a to do list. Start taking action! Now!! Cheers!