ways to a new you
Self-help guru reveals his secrets to a healthier, happier lifestyle
VALUES
The first thing to do is to get clear about what’s important to you.
For many years I assumed all that mattered was money, fame and power. But then you just want a bigger house, bigger car or whatever and more isn’t necessarily better.
I decided to focus on what my values are and made a list – such as love, loyalty, making a difference, family, friendship. Do the same.
Then, as long as you can tick those boxes – have you felt loved, been nice to family, done something to make a difference? – you feel like you’re leading a rich life.
PLAN AHEAD
Ask yourself what you want.
I do it all the time. Look a year in the future and if it’s all good, ask yourself what made it good. What happened with your health or career or love life or finances?
Then go back from there, three months at a time, and note what happened at that stage to make it happen. I might have had a good idea for a book, been devoted to my wife, kept myself in good shape.
At each stage you can see what plans need to have been put in place to make it occur. That gives your brain a detailed path to follow, not just some vague idea. Research shows those who have a proper direction, tend to be higher achievers.
THE ONE THING
I was at dinner recently with Karren Brady and she asked if I could only give one piece of advice, what would it be? It would simply be that you get more out of what you focus on.
People get overwhelmed with too many goals.
If you do just one thing every day to take you closer to making you happy, you’re going to be happier.
Don’t overburden yourself, it can just be a small thing but every little counts and that one thing will make you happier.
KEEP A GRATITUDE JOURNAL
I’m a believer in keeping a journal and I know Oprah Winfrey is a big fan of this too.
Write down what you’ve got and what you’ve achieved each day.
The act of writing it down is like reporting to someone and research shows if you have to do that you’re much more likely to succeed. It focuses your mind.
Some call it an attitude of gratitude and that’s a winning mindset. It reminds you of what
you’ve got and what you might get.
PRACTISE FEELING GOOD
You can’t control everything that could possibly happen to you, but you have a say in how you think and feel.
So, every day, spend a few minutes remembering a time when you felt good or think about whatever it is that would make you feel good.
The nervous system can’t tell the difference between a real or imagined experience so you’ll feel better.
WHAT COULD STOP YOU?
Think about what could go right with your plans for life – and then think about what could get in the way.
I do that and try to have the answers prepared in my head in advance.
Perhaps people might think my TV series isn’t different or new enough, for example.
You may not have all the answers right away, but at least you’re aware it’s a potential problem and are prepared for it.
THE RISK FACTOR
No billionaire became rich without taking risks.
But they are educated, calculated risks. When you’ve figured out what might go right and what might get in the way, give things a number out of 10 for both the upside and downside.
I’ve done that with a new business I’m starting. I was worried I was going to lose too much money if it went wrong.
So I weighed up the risks and gave it a number. Then I weighed up the upsides – including partnering with other people for their capital and their expertise – and gave that a score.
Suddenly, doing it that way the upside was 10, the downside was just two.
If things are that much in your favour, you have to take action and do everything you can to make it happen.
That’s exactly what I’m doing now.
RECOVERY TIME
I know far too many people with wealth and lovely partners who have ruined their health to get there.
They either can’t enjoy life properly or die too young.
You absolutely have to build in recovery time. I always look to factor time into my schedule to relax and have a break.
If you have a little daydream moment when you’re stressed, go with it and take that little break.
It’s your body doing its own bit of housekeeping for your health.
SACRIFICE SUGAR
The single best bit of health advice I can give is reduce your sugar intake.
Four of the five big killers – cancer, heart disease, stroke and liver disease – are linked to sugar. It’s the devil, not fat.
It’s been pumped into three quarters of things in supermarkets so it’s hard to avoid, which is why the book is a bit of an expose of the sugar industry.
But you can take control of it. I now cook at home quite a bit and I’ve definitely lost my sweet tooth – I never have dessert.
I’m not saying cut out everything with sugar. I like alcohol, a curry and even an occasional bit of chocolate – but I’m aware of what I’m doing.
ROMANCE
I want to write a book called How To Meet The Love Of Your Life – but my wife thinks it might jinx our marriage, so she’s banned me from it!
The best advice came from a life coach friend who said you should really think about who you want to be with and whose company you enjoy.
In my case it was Kate but because I she was my PA, I could never think about her in that way as it’d be unprofessional.
But we were sitting one night after a couple of glasses of red wine and I asked to her to tell me something I didn’t know.
She said: “I love you” and I told her I felt the same way. Now we’re very happily married.
So while it’s OK to have a general picture in your head of a particular type of man or woman, really ask yourself, very specifically, who you enjoy being with.
Get Control Of Sugar Now! (Bantam Press) £12.99 including free mind-programming CD and audio download. At bookshops and from paulmckenna.com/books