How to improve your standard of living: the technique of small steps

Many believe that everyone has only what they want. If you cannot afford a trip to Italy, lunch at a restaurant, an expensive foreign car and a serious relationship, then at the moment this is your ceiling, your desire. But it is important to understand that the ceiling can and should be raised. It takes effort, but it’s doable.

What is the “norm level” and how is it related to the “monetary ceiling”

The “Money Ceiling” is your level of norm in the financial area of ​​life. However, there is a level of norm in everything and absolutely everyone. The essence of the concept lies in what you consider acceptable at the moment. For one, it is natural to eat vegetables and fruits every day, and for the other, fast food or doshirak. We accept and live with it without feeling hurt.

Someone in the family allows himself to scream, use swear words, and this is quite normal for him, he is so used to it. The other one leaves forever when they raise their voice only once. In his system of coordinates, such a violation of personal boundaries is unthinkable. This usually doesn’t happen to him.

One is ready to work for a penny, stay after work for several hours, correct other people’s mistakes at the request of the boss. Another grows professionally, earns more, builds a career. He does not imagine how one can devalue one’s work and endure unconstructive criticism of management. His “money ceiling” is quite high, and he does not represent life below the real level.

How to work with the level of the norm

It seems that you are locked into the boundaries of the normal level. But they can be moved. To get started, take a sheet of paper, draw several columns on it and divide them into lines, write questions at the top, for example, “Where do I live?”, And below is the answer. First, tell us about the real state of things, why indicate what you want. For example, “I live in a room, I want to live in a spacious apartment.” The question is “What do I work for?”, The answer is: “I work as a legal adviser, I want to become the head of the legal department.” What you have now is your current normal level. Why? Because you can exist at this level for a long time without changing anything drastically. It’s convenient for you.

Whether you like it or not, at this stage you can get exactly this level of norm, just this position, salary, spouse. What you send is what you get. So, you need to change yourself, your attitude to reality. It is not easy. Sometimes it is almost impossible to force yourself to take a step and move to a higher level.

To help yourself, work through each item on the plate. Choose five points and try to make them a reality. For example, you dine at the office, but you want to eat at a particular restaurant, but you don’t have enough money. Go to a dream restaurant, order a cup of tea or coffee there. The order will not ruin you, but will allow you to feel what it is like to rise above reality, to be one level higher.

Perhaps at first you will be embarrassed, but then you get used to the new sensations, you will understand that you no longer agree to lunch from the canteen. Start looking for ways to eat only in a restaurant.

Level of norm and level of motivation

Usually you associate the realization of a dream with some situation that is possible in the future. For example, if I start earning more, then I will allow myself something. But, as a rule, this scheme does not work well. You continue to work where you worked, to receive what you received. Expect others to solve your problems and fulfill your desires. Try the opposite: first touch the dream, and then take a step to make it a reality. Don’t say, “I want sometime if…”, just do it. For you, this will become motivation, you will remember how good you were.

Instead of taking the subway, call a taxi. The trip will be your inspiration, motivation. Inspire yourself with sensations from the future in which you are going to live. By raising the level of the norm in this way, you will learn how to spend and earn. If you could afford business class once, then you can do it again. Like in sports. If you ran 42 kilometers once, the second time will be easier.

The main thing – do not despair, do not lose motivation. Move in small steps. Buy not a handbag, but a wallet. Go to a restaurant and have a cup of coffee – get in touch with the beautiful. Nothing wrong with that. You will not go broke, but you will find yourself in the wonderful atmosphere of the institution where you dreamed of going, and then you will no longer want to go to a simpler place.

And you yourself will not notice how the habit of “better instead of good” will affect all areas of life. The goal must be real. Not “I’ll make money, then I’ll buy the whole store,” but “I’ll analyze the current financial condition and buy a scarf for now.” Don’t expect your life to change overnight. Then you will avoid disappointments that will lead you astray.

Set realistic goals. If you initially aim in the direction of too far an ideal, you risk losing motivation along the way. Start small. Teach yourself to believe in the possibilities, give yourself time to settle into a new level, and then take another step. For example, when going on a difficult business trip, take a ticket not for economy, but for business.

The “throughput” of money

It happens like this: a person’s business went uphill for objective reasons, because he is an excellent specialist or makes a good product. His “money ceiling” has risen, but he begins to lower it: he spends thoughtlessly, invests in dubious projects. This happens because a person does not know how to pass a lot of money through his hands, he is not ready, he has not learned. What will help? Only awareness, work on attitudes on your own or with a psychologist. The amounts that are earned should be spent on adequate purposes, dispose of them competently. Any funds can be lost, but it can also be invested in growth.

How are cheating and the level of normality related?

One girl asked the question: “Could you forgive betrayal?” I could not answer it, since my level of norm in a relationship does not imply betrayal at all. There is no such thing in my coordinate system. It’s like asking, “Could you eat out of a dumpster if there’s no restaurant nearby.” The whole situation seems absurd. It’s all about what you allow in your life and what you don’t. The level of norm in every area of ​​life plays a huge role.

Do not be surprised that as you increase your level of norm, you will encounter condemnation and misunderstanding. We are not used to wanting more. Know, cricket, your hearth, according to Senka, a hat – many proverbs and sayings call for not sticking out and staying at a level that is comfortable. But these attitudes prevent us from moving forward. Stay with your opinion, avoid people who devalue your efforts. And this applies not only to finances. Believe that you deserve the best in every area of ​​your life.

Very often, the fear of “breaking away” from loved ones prevents you from reaching the desired level of norm. It is worth preparing for the fact that many will remain below. Not everyone is ready to grow. But don’t be afraid to set goals and ignore those who try to bring you down. Increasing the level of the norm is a way out of the comfort zone. This makes you a leader, special, someone’s envy should not stand in the way. You can afford more, make your dreams come true.