Four years ago, if someone had told me I'd be living independently in my own apartment and thriving, I probably wouldn't have believed them. Not because I lacked self-confidence or discipline, but because I was directionless. I had no employment, no financial stability, family challenges, was recovering from a breakup, and often wondered if I'd ever achieve the success I saw in others.
In 2020, I made a commitment to myself: I would do whatever necessary to become the woman who doesn't compromise, who dreams ambitiously, and who turns those dreams into reality. This article explores the 12 fundamental changes that helped me get to where I am today.
Interestingly, discipline isn't one of them—because discipline naturally emerges as a result of implementing these 12 principles. I'll also provide practical tips on applying these mindset shifts to your own life as you work toward your goals in 2025.
1. Believe You Deserve the Best
There was a time when I thought simply "going with the flow" was the optimal approach to life. I assumed this passive stance would naturally bring me what I deserved while keeping my life smooth and conflict-free. I couldn't have been more mistaken.
While there's value in aligning with universal energies, I've learned that what we attract reflects what our subconscious believes we deserve. If we believe we merit mediocrity, that's precisely what we'll receive.
This creates a dangerous cycle—accepting less in one area of life becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy that spreads to every aspect of your existence. My transformation began when I reframed this belief, constantly reminding myself that I deserve excellence regardless of my current circumstances.
Creating vision boards and documenting my goals significantly helped reshape this mindset. I've maintained this practice for four years, completely rewiring my brain to view life as a series of opportunities rather than obstacles.
2. Do the Inner Work
Growth doesn't happen accidentally—it begins with deliberate action, which is why personal development work is non-negotiable. Everyone has insecurities, fears, and limiting beliefs. The difference between those who succeed and those who remain stagnant is that successful individuals actively work on these issues.
They approach each step, mistake, and challenge as a learning opportunity. Those who remain stuck share a common trait: they complain about their problems but resist meaningful change. I witnessed this pattern frequently in my own family.
When I decided to transform my reality, I started journaling and documenting my experiences, recording my thoughts. This practice revealed patterns I hadn't previously recognized—like my tendency to avoid conflict and challenging tasks due to fear of failure.
Once I identified these patterns, I could challenge them. I began therapy, improved my habits, and gradually shifted my mindset from "why me?" to "what can I do about this?" The results speak for themselves today.
If you want to grow and elevate your life, you must commit to this inner work—challenging and unlearning patterns that hinder your development. It's uncomfortable and difficult, but it forms the foundation for all other success in your life.
3. Recognize That Fear, Not Unpreparedness, Is Holding You Back
For most of my life, I was someone who needed to feel 100% prepared before taking action—whether starting a new project, job, or relationship. While thoroughness has its benefits, it often led to missed opportunities.
I've discovered that "readiness" is frequently an illusion. Perfectionism keeps you stagnant, and despite meticulous planning, Murphy's Law prevails—whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.
This doesn't mean you should enter exams or interviews without preparation. It means that for most life situations, you're actually better prepared than you believe—you simply need self-trust.
I fully grasped this concept in 2020 when I accepted a content creation project for an educational brand. I had limited understanding of what it would entail but said yes because I needed work and income. Despite some sleepless nights, I quickly adapted to the educational writing format, completed the project successfully, and earned substantial compensation.
Had I waited until I felt perfectly prepared, I would have missed this opportunity and the valuable connections it brought. Often, the best opportunities present themselves as challenges, and the only way to seize them is to say yes and trust your ability to adapt as you progress.
4. Growth Happens Outside Your Comfort Zone
I once believed confidence was an innate trait, but I've realized it's something you develop by stepping beyond your comfort zone—and this confidence illuminates your path to success.
During school, I had an opportunity to join the debate team. I prepared my speech, approached the podium, and began speaking. I was so terrified that I rushed through my entire presentation—without proper pacing, punctuation, or coherence. After this humiliating experience, I abandoned debating altogether, never discovering if I could have excelled.
When I began my social media and YouTube journey, I promised myself I wouldn't quit until I achieved my goals. Initially, I was still terrified—recording took hours to get one usable take, and my voice frequently cracked. But unlike my school debate experience, I persisted. With each video, I improved, and today I can naturally speak on camera without hesitation.
I've realized our vision of an ideal reality continuously evolves. To remain aligned with it, we must embrace discomfort. Avoiding what frightens you prevents growth into a stronger, more capable version of yourself.
5. Focus on Solutions, Not Problems
Closely related to challenging yourself is developing a solution-oriented mindset rather than dwelling on problems. While I've generally been solution-focused, this quality became muddled during family difficulties and periods of stress.
Eventually, I rediscovered this approach, and over the past three years, it has been transformative. A solution-oriented mindset allows you to view obstacles as temporary challenges rather than journey-ending roadblocks—crucial for success and personal growth.
Unfortunately, most people don't adopt this perspective. Many, including 90% of my own family members, prefer to dwell on problems and complain, which provides some strange satisfaction but prevents growth and achievement.
6. Define Success on Your Own Terms
Before you can succeed, you need clarity about what success means to you personally. Most people follow societal conventions, which often have little connection to their individual definition of success and fulfillment. This leads to resentment and dissatisfaction because they've never sought clarity about their unique path.
How did I change this pattern? I practice an annual review where I evaluate my achievements from the previous year and establish goals for the coming year—these goals constitute my personal definition of success.
For example, in the upcoming year, my goals include significantly growing my YouTube and Instagram presence, building a tangible community for my audience, and reaching a specific revenue target. Achieving these goals will make it a successful year by my standards.
Your concept of success might differ completely—perhaps advancing in your corporate career or launching your own business. You won't discover this without doing the inner work and asking yourself meaningful questions about fulfillment. Only after finding these answers can you move purposefully in that direction.
7. Focus on Earning More, Not Just Saving
Prioritizing increased income has been the most significant catalyst for my career advancement, personal growth, and dream lifestyle. However, this appears seventh on my list because the preceding principles created the foundation for this financial focus.
What do I mean by focusing on earning more? Simply that you cannot save your way to financial freedom. Many financial experts suggest that cutting expenses—reducing purchases, avoiding takeout, pinching pennies—is the key to financial success. But realistically, how far can this approach take you?
Even if you saved your entire income, there's a definite ceiling to how much you can accumulate—but there's no limit to your earning potential. When I first encountered this concept, it triggered a mental shift. I redirected my focus from cutting costs to increasing income.
I pursued freelance projects, negotiated higher rates, and explored passive income opportunities. Initially, this was overwhelming and caused numerous sleepless nights. However, the additional income soon provided freedom to invest in myself, eliminate debt, and enjoy life without guilt over small pleasures like a coffee shop purchase.
Cost-cutting has its limits. While budgeting matters, the real transformation comes from increasing your income. When you concentrate on earning more, you're not merely surviving—you're building a foundation for a better future. Instead of obsessing over saving small amounts, ask yourself how you can generate an additional $500 or $1,000 monthly. This mindset shift can reveal unexpected opportunities.
8. Build Multiple Income Streams for True Freedom
Another misconception I had when I first started earning was believing that a single high-paying job (e.g., $5,000 monthly) would ensure success. As my career developed, I recognized a deeper principle: beyond just earning money, it's about avoiding dependence on any single person or income source.
If your entire $2,000 monthly income comes from one job and you're terminated, you have no safety net. At one point in my career, most of my income came from a single client. Everything seemed perfect until they suddenly reduced their budget. Overnight, I lost a substantial portion of my revenue.
This experience taught me two crucial lessons: never rely on a single income source (don't put all your eggs in one basket), and greater financial independence means greater life control.
I began diversifying my income streams—taking on multiple clients, creating digital products, investing in stocks and mutual funds. I prioritized building personal savings and emergency funds. This approach ensures I don't depend on others for financial support or decision-making.
Dependence restricts your choices, whether it's dependence on family, a single client, or one job. True freedom requires multiple income streams and financial security to stand independently. This enables decisions based on what's best for you rather than what circumstances force upon you.
9. Embrace Feedback as a Growth Tool
I used to avoid feedback because I disliked hearing about my shortcomings. While working at India Today, a mentor told me, "You cannot improve what you're not willing to acknowledge." Since personal growth is important to me, this resonated deeply.
From that moment, I've actively sought feedback from colleagues, friends, clients, and my audience. Some criticism still stings initially and might trigger defensiveness, but constructive feedback guides you in the right direction—essential for growth.
10. Continuous Learning Provides Leverage
When I first read a personal finance book (specifically, "Psychology of Money") around 2019-2020, I was astonished by how much I didn't know. That single book ignited a hunger for knowledge. I began reading about productivity, mindset, and relationships, with each book providing tools for various life improvements.
Books are power sources—repositories of knowledge and understanding about the world. They contain invaluable information; you can often learn more from an hour of reading than an hour of video content. Their principles remain timeless and applicable year after year.
To grow, prioritize reading and consume quality information through books, podcasts, and meaningful conversations with others.
11. Focus on One Goal at a Time
For years, I prided myself on multitasking, juggling numerous goals simultaneously. Over time, I realized this approach left me perpetually overwhelmed, exhausted, and prone to burnout—without meaningful progress in any area.
In 2021, I read "Hyperfocus" by Chris Bailey and recognized that focus isn't merely a skill but a superpower when properly applied. Though I still occasionally take on too much, I've found that channeling my energy into one primary goal—as I'm doing with my YouTube channel—transforms everything. This year, by focusing exclusively on YouTube, we've surpassed 400,000 subscribers.
Once I achieve my YouTube objectives and automate those systems, I can progress to other goals. The key is prioritization. You can achieve anything, but not everything simultaneously. By focusing on one goal, you allocate the clarity, time, and energy necessary for success.
A helpful practice at year-end is asking myself: "What single focus right now would create the greatest impact on my life?" Once identified, I commit fully, understanding that scattered energy produces scattered results, while directed focus can transform your life.
12. Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst
This principle has brought me tremendous peace. If you're building your dream life, peace is non-negotiable. We all want to believe our plans will unfold perfectly—that businesses will thrive, jobs will remain secure, and life will proceed smoothly. However, life is unpredictable, and without contingency plans, even minor setbacks can feel catastrophic.
Much contemporary content advises against having a "Plan B" to ensure full commitment to "Plan A." However, I've found that a strategic Plan B actually accelerates Plan A's achievement with greater peace of mind.
For example, when starting a business, having a marketable freelance skill provides backup for difficult periods, preventing the need to abandon your entrepreneurial dreams. In relationships, unconditional self-love serves as Plan B, ensuring you don't accept less than you deserve.
I've made contingency planning non-negotiable—diversifying income, developing multiple skills, working with various clients, and investing heavily in self-care. Knowing I have options means I make decisions based on genuine desire rather than desperation. Your Plan B isn't about anticipating failure; it's about ensuring resilience.
Your Environment Shapes Your Reality
Finally, your environment—both physical spaces and people—profoundly influences your reality. Recently, a school friend revealed that when I began my Instagram and YouTube journey, classmates and friends expressed significant concern and skepticism. They believed I was wasting my time and would never monetize these platforms. Similarly, relatives shared these doubts.
Fortunately, when I started working online, I never heard these negative opinions because I blocked these influences. From the beginning, I only wanted supporters who reinforced my self-belief, not those who questioned it. This decision clearly paid dividends.
Your surroundings impact your mindset more than you realize. A disorganized workspace drains productivity. People who constantly complain limit your ambitions. Even your daily routines—positive or negative—are influenced by your created environment.
When I recognized this and created a more supportive environment, growth became automatic. Rather than relying solely on willpower to avoid distractions or maintain motivation, my surroundings naturally encouraged desired habits.
To create lasting change, start with your environment—surround yourself with inspiring people, arrange your space to reflect your goals, and eliminate anything that diverts you from your vision.
Your 2025 Action Plan:
To implement these principles in 2025:
- Create a detailed, specific vision board for your 2025 goals. For revenue targets, specify exact amounts.
- Write five affirmations reinforcing that you deserve life's best. Recite these aloud every morning for 30 days. Consider posting them on your mirror.
- Begin nightly journaling to reflect on your day, noting what went well and extracting one key lesson or insight.
- Start building financial independence by developing marketable skills and multiple income streams.
Which of these 12 principles surprises you most? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
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