How to start new life

A New Life is Waiting for You: 13 Ways to Start Over

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You can start a new life! However, you must follow this ‘how to start a new life’ guide. These are 13 ways you can start over and change your life for good!

Leaving old ways behind can feel frightful…

And the reason changing is so frightening is that we are SO familiar with a certain way of living our lives, that lasting change can seem terrifying.

However, if you are currently feeling the PAIN from staying the same, then you know it’s time for a change!

Moreover, if you are seeking to improve your future, start over again or overcome the fear of some of the things you’ve been putting off…

You must first know that it will take some time. Change doesn’t happen immediately or overnight.

However, you can boost your reputation and start a new life by taking responsibility for yourself and taking the necessary steps to improve your current circumstances.

The only way you can create a new and better version of yourself is if you are willing to step out of your comfort zone and try some new ideas, too!

So if you are feeling the pain from your current circumstances, and would like to start over again?

Here are 13 insightful ways to improve your future so you can start a new life!

Similar topics:

Your new life starts now. How to start over in 2022.

1. A new life starts when you make the decision to change.

If you are seeking new ways to change your life around, now is the time to make the decision to change.

No matter how difficult your past was, you can still make a difference. It doesn’t matter what past circumstances you may have had. You can change them by choosing to move towards your future.

2. Set realistic and tangible goals.

To help you become a better person, set concrete goals.

Write down your goals and be clear about what you want to achieve.

Be realistic about your goals and don’t forget to make them measurable.

If you are clear about what you want and know you can do it, you will be on the right track to creating a better version of you in no time.

3. Note the results that you desire for your new life.

After you have made the decision to start over and have set tangible goals that you know you can reach, note down how reaching those goals will better your life.

These can be as simple as waking up earlier or more positive thinking. How will reaching these goals make you feel?

When you set goals for yourself, no matter how small or large, and you know how they will better your life, pat yourself on the back because you have just started the process for true change.

4. Set SMART goals.

Another excellent idea to start over is to make sure your goals are aligned with the five criteria of SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound).

The smart method was created to help you reach your goals even faster by being very elaborate with your goals to better base all your decision-making skills to finally be the person you were meant to be.

5. Gather a loving support system.

Influence is everything in life, especially when it comes to creating a better version of yourself.

In fact, according to statistics, people who spend at least a quarter of their day with friends and family are twelve times more likely to feel happy than stressed or anxious.

Moreover, we all know influence from others can either have a positive or negative effect on our lives.

So now is the perfect time to meet people who bring out the best in you for your own personal growth and development.

Also, if you really want to make a real change in your life, assess where you are at present with the people in your life.

Consider the people who truly have your back and can influence your life in a positive way.

Create a support network of people who are still cheering for you even through the hard times.

If you do, you will find that these positive social connections will not only uplift your life but simultaneously help you maintain a happier positive state.

6. Have boundaries.

Similar to the previous step, it is extremely important to have a support network and a team that supports you to help you achieve a positive self-image and self-worth.

But on the contrary, the same goes for toxic people because negative or toxic people will have a direct impact on your life just as the people you love.

Moreover, since we all have toxic people in our lives, know that you’ll be well more equipped to change your life if you cut ties early.

If you are unable to do so for work or family reasons, the next best thing is to try to limit your energy and time with them.

This means talking to them, socializing with them, and even thinking about them should be avoided whenever possible.

Negative influences will only bring you back to your old behaviors, thinking, and habits, and unfortunately if you want to change and change for good, you will reap their unwanted benefits if you don’t have boundaries.

7. If you are impatient, try changing one small thing a day.

Although we all know that there is no way to make a huge difference in a matter of minutes, we can still change little things every single day to get great results.

Make a list of the things you CAN do to improve your daily routine or start a new indoor hobby so you can start something new.

You could choose something as simple as changing your mental chatter with good morning quotes or how you respond when you are in a bad situation.

Regardless, if your past negative experiences lasted a long time and if you think the small changes won’t matter, ensure that you take into consideration your daily schedule and the little things that you CAN change for the better.

Life is always moving and you can change, so be patient and focus only on what you need to do for the day that will get you positive results.

8. Accept personal responsibility.

It doesn’t matter who caused the past circumstances in your life, now is the time to accept responsibility.

Doing so will not only help you improve your present and your future but a key aspect of a successful lifestyle is to take ownership of your actions.

Additionally, this is not only a powerful reminder of your role in your relationships but also builds trustworthiness and faith with yourself and others.

Moreover, since we cannot control any other than ourselves, taking responsibility will allow you to create the space for a new you to start over.

9. Seek therapy if available.

Therapy isn’t just for people with severe mental or physical problems. Therapists can help anyone with almost any problem.

A good therapist will give you a confidential and non-judgmental environment to help you become a better version of you.

Also, sometimes all you need is a safe place to talk through your problems so you can have a fighting chance to start over again.

If you feel uncomfortable talking to a counselor/therapist, discuss your fears with someone you trust.

Doing so will help you see your situation from a different perspective.

10. Accept your consequences to start a new life.

It takes courage to start a new life after a bad past, especially if it was a difficult one.

To quickly turn around your situation accept the consequences of your past.

Accepting your consequences may mean making small payments to clear off old debts, or having the courage to quit your job.

However, once you are fully responsible for your past actions, your NEW actions will add up to a better life.

11. Make amends.

Maybe you got into a fight with your sibling or lost touch with an old friend. Did you know that forgiveness is easier when you make amends with the ones you care about?

Making amends will make a huge difference in your ability to move forward in your life. It will give you the chance to let go of hurt feelings and improve your relationships with those who are most important to you.

Be strong. You will be able to improve your situation and have the peace of mind you deserve if you let go and forgive.

12. Avoid making the same mistakes.

Starting a new life is all about learning. This will continue until the end.

Now is the time to face the past, understand why it happened, ask life-changing questions and come up with new ways to avoid bad things from happening again.

Doing so will help you move on faster and take the lessons learned so you can look forward!

13. Show yourself compassion.

The only way to make a new start in life is by understanding that your mistakes can never diminish your self-worth because there is no such thing as a person who can’t change — everyone makes mistakes.

So if you’re reliving traumas from the past, show yourself some compassion so you can start feeling more self-assured.

And although guilt and shame can be overwhelming at times, if you show compassion for the mistakes you made, you will be able to move on to a new humble beginning much faster.

Final thoughts for starting a new life.

Obviously, there’s lots more to discuss with changing our behaviors around but hopefully, you found a few helpful steps that will improve your current circumstances so you can start over to start a brand new life.

Don’t forget to take responsibility and actively make the changes you seek to happen. You can create lasting change for yourself if you are patient and willing to change one thing every day.

Plus, you are already on the right path reading this and I wish you nothing but the best moving forward!

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How to Start a New Life Without Sacrificing Everything You Have

A Certified Psychosocial Rehabilitation Practitioner with an extensive background working with clients on community-based rehabilitation. Read full profile

Do you ever wish that you could just hit the pause button on life and move on to a new chapter without any negative repercussions? Do you wonder how to start a new life?

Time is linear and is a social construct. In other words, your life’s timeline is yours to manage, and you shouldn’t compare your goals and achievements to those of others.

Taking a long, hard look at your life to get to the root of the change you would like to see will benefit you. Focusing on what you would change in your life might help you answer what you should pursue in the near future.

The great news is that you don’t have to pull a Madonna and completely reinvent yourself every time you are ready for a change.

How to Start a New Life

By implementing these 12 small yet impactful changes outlined below, you can start a new life without being extra about it.

1. Always Learn Something New

Perhaps you have achieved success in your career — only to find you want more.

If you feel stagnant in what you are doing for work or are bored with your day-to-day, expand your options.

One way to make yourself more competitive in various career fields is pursuing further education. Most of us don’t have the bandwidth to invest in attending classes on a college campus.

Luckily, online universities are nationally recognized and more affordable than traditional in-classroom schooling. Consider signing up for some asynchronous online classes that fit your work schedule so you don’t have to interrupt your life to get ahead. [1]

2. Take Steps to Face Your Fears

It is amazing how many of our decisions are based on fear. We fail to take risks, avoid conversations, and miss opportunities because we are afraid of the outcomes.

Taking risks, within reason, can change your life overnight. If you have had your eye on the cutie at your local coffee shop, take a shot and ask them out for a drink. The worst that can happen to you is a slightly bruised ego. Even if they are already in a relationship or simply uninterested, your flattery may have made their day.

Don’t go through life with too many regrets. Going back to that coffee shop after being turned down is just another opportunity to face your fears.

3. Maintain a Meaningful Social Circle

Most of us have heard the timeless adage “you are as good as the company you keep.” Expanding your horizons to include new and interesting people might be the spice in life you were looking for.

Take a holistic view of your friends, family and professional relationships. Make a mental checklist of the relationships that most positively affect you and why. Take that checklist with you the next time to go to a social event. Try to strike up a conversation with new and interesting people that check those boxes.

While you’re out being a social butterfly, don’t forget where this exercise started. Be sure to not leave your old, longtime friends in the dust while fostering new friendships and relationships. You don’t want to be “that guy” in your friend circle.

4. Find Healthy Ways to Cope With Anxiety

If you experience excessive anxiety in your daily life, you are not alone. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States. They affect 40 million people over the age of 18 every year, which represents 18.1 percent of the U.S. population. [2]

Finding healthy ways to cope with anxiety has the ability to turn your world upside down. Many people have looked toward CBD to help ease and manage anxiety. It can be used to target anxiety as it arises without the need to take daily medication. [3]

CBD is not commonly prescribed by mental health professionals — at least not yet anyway. Some have compared it to having a glass of red wine after a long day. However, it is important to practice a sense of heightened self-awareness and recognize if you are negatively self-medicating with overconsumption.

Here’s the kicker:

Anything you do to relax can be done in excess: exercise, watching Netflix, drinking, or shopping. Be sure to choose an activity that works to relieve your anxiety in a manner that is healthy and can done in moderation.

5. Become Part of a Movement

You know all the hours you spend scrolling through social media idolizing other people’s lives? Well, they could be better spent.

As humans, we naturally seek out a connection with others and desire to feel as if we are needed. Finding a cause to get behind can help you to feel as if you are contributing to the common good. Whether it is a social justice issue or an environmental movement, there are many different opportunities to focus your time and energy to help you feel needed.

This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to be protesting every weekend to feel as if you are creating change. Making small changes in your life can make a big impact.

Using your consumer power to only support businesses who have sustainability at the forefront of their business practices is a powerful choice. It is small actions like this that have caused big businesses to reevaluate how they conduct business. Feel empowered by spending your dollars wisely. [4]

6. Take Ownership

It is all too easy to move through life as a passive passenger. The good news is that you don’t have to give up anything in your life to regain control over it.

Take ownership over your life by taking control of a particular aspect of your life. It could be as simple as no longer being a public transport passenger and instead, using your own body’s physical power to get you to your destination.

Knowing that you can depend on yourself to make your morning commute is incredibly empowering. Free yourself of passivity and become the captain of your own ship.

7. Pay Attention to Your Dreams

If you feel unfulfilled in your life but aren’t sure why, try tapping into the esoteric side of life. Diving into your subconscious can be liberating and freeing if you allow yourself the mental space to do it.

Not everyone remembers their dreams, but you can train your brain by keeping a dream journal next to your bed. Dreams can reveal unconscious hopes and fears that we either ignore or prefer to be unburdened with during our waking lives.

Understanding what your dreams mean is like learning a new language — requiring you to pay attention to clues, signs, and symbols. [5]

If you are the type of person to remember having recurring dreams, pay attention! Your subconscious is sending you a message. However, here’s the catch:

Dreams are irrational and a product of our psyche we can never truly comprehend. Don’t make any rash life decisions because a little blue man in your dream told you so.

8. Unplug to Tap Into Creativity

What are you reading this on right now? Are you on your phone or your laptop? Well, after you’ve finished reading through how to start your new life, unplug it.

Being tuned into technology all the time creates mental fatigue — leaving little energy for creative processes. By spending time in nature the prefrontal cortex of the brain is able to rest. [6]

Find out what inspires you in life and use it to take the new life that you are seeking into new dimensions. Your muse may be found in unlikely places. Be open to saying “yes” more often to allow inspiration into your life.

9. Challenge Comfort Zones

If you are attempting to step away from a life of stagnation, you have to step out of your comfort zone. But don’t strap into that bungee cord harness quite yet. You don’t need to unreasonably take elevated risks that put certain aspects of your life at stake.

Challenging your comfort zones are meant to empower you to see what you are capable of achieving when put to the test. It is understandable to want to relax in the comfort zone after working so hard to get there, but there comes a time when you have to level up.

Set your sights on the next attainable dream and go for it. If you’ve always wanted to run a marathon, set up a strenuous training schedule to get you there. Learn how to push through the pain and the mental blocks that have kept you from being your own champion.

Dig within yourself, figure out where to set your hard ceiling, and push towards reaching your goals to live your best life — you deserve it.

10. Practice Daily Mindfulness

If you want to turn your whole world upside down, integrate a mindfulness practice into your daily routine. Meditation, yoga, journaling, or breath work do not require anything from you besides a commitment to being in the present moment.

You may be rereading the title of this article because you assume these words are convincing you to become a monk and take a vow of silence. You don’t have to go that hardcore with your mindfulness practice.

Meditation is called a practice because it takes time to become comfortable with sitting still and focusing for a long period of time. However, you will be happy to learn that the effects of meditation are immediate. Just taking five intentional deep breaths at your desk during a stressful day will help to lower your blood pressure and aid in regaining your mental focus and clarity to get you through your day.

11. Assess Your Budget

Money is the root of all evil — but it is also the driving force behind why we wake up and go to work each day. The less you spend, the less you work. Doesn’t that sound like a better way to live life?

To be able to pursue a path in life that allows you to feel more fulfilled and happy, you need to know where your financial boundaries are. If the new life you picture takes place on a beach, you do not need to sell your family heirlooms to get there. Instead, set yourself up with a budget and a plan so you can save and make your dreams a reality.

12. Manifest Goodness

If you are considering starting a new life or recreating how you project yourself to the world, you need to know what you want the new version to look like.

Does your new life have big financial goals, or is it your intention to move away from focusing on your career to spend more time with your family?

Creating a vision board is one way to help you to manifest what goodness you want in your life. Flipping through magazines and newspapers to snip out people, places, and items that help to define your dreams can be an eye-opening experience. Certain words you previously did not associate with yourself may be more appealing than before.

Sounds silly? It’s not. Consider creating them with friends or family members to see if their perception of you holds any weight in your plans for the future. Friends and family members can act as a mirror for ourselves at times. Seeing them surprised by your interest in different things may cause you to either think twice about that decision or pursue it with more vigor.

Be sure to revisit the board often to remind yourself of what you are working towards. It is normal for projections to change over time. There is no harm in creating a new vision board every year to refocus and fine-tune your intentions as you evolve as a person.

Remember, It’s Your Life!

When looking at the big picture of what is your life, note what you dislike, make a plan to change it, and move forward with decisive action.

You’ve only got one chance to live life on your terms (that we know of, at least). You have everything you need to achieve the level of success you hope to have in this life — you just have to reach out and grab it!

How To Start A New Life & Be The Very Best Version of Yourself

Posted on Last updated: May 25, 2020

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Sometimes life just doesn’t turn out the way that we want it too. We can feel like we have sometimes failed, while other people seem to be doing greater better things than we are.

Believe it or not, everyone feels this way from time to time, it is completely normal.

While your feelings are valid you need to think about if this is a temporary feeling or if you feel that it has got so bad that you need to figure out how to start a new life.

Starting a new life does not mean that you need to move to a new country and get a whole new identity. You don’t need to take it that far unless of course, you feel that things really are that bad and cannot be fixed.

9 times out of 10 you can fix whatever has happened.

That might mean removing toxic people from your life, getting a new job, leaving your partner or getting a better handle on your financial situation.

No matter what the situation is you can start a new life with some simple steps.

***Please note that this site uses affiliate links if you would like to read the legal stuff you can find it here

10 Things to consider when thinking about how to start your new life

1. What is the reasoning behind your decision?

Reason will always determine whether you will be successful at achieving something or not.

If for example, you want to learn how to start a new life because you just had a major argument with your boyfriend then starting a new life might not work for you because your reasoning is not really that deep. You could just be feeling angry in the moment.

If however, your job is making you miserable and you are not fulfilled to the point of depression then you have a very good reason for wanting to start over.

You will likely have much more motivation to keep at it because you don’t have any choice if you want to better yourself.

Once you understand why you want to start your new life you can then get a much better perspective as to what you need to do.

2. Look at the things that have gone wrong

Before you can fully begin your new journey you need to take a look at the things that have gone wrong for you.

In order to move forward, you have to access what has gone wrong in the past and make peace with it.

That does not mean that you have to be happy about it but it does mean that you have to accept what has already happened and that you can not change it only move forward.

I know this might seem really basic and you might feel that you don’t need to assess the past but you must.

If you don’t make peace with the past it will only come back to haunt you especially when you least expect it.

Accept and move on.

3. Think about the kind of change that you want to make

Start to consider the kind of change that you want to make.

Is it an internal change that needs to happen?

Do you need to learn to give yourself more credit for things?

Do you need to have more self-belief?

Do you need confidence?

Is your job the complete opposite of you?

There are lots of things to think about here. If you are serious about how to start a new life then you might need to make some really difficult decisions that will probably affect other people. So be prepared for that.

You need to be strong enough to be content in your decision to move on in life and leave certain things behind.

4. Consider your friendships

Friendships can either work to our success or to our detriment.

There are friendships that we have that will pull us up and help us keep our eye on the ball and there are friendships that tear us down.

Take a look at the type of friendships that you have currently, are they helping you in soaring to new heights or do they make you feel bad about yourself?

If they are not positive relationships then you need to let them go.

You should only invest time in the things that will help you to become better.

Friends that make us feel bad about ourselves are not good for us.

You should never feel bad for letting go of these types of people as they only seek you harm and not good.

5. Become content with your decision

Any decision that you make to start a new life you have to be content with.

Ultimately you will be responsible for your own decision as to how much of your life that you want to start again. No one can do that for you.

Before you start to make any serious changes to your life think them through very well and make sure you are happy with them.

6. Don’t compare yourself

Comparison is a killer of all things.

In order to start your new life, you must make yourself the main focus. That’s not to say that you will become a selfish person but it does mean that your attention will be on yourself and the things that you need to get done in your life.

You have to resist the temptation to look at other people to see what they are doing and compare yourself to that.

Comparision could be one of the things that caused you to feel that you are failing. Stop looking at other people.

No one has it all together, that’s just the truth. We are all trying to work out who we are, what matters most to us and how to achieve our dreams.

Regardless of what you think other people have achieved all is not always as it seems.

You can never fully know what that person has gone through to become who they are today or even what they are still going through up to this moment.

The only person that you should compare yourself to is the you of yesterday.

7. Forget about labels people have put on you

We all have labels pinned on us by other people. You don’t have to accept them if they harm you.

Some may say you have beauty but no brains or that you can’t cook or that you are a selfish person.

Choose what you want to believe about yourself.

If people think that you are selfish but you know that deep down you are not, then forget about it. If on the other hand lots of people say the same thing then maybe it’s something that you need to work on.

Some labels we need to work on and others have been birthed from the jealousy of other people.

The label that someone puts on you does not define you as a person.

In the past, some people thought that I was not a nice person and that I thought too highly of myself but it’s not true. I was just incredibly shy at a particular time in my life and that looked to some people that I was too proud.

It took me years to shake how I felt about that label.

8. Focus on your dreams

Make a list of all the things that you want to achieve. This list is what will keep you going throughout your journey.

Take your big goals and break them down into smaller more manageable ones that won’t seem as a scary.

Use this dream as a motivator to keep you going forward.

Sometimes we all need a bit of carrot on a stick to keep us moving.

When you take time to focus on the things that you love and that make you happy you won’t have time for anything negative.

It will help to develop you into the new you that you want to be.

9. Challenge yourself

Keep on challenging yourself every day to do better, be better.

It is never too late for you to change your life around.

Starting a new life does not mean that things will just miraculously change overnight you will have to work on it a little bit every day.

It is a continuous effort.

10. Be mindful

Never underestimate the power of mindfulness. Being mindful means that you are always thinking and considering things before moving forward.

When you wake up in the morning you make the choice to be happy. You chose to become confident.

You do not let things simply happen to you and deal with it.

Mindfulness is all about being aware of your circumstance and being present in the moment.

Final thoughts on how to start a new life

Starting a new life is something that can be done at any time no matter how old you are.

As long as you know your reasoning behind it and can be fully committed to the process you can do it.

Starting a new life should never be about another person it should always be about you and how you can make your life better for your own benefit.

How to Start a New Life (And Rediscover Your Happiness)

Sometimes, our lives don’t go the way we thought they would.

As youngsters, we imagine THE life we’d like to have. We imagine being able to work remotely from anywhere in the world, enjoying our dream job, and building a family we’ve always wanted.

Then, we grow up and realize that adult life isn’t always as simple as it seems.

Sounds familiar, no?

Maybe your dream job turned out to be a nightmare, with long hours that eat into your work/life balance and demands that are causing stress at home.

Perhaps the person you thought would be “the one” turned out to be another hiccup on the path to happiness, and now you’re questioning your relationship.

What you need to do is start a new life.

Sometimes, a fresh start is just what you need to identify what doesn’t make you happy and take measures that lead to a better you.

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Creating a New You Is a Wonderful Thing

Ever started a project and realized half-way through that you’ve done something wrong?

You can try and adapt to the error and keep building anyway, or you can take everything apart and start over.

The decision to start new life is all about going back to the drawing board with a positive mindset. You take what you’ve learned from the last few months and years and apply it to your new strategy for happiness.

Making the choice to build a new life means:

How to Start New Life In 12 Easy Steps

So, how do you begin to build a new life?

1. Make a list

Say you were planning on building a new business website, complete with a new SEO strategy.

You wouldn’t just ignore all the things you’ve learned about site-building up until now and start fresh. You’d look at the existing website, see what works and what doesn’t, then plan from there.

If you’re pursuing the beginning of a new life, start by looking at what you like and dislike about your existing one. Maybe a list of the things you currently enjoy, like your relationship or your home, and the things you’re not so fond of, like your stressful job and annoying boss.

While you’re making your list of things that you do and don’t want in your new life, try to ask yourself what’s actually realistic for you. For instance, you might not be thrilled with the fact that you don’t have a lot of cash in your savings right now.

Unfortunately, just changing up your current lifestyle and deciding to create a new life isn’t going just to improve your personal finances overnight. You’re going to have to work on changing things like this with a long-term plan, using better budgeting, and maybe seeking out an improved income.

2. Look for lessons to take with you

One of the biggest mistakes that people make when trying to start a new life is to forget all about their past or sweep negative experiences under the rug.

Sure, we’ve all had bad experiences that we’d rather leave behind us. However, it’s important to make sure you’re not missing out on an opportunity for growth.

The lessons you’ve learned in your old life could be brilliant for motivating you to reach your new goals.

Look back on your mistakes and ask yourself what went wrong.

And don’t fall into the trap of looking for ways to blame your issues on someone or something else. Rather, focus on the things you could have done differently and how you’re going to reach your goals.

3. Decide what to tackle first

Now that you’ve looked at your past, what you’ve done wrong, and what you actually want from your life, it’s time to take action.

Decide what you’re going to tackle first. If you’re unhappy with your relationship, your job, and your living situation, you might not be able to deal with all of those things in one go. Start with the one that’s having the most significant impact on your life right now.

For instance, maybe your relationship and living situation is suffering because of the extra stress you’re taking on at work? Research your current life to find out.

4. Build some courage

It’s ok to feel terrified about heading into uncharted territory. Don’t let the fear paralyze you though. Try:

5. Find the roadblocks

There are going to be some roadblocks on your path to success.

If you start rushing forward blindly and hit an obstacle, then you’re more likely to end up getting stuck – feeling like you can’t move forward.

However, if you can identify the obstacles that are most likely to hold you back, you can find a plan to overcome them.

6. Stop being afraid of setbacks

Ever heard that the only thing to fear is fear itself?

Usually, that’s the case when you’re pursuing a fresh start in life.

You have no idea what lays ahead, and you’re probably pretty convinced that you’re going to make mistakes again. The best way to get over that fear is to accept that you might be right.

Figuring out how to create a new life for yourself is tough. You’re going to make mistakes. The important thing is how you choose to move on from those errors.

How are you going to respond if you do have a misstep? Are you going to let it stop you from reaching your goals or learn from them?

7. Start challenging your comfort zones

One of the most common reasons people end up living a life they’re unhappy with is that they’re not sure how to step out of their comfort zones.

Here’s a kicker: You can’t say “I want to start a new life” but be totally unwilling to change anything about where you are today.

If you’re afraid to take risks, you live your life based on fear rather than what you want. Taking the right risks can actually transform your life.

Failing to take risks basically means that you’re guaranteeing nothing can change – either for the better or worse. Challenging your comfort zones with little, manageable risks will get you on the right track.

For instance, you might not feel comfortable changing jobs right now, but maybe you can practice saying “no” to your boss when he offers extra work.

8. Build a support group

If you want to start a new life, you need the right support.

Although your own motivation and drive will get you most of the way towards your goals, you can only do so much on your own.

Figuring out how to start fresh in life is a tricky process, and it’s not something that most people will be able to accomplish without a little emotional support.

Look at the people who are already around you and figure out which ones positively impact your life.

Family members and friends that are always there for you will help you start a new life in the way that you choose. Toxic people who try to hold you back need leaving behind – just like the things you hated about your old life.

9. Get your emotions in check

If you want to learn how to start fresh in life, you’re going to need a way to handle the overwhelming emotions that can really stress you out.

If you’ve been through some seriously difficult stuff, maybe it’ll help to talk to a therapist and work with a professional to get some strategies for emotional management in place.

Or maybe you can just go for a run when you’re feeling overwhelmed and work off some adrenaline.

What makes you feel good?

10. Take control

This might sound odd, but many of us go through lives almost like a passive character in our own story. However, you’re the protagonist of your world – and it’s up to you to take control and ownership over your life.

Figure out what you can and can’t control in your world.

For instance, you can’t control the way other people feel about you as a friend or coworker. However, you can pay attention to the kind of things that your colleagues say seem a little “standoffish” about you.

Look for the things you can take ownership of as you start a new life and begin creating a new you. This is your journey, after all.

11. Pay attention to your dreams

If you ever feel unfulfilled in life, but you don’t know where you’re going wrong, it might be time to jump into your subconscious and take a closer look at what’s going on.

For example, you could try keeping a dream journal to go through your thoughts first thing each morning.

If you have recurring dreams, this could be a sign that your brain is trying to send you a message about what you actually need.

It’s also worth looking at your dreams from a less tangible perspective. For instance, what kind of future do you think would make you happy, and which of your goals are actually attainable? Are there some dreams that you need to let go of?

12. Be more mindful

Finally, people underestimate the power of mindfulness. However, if you want to start a new life, it all begins by paying more attention.

Be aware of how you feel in any given moment and the things in your life that you should be grateful for.

You can even add a little meditation to your routine so you can focus more directly on the parts of your body that are holding onto the most stress.

Mindfulness will help you dictate which issues in your life are having the biggest impact on your happiness, so you can make an active decision to move in the right direction.

Take Back Your Life

Deciding to start new life is challenging, but it’s also something that can be incredible for your future if you do it correctly.

As far as we know, you’ll only have one chance to live your life according to your rules. So do it your way.

Although it’s hard to take that initial leap into the unknown, learning how to start a fresh life could mean that you finally get the happiness you deserve.

How To Leave Everything Behind And Start A New Life (24 Questions To Ask)

Consult a life coach to help you make the best start possible in your new life. Simply click here to find one now.

So, you think it might be time to start a new chapter of your life, or maybe even a whole new book.

You’re considering leaving everything you know behind and starting a whole new life somewhere completely different.

You’re thinking of moving to a new city, or maybe even a totally new country.

You’ve got an established life where you are right now, but something is pushing or pulling you to take the leap and make one of the biggest changes possible.

Of course, this isn’t a decision to be taken lightly.

It’s a decision that will make a huge difference to the whole course your life takes from here on out.

And that’s incredibly exciting, but it can also be overwhelming.

If you’re umming and erring over the right course of action, or you’re convinced you’ve made the right decision but just want to make sure you’re being sensible, then it’s time for some soul-searching.

You need to ask yourself the big questions, and give yourself some honest answers.

After all, a new start can be amazing, but it’s never a walk in the park. You will face challenges.

There are questions you should be asking yourself before you take the plunge, and everyone’s priorities will be different.

Here are a few of the most vital questions that will help you gain clarity on what you really want, and how it will all work on both a practical and emotional level so that you’re prepared for what’s in store.

1. What’s pushing you?

What is it that you aren’t happy with where you are right now?

The people? The job opportunities? The lifestyle? The weather?

Is there just something about your current home that isn’t ideal, or are you actively being pushed to leave?

It’s important not to run away from your problems, because if you leave things unresolved, they could follow you wherever you go.

2. What’s pulling you?

Is there something about the place you have in mind that is drawing you there?

Although you may have just put a pin in a map, and some people do just up and move when the mood takes them, it’s probably not a random decision you’ve made.

There’s a reason you’re doing it, and a reason that, with the whole wide world available to you, you’ve chosen that particular spot.

You might be moving for a job, or you might be moving for a significant other.

If that’s the case, ask yourself whether you’d have ever considered moving to the place in question if it wasn’t for that one particular thing pulling you there.

If there are other reasons you’re moving, these will help to take a bit of pressure off that dream job or relationship, which otherwise might struggle to live up to your expectations.

3. Can you see yourself living there?

In your mind, can you picture yourself living there?

Can you picture what your home might look like and what you might do with your weekends?

When you imagine it, does it seem real and tangible, or do you struggle to picture yourself there at all?

4. What’s holding you back?

The answer to this might be ‘nothing,’ but if you’re reading this then you’re probably not yet convinced that leaving everything behind is the right course of action for you…

…and that might be because there’s someone or something holding you back.

Be honest with yourself about what that is, and reflect on whether or not you’re willing to let it dictate your life.

5. How long have you been dreaming about this?

Some free spirits make decisions overnight, and that can be a wonderful way to live life if you’re willing to face the potential consequences.

However, if you’re more careful than carefree, think about how long you’ve been dreaming about this.

Is it just a whim that you’ll forget about again within a few weeks, or is it something that’s been bubbling under for years, that you’ve finally got the chance to act on?

6. How will you finance your new life?

You might be making the move specifically because of a job and not have to worry too much about the financial side of things.

But if you’re not, this will be one of your primary concerns.

Have you got savings to tide you over if it takes a while to find a job?

Are you planning on living on savings for a while, and taking a well-earned break?

Do you have an idea of what the job market is like there?

Will your qualifications be valid?

How will you go about finding a job?

Do you have the necessary language skills?

7. Will your career prosper? Is that important to you?

If your career is a priority for you right now, will this be a good move in the long run, or are you worried you might come to regret it?

Or, is having a solid career that you can progress in currently quite low on your list of priorities?

That’s totally your prerogative and a very valid choice, as there’s far more to life than work…

…but just be honest with yourself about your ambitions, and whether, if you want to be climbing that ‘career ladder,’ this move is going to help you onto the next rung.

8. If you have a job waiting for you, how secure is it?

If you’re upping and moving for a job and only for a job, then you need to be sure that it’s something you can rely on.

Is it a temporary or a permanent contract? How would you feel if the job didn’t work out?

9. Where will you live? With who?

Would you like to live alone? If so, will you feel lonely? Will you be able to afford it?

Would you like to share a house or flat? How will you track one down? Have you looked into options?

It’s important to have a clear idea of what you’re expecting from your accommodation, and if that’s realistic.

10. Do you have an emergency fund?

If things all go belly up, do you have a cushion of money to support you?

Some of us are lucky enough to have families that would be able to bail us out if necessary, but some of us aren’t.

Much as your family might love you, they might not be in a financial position to help you should you need it.

So, you need to be sure that you have some money saved that you can fall back on in an emergency.

11. What’s the cost of living like in your prospective new home?

Is the cost of living higher or lower than where you currently live? Will you be able to afford it?

What are rent prices typically like? Will you be able to save more money than you do now, or less?

What’s the cost of eating out, and how expensive is travel?

Will you have to cut down the number of times you eat out per week, or will you be able to loosen your purse strings a little?

How important is being able to get out and about and socialize to you?

12. Are there any visa restrictions?

This is the boring part.

Much as we’d all love to just be able to roam free around this beautiful planet, borders and visas are unfortunately still very much a thing.

If you’re going abroad, will you be able to get a visa for the country in question?

How long does that visa allow you to stay there? Would you be able to stay long-term if you wanted to?

13. What’s the deal with healthcare?

No one is immortal, so you need to be very clear on your healthcare arrangements before you go anywhere.

Your country might have a reciprocal deal with the country you’re going to, but you’ll generally need to make sure you’ve got an appropriate insurance policy in place, that covers you for the place you’re going to be and the activities you’re going to be doing.

14. What are you leaving behind?

Think about all the things that you do have in your current life, whether it’s your job, your friends, your family, your home, or your partner, and ask yourself whether you’re really willing to give all that up.

If you’ve got to this stage, the answer might well be yes, but you need to make sure you’re fully aware of exactly what it is you’re leaving behind.

After all, as they say, you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.

15. What will you do with your stuff whilst you’re away?

And we’re back to the practicalities!

You’ve almost certainly accumulated quite a lot of stuff in your time on this planet.

What are you going to do with it?

Are you taking it all with you? Are your parents willing to sacrifice space for you to store your things? Could you leave some stuff with friends? Will you need to pay for storage?

And, how attached are you really to all those physical objects? Could you sell everything that doesn’t fit into a suitcase and indulge in some minimalist living?

16. Do you need to take much stuff with you? How much will it cost?

If you are planning on moving lock, stock, and barrel, taking multiple suitcases or even furniture, how much will it cost to get it all there? How will it work logistically?

17. Do you have a back-up plan?

Imagine it all falls apart.

Imagine nothing unfolds the way you want it to.

What will you do?

Will you turn tail and come home? Will you stick with it and make it work? Do you have another grand plan in mind?

18. Do you have a support network in place that you’ll be able to contact?

The beauty of the modern era is that no matter how far away we are from our friends and family, they’re only a phone or video call away.

Who are the people that you know you’ll be able to rely on when you need their support?

19. Do you cope well with loneliness?

Moving to somewhere new can be incredibly exciting, but loneliness is a reality.

It’ll take you a few months to find your feet and find your friends, and those first months can be very lonely.

You may have met people, but it will take you a while to build friendships and a new support network, which means that you’ll end up spending a lot of time on your own.

It’s not an easy thing to experience, but some people are more naturally independent and self-sufficient than others.

Admitting you struggle to be alone isn’t a reason not to take the leap, but it’s just important to expect the first few months to be a little rough, and be prepared to push on through.

20. Are you open to adapting to a new culture?

In your new home, chances are things don’t work like they do where you come from.

You need to be open to embracing a new culture and adapting to the way things are done.

I’m not saying you need to completely change the way you behave and operate, but you need to be open to changing small things to adapt to what’s considered polite or how life is structured in the city or country you’ve picked.

21. Will you make the effort to make new friends?

Friends aren’t just going to come to you.

You might not be very practiced in the art of making friends if you haven’t ever moved somewhere new, but you need to be willing to get out there and make an effort.

That might involve going along to social events, taking classes, playing sports…

You need to force yourself to make offers of friendship to people you like and make an effort to build the connection.

Accept the fact that most people already have their life and their friends and are busy, so you might have to make a bit more effort than you’d think to create a bond.

22. Might your expectations be too high?

Have you got unrealistic expectations of what it’s going to be like?

Sure, you might be moving to paradise, but there are still going to be rough patches.

It’s best to expect things to be tough, so if it does all go perfectly to plan, it’s a pleasant surprise.

23. Is this permanent, or for a set period of time?

Are you going for 6 months? A year? Three years? Might you, all being well, stay forever?

Will you move onto somewhere else, or will you be moving back to your current home?

24. If you don’t do it, will you regret it?

If you decide against taking the leap, will it be something that sticks at the back of your mind?

In ten years, will you regret not having taken this opportunity?

Would it be better to give it a shot and have it all fall apart, than never try at all?

Not sure how to start a new life? Speak to a life coach today who can walk you through the process. Simply click here to connect with one.

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About Author

Katie is a writer and translator with a focus on travel, self-care and sustainability. She’s based between a cave house in Granada, Spain, and the coast of beautiful Cornwall, England. She spends her free time hiking, exploring, eating vegan tapas and volunteering for a local dog shelter.