Success in New York, and really anywhere, always starts with a good state of mind. If you have a positive outlook, a great attitude, and a belief that you can accomplish anything, you’re already within reach of your goals.
Sometimes, however, we all need a little bit of encouragement to inspire us. These 10 empowering beliefs below may be just the encouragement you need to succeed in NYC.
1. You are responsible for the life you create
“In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves.
The process never ends until we die.
And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility” - Eleanor Roosevelt
Many people are drawn to New York because they are infatuated with the idea that they are going to “find themselves” here. The simple notion that is often easy to forget is that you are actually here to create yourself.
You are responsible for the life you make. You have the freedom to make choices and go after what you want—an advantage that not everyone in this world has.
While everything may be meant to happen for a reason, it won’t happen without a bit of help on your end. A candle is meant to burn, but it won’t do so if you don’t light the match.
2. You have to learn to let go of things that don’t benefit you
"I’ve learned that you can’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back.” –Maya Angelou
Life will present you with many opportunities, and you may feel overwhelmed at times to take on all of them. Being in such a vibrant and fast-paced city like NYC, you’ll probably experience this frequently.
You must learn to choose the things that are most important to you and will benefit you the most. You can’t accept or hold onto things that don’t add value to your life. You need to be brave enough to either say no or let go.
3. You must work on changing your perspective
“People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson
Your opinion of the world really does say a lot about your character and outlook on life. How you react to situations-- especially tough ones-- distinguishes the pessimists from the optimists.
NYC can easily sway you to become more cynical, so you must decide if you are going to be the person who tends to see everything from a negative light or the one who tries to see hope and solutions.
4. You need to accept that not everyone is going to like you-- and that’s ok
“You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there’s still going to be somebody who hates peaches.” -Dita Von Teese
Not everyone is going to like you—whether they have a valid reason for it or not. If you exhaust all of your energy trying to get every person you encounter in NYC to like you, you’ll be wasting a lot of time.
People’s personalities are just as diverse as NYC’s population, and not all of these personalities are going to mesh well. Instead of investing too much mental energy into trying to figure out why some people don’t like you, accept that it’s probably not always something personal.
5. You should always strive to grow by learning from those who are smarter and wiser than you
“If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” –Anonymous
Whether it is work or school, know when it’s time to move on from a class that’s too easy or a job position you’ve already mastered. If your colleagues or classmates aren’t stimulating you anymore, maybe it’s time for a change.
Don’t hold yourself back if you ever find that you aren’t learning anything new from the people around you. There will always be people out there who are smarter than you, and you should strive to surround yourself with them to learn and grow.
,6. You can handle anything that life throws at you if you simply believe in yourself
“Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you greater than any obstacle.” –Christian D. Larson
Life is more of a mental game than anything else. The first step to accomplishing anything is believing in your abilities.
Even if something seems impossible, you have two choices: fight or flight. You’ll probably be surprised by the amount you can take on if you decide to fight, and you’ll feel better knowing that you at least gave it your all.
7. You can’t change the world, a circumstance, or even an outcome if you can’t change your mind
“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” –George Bernard Shaw
Changing your mind is probably one of the greatest challenges, but you need to be able to at least keep an open mind and accept other people’s opinions and beliefs in order to create any change.
NYC is a huge melting pot, and people come from all walks of life. Everyone has values, ideas, upbringings, and personal views that are different from yours.
Creating any kind of change you’d like to see here means being open-minded.
8. You shouldn’t stop looking for your passion
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know it when you find it.”-Steve Jobs
In New York, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the hustle-and-bustle of everything and lose sight of your dreams. Maybe they have changed, or maybe you haven’t found out what they are. Whatever it may be, don’t settle for just making a living at something you aren’t passionate about because making a living isn’t the same thing as making a life.
Keep searching for something that excites and inspires you everyday. If you love what you do everyday, you’ll be a lot happier and won’t feel like you “have no life” every time you go to work.
9. You don’t have to devote time to people who aren’t worthy of it
“I’m very picky with whom I give my energy to. I prefer to reserve my time, intensity, and spirit exclusively to those who reflect sincerity.” –Unknown
Know that you don’t have to keep anyone around who doesn’t deserve your time. There are plenty of new people in New York to meet and get to know.
The time you spend trying to force friendships or relationships with people you’re not really sure about is the same time you lose making new acquaintances with people who you really click with.
10. You will have an effect on people. Make it a good one.
“Your smile is your logo, your personality is your business card, how you leave others feeling after having an experience with you becomes your trademark.” –Jay Danzie
The way in which you carry yourself and interact with others makes a lasting impression. What do you want fellow New Yorkers and visitors to think about you? How do you want to make them feel?
You probably want them to think you’re pretty fantastic, and you probably want to leave them feeling all warm inside, right? The last thing you likely want is to be categorized into the New Yorker stereotype of being cold, abrasive, and self-centered.