where to begin?

Have you ever wanted to make a change to something in your life?
Have you thought..."hmm, i could be better at this", or "i should have done that", or "i need to do or change this?"
I think that is the beginning of realizing and living the kaizen philosophy. The desire for constant improvement. I believe we all have a need for embracing constant improvement - and those who see the need younger - achieve younger - and those who don't see it until later in life - hit a few more stumbling blocks along the way. However, these are the steps we go through in the quest to self-actualization.
But what is self-actualization? Well, yes it is Maslow's highest tier on the hierarchy to achieving one's needs. But what does it mean for us in the here and now?
It means - what we do all day counts. Those little moments throughout each day that you live count, and it is the mindsest you have in those moments that counts the most. They all add up to the little changes.
You might be thinking, "So that may be all well and good" - and you might identify that you want to make an improvement to some aspect of your life, for yourself.
But then you ask, "Where do i even begin?" That list seems too long, or that dream too big, and the day to day of it gets in the way. We say to ourselves...maybe we can't achieve what we want. Why do we do this to ourselves? Well, according to David Wood - a brilliant speaker on the matters of the mind - it is because there is an 'imposter' in our heads. A voice inside us that floods us with self-doubt. That voice that shoots us down and puts our dreams to rest.
Ekhart Tolle, spiritual teacher, says that your body responds to thought as if it were reality. It doesn't know the difference between a thought and our reality, so we must control the thoughts we let into our space.
Lousie Hay, an amazing speaker, author and elder of excellence, says this; if you change your thoughts - and replace the mind's redundant thinking - with positive love-filled thoughts - then you will change your life - and the entire course of your life will take new form before your eyes. Dr. Wayne Dyer points to this same idea in his book, "Change your thoughts, change your life" based on Lao Tzu's teaching in the Tao te ching.
I truly believe this to be true - and implement it into my personal practice daily. Does it always work - each moment of each day - absolutely not. Ask anyone who spends time with me! But what it does do, is remind me that I am constantly improving - and enjoying every step of the way. My life is filled more often now in the direction of positivity, abundance, happiness and love (for others and by others). You attract what you give out. As the great Ghandi says, Be the change you want to see in the world.
So...Are you still asking, "where to begin?" My answer for you is this; start by looking within. Look deep within and begin there, go inside, and listen to the silence between the thoughts. What is your body telling you? What is your mind telling you?
Do it today.
Have a great day - Namaste!