Defeat. Boredom. Lack of meaning in your life. All these symptoms, and many others, of course, are a sign that you need to start fresh. To run again. To leave the old behind and embrace the new. Te ignite a new spark that will light a new life, with a deeper meaning, broader experience and much more fulfillment that you had so far. A rebirth.
I started fresh for many times in my life, and, hopefully, I’ll start fresh again. Because, like it or not, change is the only permanent thing in this Universe. Here are 50 proven (and I’m not kidding you) ways to start fresh.
1. Accept Change
Sometimes starting over means accepting that you’re no longer the person you used to be. You’re no longer attracted by the same things or persons, you’re no longer driven by the same goals. It’s ok. Don’t blame yourself for it and don’t try to resist. Start over. As hard as it may seem in the beginning. You’ll be surprised how fast things will fall into places again.
2 Just Leave
Quit the boring job, the abusive relationship, the past. Embrace the unknown. Make the first step. Every trip starts with just one step. You’re resisting to this impulse because leaving is associated with letting someone else down. Well, you won’t let nobody down if you’ll step out of an abusive relationship. But if you won’t leave, you will let down somebody very important: you..
3. Accept To Meet Someone New
Too often we’re unconsciously rejecting other people by habit. Well, make a fracture in that habit. Don’t put a label on every person you meet, assuming you know beforehand who they are, what they do and how they can interact with you. Open up, let yourself flow and look for the signs. Many times my life was truly changed when I just accepted to meet someone new.
4. Accept Defeat
And move on. Yes it hurts. Yes, you lost something, or somebody. Yes, your hopes are broken down and maybe so is the heart. Accept it. Close the battle and move on. There is this very simple thing which many people are just blindly ignoring: you can’t have a new victory until you close your current battle (by accepting defeat, if that’s what just happened).
5. Talk to somebody
It doesn’t have to be a friend. Anybody willing to listen will do it. Just take it out of our chest. Transform your experiences in words and let them out, transfer your story to somebody else. Not only you’ll feel a little better, but you may also find a new idea, a surprising solution or just the courage you lack to start fresh. Let the others be the triggers of your change.
6. Do Something Reasonably Risky
Bungee jumping, for instance, if you’re the physical type. Or, if you’re the shy guy, do a public speech in front of one thousand people. The more consuming the challenge you’re embracing, the faster you’ll get out of your comfort zone. And by getting out that comfort zone, you literally stretch your limits up to the point you’re forced to break up with the past.
7. Go To A Live Event
A concert or other stuff involving hundreds or thousands of people. Be in a crowd. In something way bigger than yourself. Blend in and lose your sense of identity (which is false anyway, we’re all part of something bigger). Confronting your own tiny ego with this huge surrounding energy will make any decision you embrace much easier. Especially a new start.
8. Write A Story About Your Past
Don’t make it a novel and don’t aim at publishing it. Just write down in your own words what happened to you. Describe the sequence of steps which drove your life to its current position. Be verbose. Don’t rush. And little by little you’re going to realize that once you put it in words, your past will become more manageable and you’ll be able to break up easier.
9. Make A Plan
And stick to it.
10. Enjoy The Victory And Move On
You don’t have to start fresh only after a big defeat. Victory is just the other face of the same coin. Don’t get too addicted to it, or you’ll end up in a continuous frustration loop. Attaching yourself to an already consumed victory is as bad as not accepting defeat. Just because your prison cell is pink, that doesn’t make it less of a prison cell. Yes, you won this one. Next.
11. Make Peace With The Past
Accept ALL your past defeats and victories. Accept all your past mistakes or brilliant decisions. Accept that the moment you stepped out of a second, there’s no way to live it again, because it’s gone. The past doesn’t really exist, it’s a human invention, just like the future . Look around and accept that the only option you have is to live now. Or not at all.
12. Write Down The Worst Case Scenario
Ok, you wanna change, but you’re not yet sure. Then write down the worst case scenario. What could go wrong? Pick the worst possible case. Write it down and be very careful at the details. It will not only make you more aware about what you really are up to, but it will also reveal that it’s much more easier than you feel. Hoping for the best and preparing for worse.
13. Clean Up Your Closet
Throw away clothes, things, devices, memories. They drag you down. Clean up your room, wipe the dust, get rid of the clutter. The more you do that, the more you’ll realize that things are not you. The more you let go, the more lighter you’ll feel. And that will make you move easier and faster. Change will look like a natural path, not an effort.
14. Limit The Stuff You Own
Get rid of your possessions. Do it until your life will finally become a matter of enjoying your time here and not managing your stuff. I’m sure everybody was there: you badly need something, you get it and enjoy it, but after a certain time (and a certain number of things you own) you spend more time managing your inventory than living your life.
15. Format Your Hard-disk
If your brain could be assimilated to a computer hard-disk, do a raw format. “Accidentally” lose some data. Re-arrange drastically all your information and intently destroy some of your hard-disk sectors. After you’ll finish moaning the “disaster”, you will will have no other chance than to push yourself forward, in order to be functional again.
16. Update Your Life Device Drivers
Redesign your social circle, your friends, your goals. Continuing the metaphor above, if your brain is a computer hard-disk, than your interactions will be assimilated to the drivers. Re-write them. Re-engineer your social life at a much deeper level. Ignore the old devices, update and upgrade. The old you is obsolete and your old life is deprecated.
17. Break Up A Habit
Sometimes all you need in order to ignite a bigger change is just shifting some small, unconscious behaviors. Like a habit, you know. Before engaging in a bigger change, start by breaking up a small habit. Tiny moves (or baby steps, if you prefer) are easier to do and to monitor. Just stack small victory over small victory. You’ll soon be there.
18. Create a new habit
But, as hard as it may be to understand and accept, we are living huge parts of our life on auto-pilot. By habit. So, breaking up a habit will only take you half way. From there, you gotta try to build a new habit. The good thing is that you’re consciously choosing a new habit now. There is not any bad thing about starting a new habit, by the way. 
19. Find Out What Went Wrong
And write it down somewhere visible. Keep it in front of your eyes. Day in and day out. If you really did something wrong, then make it painfully obvious. If somebody else did something wrong to you, remember it. In both cases, tell to yourself: “I won’t do this anymore”. This aggressive visualization will push you to something new. And maybe better.
20. Commit To Someone New
A new friend, a new personal relationship or a new business partner. The keyword here is “commit”, not “new”. Be there for somebody else, hook up to something or somebody. Too often we’re hit by life when we try to unglue, to subtract ourselves, to give up, to avoid. Exercising commitment to somebody new will help you avoid this situation.
21. Reconnect With An Old Friend
Find somebody you didn’t speak to in the last 10 years. Re-connect. Start understanding his or her life, see how your paths took different ways. Your life will certainly look different after this reconnection. By shifting your perspective, you’ll start to understand which parts of you are the same, and which ones are changed. Like in a spiral path.
22. Move Somewhere Else
Live in another place. Your physical environment has a memory of itself, interlinked with yours. Changing your current surroundings will make those dragging memories fade away. Moving in a different city, or even a different country will push you to completely redesign your life. It may be stressful and painful in the beginning. But, eventually, it will change.
23. Flip A Coin
The elders had a name for it: asking the gods. If a coin won’t do the job for you, feel free to use whatever divination method you’re comfortable with: dice, yi-king, astrology, whatever. Just keep in mind there will be a significant amount of hazard in this. And sometimes hazard is exactly what you need in order to destroy a poisonous structure.
24. Restart Your Morning Routine
Mornings are certainly underrated. They have a huge influence on our lives. A small insertion in your morning routine could have incredibly deep effects. In fact, the way you’re starting your morning will completely shape the way you’re spending the whole day. A butterfly wing in Venezuela can generate a storm in Australia, they say.
25. Create And Keep Close A Minimum Survival Kit
It’s not about clothes or food, this minimum survival kit. It’s more about a certain attitude and life skills. Be prepared, keep hope and avoid excessive baggage. Stay thin. If you’re on the adventurous edge, you can also stay fool and hungry, that will certainly bring some excitement in your life. But don’t forget that survival kit, it’s incredibly useful.
26. Change Your Game
We’re all playing games. Even if we think we don’t, we do. We play the game of the career, the game of the family, the game of being rich or poor. By transforming every part of your life into a social game, you will empower yourself. It’s much easier to start a game than to repair a serious situation. It’s just a game, what could go wrong in a game?
27. Do The Magic Fairy Exercise
Every time you’re stuck, go meet your fairy tale. I know, we’re not all having our personal fairy tale, floating around ready to fulfill our deepest, craziest desires. And yet, you can do something else: you can pretend that fairy exists and that she can really fulfill you any desire. Just be very careful about what you’re asking. Because you’re going to get it, eventually.
28. De-virus Your Mind
If you’re going to start fresh, one of the things that would really help is to realize your mind is not perfect. In other words, don’t believe everything you think. Your mind may be the victim of many social viruses, and you’re certainly not aware of many of them. Just take some distance from your own thoughts every once in a while. De-virus your mind.
29. Laugh More Often
It may be that you’re fighting to get back your life, to find your purpose or to attain your goal. Be there, be a warrior, but don’t forget to laugh. Even in the most difficult part of your lives you can find reasons to laugh. Too much commitment, too much strain, too much seriousness will have in the end the opposite effect. They’ll drag you down.
30. Start Teaching Others
You do have a talent. You do have some special skills. That talent, it doesn’t really have to be spectacular, you know, but it’s really something that defines you. Use it, don’t loose it. Sometimes the only way to learn something new is to teach others. By sharing your knowledge, time and experience, you’ll in fact ignite new ways to live your life.
31. Write A Book
Any book. Unblock your thoughts, if you’re the organized type and just got stuck, or get the courage to imagine new worlds, if fantasy is your type. Chose a topic you know or like and stick with it. A book is wonderful milestone. Even if it won’t change your entire life immediately, something important will shift inside. Creativity is a magical thing.
32. Practice Your “Yes”
Change is never about negativity. You cannot change as long as you are in denial, right? This is what denial means, by the way: resistance to new. Any genuine change will be fueled by your capacity to say “Yes“. The good news is that this ability can be strengthened the same way you strengthen your muscles at the gym. Practice your “Yes”.
33. Practice Your “No” Too
It goes hand in hand with the one above. Learn how to say “No“. To an abusive relationship, to a boring job, to a limiting context. The more you practice, the better you’ll get at. Don’t take anything for granted. You have the power to say “No” to certain things in your life. You have the power to say “No” to the past, and “Yes” to the present.
34. Quit Being A Quitter
Quitting something (your job, your family, your friends) doesn’t mean you start fresh, it means you’re not finishing your stuff. Quit doing this, take responsibility and do your part of the job. If you committed to something, finish it. It may be difficult, but until you consume everything you set up for a meal, you won’t be able to fill your plate again.
35. Keep (And Read) A Log Of Your Breakthroughs
Sort of a personal history of things your consider important in your life. It may be the fact that you had the courage to speak to somebody, or the fact that you climbed the Everest. If you think it will help, you can share them, but that’s not compulsory. What is compulsory is to read them from time to time. It will pump you up beyond expectation.
36. Learn How To Be Ridiculous
Too often we’re rejecting change and avoid starting fresh by fear of rejection. What if I’m going to be laughed at? What if people will reject me because I will be clumsy or shy in the beginning? Well, they may reject you. You will be ridiculous if you start something completely fresh. And that’s the good news. Learn how to be ridiculous. It’s an art.
37. Take An Interview With Yourself
Yes, you’re a star and yes you deserve exposure. You can light this world with awesomeness. Take an interview with yourself. It doesn’t necessarily have to contain exactly these questions, but you can start with them. Just be honest. Put it aside for a week or two and then come back and read it. You really want to be that person?
38. Practice Hazard
Learn how to get from A to B in 5 easy steps. Leave your mind free and see where it goes. That’s a great exercise not only for enhancing your creativity, but also for strengthening your change muscles. While it will not directly build up your courage to take action, you’ll learn how to spot opportunities and broaden your vision.
39. Keep Your Brain Fit
The most important tool you have is your brain. You have this amazing engineering machinery with you all the time and yet, you chose to use only a tiny percent of its capacity. You wouldn’t be able to climb a mountain without a fit body, right? Then be sure you wouldn’t go through a complex and difficult change without a fit and agile brain.
40. Clean Up Your Lenses
The road to change may be right in front of you, but you may not see it. Why? Because your life lenses got blurred. It’s like a camera which doesn’t know how and where to focus. Move it back and forth a few times and see what picture it shows. That’s equivalent with shaking a bit things around. In the end your lenses will be cleaner.
41 Act. Don’t React
If you’re reacting to what’s happening , you’ll never start fresh. Change by reaction is rooted in fear and is just a form of escapism. Even more, you’ll end up continuously being chased by what you’re running from. Make your own judgment and don’t react to pressures like lack of money and social rejection. That too shall pass.
42. Stop Solving The Wrong Problem
Focus on what matters. What they say about you is not that important. What you really do with your life, that’s important. We do have a tendency to get lost in the details and start solving the wrong problems. Cut it short. Those tiny little things you want to “solve” around will soon grow to the size of the swamp. Don’t allow that to happen. Stay sharp.
43. Forget “I Can”, Embrace “I Do”
You’re largely what you’re saying to yourself. You actually do what you continuously tell to your brain to do. Insert yourself in this process and change all the “I Can”‘s with “I Do”‘s. “I Can” may be empowering but “I Do” is truly life changing. You can’t start fresh without taking action. Change this monologue. You’ll be amazed by the results.
44. Pay Yourself First
So you can pay others too. Altruism doesn’t worth a nickel if you can’t make ends meet. Giving and giving and giving away, without taking care of yourself, will eventually drain you out. Turn your face to yourself and find out what you really need. Start getting it. Forget the blame and the shame. That change alone could spark a new beginning for you.
45. Shift Your Focus
One thing we often ignore, is that our reality is generated by our focus. Whatever we’re focusing on, it grows. So, a new beginning could be in fact just the result of a focus shift. Place your attention on other things. It may be difficult in the beginning, so start training.
46. Take A Long Distance Trip
Traveling long distance is an art. Whenever I did a very long trip something changed inside. A new perspective, some unexpected ideas, something fresh and surprising emerged from that trip. Whenever you feel prisoner of a lifestyle you don’t want anymore, do your best to travel far and away. You’ll be back, most of the time, as a different person.
47. Stop Trying To Be Perfect
Perfection is a big mind trap. It’s nothing more than a state of suspension in which you’re not really alive. Perfection means you reached the end of the journey. And the understanding of this end, for us, as human beings, is being dead. Just try to be better instead. Being better will always give you room for change. Chasing perfection will not.
48. Eliminate Self Sabotage
What if I’m going to tell you that the biggest enemy of yourself is… you? What if I’ll tell you that you’re afraid of success? What if I’ll tell you that you don’t live up to your dreams by fear of failure? All of these mindsets are forms of self-sabotage. And they are more dangerous than you think. Thinking that change is impossible is a form of self-sabotage.
49. Get Rid Of Your Guardians
They’re living inside of you, as images of authority. Or they live with you, in imbalanced relationships, based on power games. Whatever the place, those guardians have only one mission: to keep you in a perpetual state of slavery. To prevent you from growing, by selling you the illusion of safety. You’re much better off. As scary as it may be.
50. Recycle Aggression
You need it. You have it in yourself because deep down, when you were just a sparkle in the dark, you had a deep need to survive. And you survived. Aggressiveness is not toxic, the way you use it may be. Re-channel that huge force, that immense energy flow you get from aggression and put it to good work. Don’t bottle it deep down, let it out.
Have more? Share them in the comments.
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Hi Dragos,
Since it’s July and half the year is over, this is a very timely post to consider starting fresh or restarting your focus. There’s plenty of time left in the year to make 2010 your best year ever. There are some great tips here, especially #2 to just leave, #11 make peace with your past, #12 write down your worst case scenario and #48 eliminate self-sabotage.
Thanks for sharing these tips because there’s something for everyone here.
Karen
Thanks for being around Karen. To be honest, I didn’t really realized it’s half of the year and it’s time for a short review. Been busy working, I guess
?
Epic list, Dragos,
I luv these posts of you, so easy to digest. I prefer the parts with doing new stuff and learning new habits. I’m not a fan of the past, because the future is where the fun is. Changing my game and laughing more often is essential – I want to have an upbeat, crystal-clear mind. For me, it’s all about focus.
Laughing is fundamental. For me it’s even more important because I have the tendency to get caught in my own game and become way more serious than it takes. I really need some reminders to have some fun every once in a while. If I’m not, than after a few years of working straight, with no pause, not even a mental one, I usually find myself spending a full year doing nothing and just releasing “mental garbage”
Wow, Dragos- incredible! it seems that acceptance is a recurring theme here . . . acceptance of change, meeting new people, risk, chance, imperfection, defeat and victories. It’s so important to open ourselves up to the world and what it has to offer.
One of my all-time favorite posts! Thanks a ton!
Absolutely. If you don’t accept a thing, you can’t change it. You don’t have a “hook” on it. Not accepting something means rejecting every possible way to change that something.
Wonderful post Dragos and more than that I wonder how many people actually do need to read it. When I look around I see the need to start fresh everywhere.
Thank you for a profound article.
Yes, we all need to reinvent ourselves every once in a while. Imagine how boring would be if not
Fabulous post. Every single point is accurate. I won’t admit which I do that I need to stop but I do so many that I feel great already! The rest are sweet reminders……that I still have room to grow and improve. Thank you Dragos. A gem really!
Thanks for being around, Farnoosh, always appreciated. By the way, why don’t you share those points you don’t really want to?
An inspirational read! Interesting to note the references to pleasing others and living up to the expectations they have of us at point #2, #26 #33 #36 etc. Why we do this before serving our own expectations is something I am currently trying to personally challenge. Thanks for the reminder that there are a number of ways in which to start doing this.
Glad you spotted that red line. Indeed, we do have a cultural bias in trying to do things first for others and then for us. Which is not only counter-productive, but downright stupid, if you ask me, and a very twisted interpretation of the christian altruism…
WOW! So inspiring. As someone who has started over a great many times, I can say with certainty that this list covers the bases.I agree with what Mars said about moving forward instead of dwelling on the past.
There’s only one point I’d like to disagree with…Point number 2: Just leave. I’ve often fallen into a “runaway” mentality and the truth is, if you don’t confront the core issue, your problems will follow you anywhere. So leaving is rarely a true escape. If you want to “start fresh” you have to get rid of the baggage first.
AWESOME post. I can’t wait to share it on my blog
Hey, finally, a disagreeing comment. I love those
Not because they offer me a chance to clarify some spots, but because I get the feeling that people really ARE different. And what works for me may not work for you.
Incidentally, “just leave” refers to the fact that you should really move forward, not backward. And that you shouldn’t let your so called “worries” to let somebody down to stop you. You won’t let nobody down, they’re all be fine. They’re always are.
The only one who gets hurt if you cling to an abusive relationship, for instance, is yourself.
Nice list, I am glad that you invested the effort in such a detailed presentation of your ideas Dragos…
Since I can not concentrate at all well in your list, I will focus on the two points which I think are not necessary in this article. Of course, I only express my personal opinion… I appreciate your work here…
“37. Take An Interview With Yourself” — I read the original article. The idea is fine for situations where someone with a lot of self-confidence want a fresh start.
However, I think this idea is terrible for people who have a lack of self-confidence, who at the same time want a fresh start. (and there are a lot of those) People with lack of self confidence will ask questions like “Am I stupid for a new life?” “Yes, I am absolutely stupid”
So this advice is appropriate only a certain group of people.
“8. Write A Story About Your Past” — here I just do not see anything useful… Again I say, for different people, different things operate differently, but, personally, to me, the biggest transformation in my life came when I finally stopped to focus on the past. I think that telling stories about the past is only a waste of time when it comes to any personal transformation.
Just to add, so I would not sounded too negative, I like the 48 of 50 things. This is a pretty good score.
Another one! Keep ‘em coming
#37 Absolutely right: people will ask stupid questions and they will get stupid answers. That’s great. Stupidity is usually the biggest change incentive ever! I hardly see any serious changes in my own life than those ignited by a sudden realization of the fact that I was utterly and incredibly stupid. I even have my own saying for that: “Stupidity is the only thing that you have to pay for in this world. Always”.
#8 If you don’t bring your past to life, you will never break free from it. Many people are having this time fuzziness when they don’t really know if they left a relationship or not, if they live to their full potential or not, if they are following their life goals or not. Writing a story about your past will take that past from inside and put it into a piece of paper. It will make it disposable again.
Thanks for the reply. In a strange way, it helped me realize something important.
thanks! very informative!!
You know Dragos, I don’t want this to sound crass, but there is an amazing freedom that comes with just saying “F*** It!” and leaving. It feels good, removes any and all pressure, and frees you to pursue something worth while.
I think we hang on to things, people, and situations too long because we don’t want to admit that we were wrong to ourselves. In the fullness of time, damn near everything we do or decide will prove to be wrong, so just get over it.
This was just what I needed to read today. Cheers!
I loved that: “In the fullness of time, damn near everything we do or decide will prove to be wrong”
It sounds weird, but I get what you mean: don’t try to be perfect because circumstances may change and what seemed to be the logical choice now will not be the same tomorrow.
Dragos
Thanks. Can not pick one as my favourite.
Anything to move on, to explore new boundaries and in my case, to go where I have not gone before – that is the destination for me.
Cheers and keep up the great work.
jb
Thanks and welcome
Wishing you all the luck to reach places where you haven’t been before. I know it was a fantastic journey for me.
Hey Dragos,
You have brought the fresh back in fresh mr.
All the points are so perfect tot he T. And youre right ….we all at some point or the other need to start fresh. It just gives so much more zest to you otherwise mundane life. ..not to mention how much more you can learn about yourself in each discovery.
Lovely post as always.
Missed you while I was offline for a month
Much Love,
Z~
Glad to have you back Zeenat, and thanks for the nice words. Freshness is always inside, you just gotta trust it’s there
42. Stop Solving The Wrong Problem! This one jumped right off the page Dragos. It is so often at the heart of peoples frustration and stress. It’s right up the with treat the symptom and ignore the cause.
I hereby dub you “The List Master.” You’ve really got a knack for doing this!
Ha, ha, thank you Jonathan. I will make a badge and proudly wear it: “The List Master, by Jonathan Wells”
Thanks. Excellent lecture
The list master does it again. You’ve pulled off a great list Dragos. I loved 13 – Clean up your closet – It always been a motto of mine ‘Tidy house, tidy mind’.
I kinda thought you were this type of guy, having things into places. It shows in your incredible blog too. Thanks a lot, Steven, always appreciated
You’ve put so much into this article. It shows! I loved the ones about cleaning up your stuff and your life and making peace with the past. I know for a fact that these do work.
Absolutely
I wonder how making peace with the past CAN’T work 
[...] 50 Ways to Start Fresh – could you use a rebirth? [...]
Nice list.
I can really relate to the idea of a long distance trip as a mind-opener and a way to help you to get a fresh start in your life. It’s definitely been that way for me, and it makes it much easier to put things in perspective in your home country when you travel a lot.
Especially longer trips to non-touristy destinations work extremely well.
I definitely know what you mean by “longer trips to non-touristy destinations”. Been there, done that, can’t wait to do it again
Reviewing is a great way to start afresh. Once you took the step to look at the reality to find out what’s wrong, you will be able to take the steps to make the changes. Thanks for the great list once again Dragos!
Thanks for being around, Vincent
We are born sovereign and free to be however we choose to be. Anytime we can identify a way to deliberately create a ourselves anew we regain our natural title. The list is a great way for people to begin thinking for themselves as there are no conclusions. It is up to the individual to erase any erroneous conclusions that they may be coming to about themselves, others and about life. Turning deep within and asking to see things differently (and meaning it) … we will be stunned at the answers that intuitively pop up.
I gotta say it, Rob, your comments are always incredibly juicy. And by that I mean they bring so much added value to my posts. Highly appreciated
I’ve always found considering the worst case scenario an incredibly useful exercise. There was a British general in WWII who would always say that things are never as bad or as good as they seem at first. I think he’s right. When we’re in a bad mindset, we think things are way worse then they actually are. If you consider the worst case, you realize that it’s usually not nearly as extreme as your vague panicky fears.
Yep, I started to apply this technique during high pressure times. There was the pressure that drove me to. When you describe it words and start seeing the worst possible outcome, it will suddenly become manageable.
A lot of simple and effective ideas to get things rolling here. Love it.
glad you liked it
This is great, and exactly what I needed to read right now. I especially like “Flip a Coin”. I had a friend in college that had a coin and on one side it said “Stay” and on the other “Go”. Sometimes we just need to cut the emotional ties and make a decision! Thanks for writing this :0)
I needed this post. Accept the defeat especially hit home for me. Didn’t visit your blog in a while Dragos. Glad to be back:)
Hi Dragos, Number one is a brilliant start and to me one of the main ones. Accepting is a huge part of mosing on.
Great post thanks for sharing
Dragos,
Wonderful post and couldn’t be better timing! I have a head full of ideas of what I want to do, what I want to create, an online business and presence, yet I am held back by my current job (conflict of interest) and by the lack of time I don’t have because of current job. The flidside is- the J-O-B pays the B-I-L-L-S! Trying hard to justify quitting to myself and to my hubby. This post gives me LOTS to think about!
[...] A Post With A Great Discussion- 50 Ways To Start Fresh by Dragos [...]
22 !!! I am number 22 !! Namely, i just moved somewhere else and i am starting fresh.
You were quite right with most of the other “numbers” as well. I find that, consciously or not, i am doing/ did/ planned most of the other ones as well.
But, as it’s about me, i don’t believe i would have ever been able to express everything in such an organized manner.
Great post! Loved it!
[...] @goodthingZ 50 Ways to Start Fresh (in many areas of life) [...]
Hi Dragos!
I hope you’re doing well and enjoying the summer.
We met (briefly) at CGW in Las Vegas. It was a pleasure to watch your transformation on stage with SP.
This article is awesome! I’ll definitely use some of the tips in it. Thanks.
Best Wishes,
Ken
Hey Ken,
I (briefly) remember you and that’s a shame, because I would loved to have much more time to interact. I think all attendees were just wonderful persons. Thank you so much for stopping by and I’d be happy to keep in touch. Your coaching business seems to be doing well
[...] 50 ways to start fresh [...]
[...] website. It has several good articles, and I enjoyed the 50 ways to start fresh article – http://www.dragosroua.com/50-ways-to-start-fresh/ that I felt I needed to share [...]
[...] 25. 50 Ways To Start Fresh [...]
I included this article in our weekly 30 wrap up! Thanks!
What an awesome list! You have so many good ones that it’s hard to pick a favorite. I guess the one that I’ve applied most successfully is “Stop trying to be perfect.” I was the ultimate perfectionist–and proud of it. But I slowly learned that I was doing myself more harm than good. It’s so freeing to allow myself to take risks and make mistakes. Great post, Dragos.
[...] The Big Ass List of 101 Things You Should Not Do by Joshua on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 | No Comments ShareThere has been a trend on a lot of blogs lately to do giant list posts. Some of my favorites are Celestine Chua’s 101 ways to live your life the fullest, and Dragos Roua’s 50 ways to start fresh. [...]
point 3, it should be “subconsciously” rather than “unconsciously”.. it makes no sense with the latter word in place.
I’m in the middle of a huge “do over” in my life right now. I’ve found that 41, 38, 29, and 1 are getting me through. Heck, I started a blog over it. Everyone out there who is making a change; you’re not alone, there’s a ton of us out there.
wow. this really hit home for me. it touched on every aspect of my life and what i am going through. its like you read my mind, put it into words, and told me how to get past it. to get past any and every problem i have in my life right now.
this was just so great to read at this time in my life. i feel like a new and different person already.
Thanks again!
nice ways.
This is a really informative post. Very helpful indeed!
Is there a way that I can publish this, with your permission and credentials, onto my blog as an article? I will always credit.
Hi Gerry,
And thanks. Yes, as long as you keep a reference back to the original content, you’re free to use it.
[...] 50 Ways To Start Fresh Defeat. Boredom. Lack of meaning in your life. All these symptoms, and many others, of course, are a sign that you need to start fresh. To run again. To leave the old behind and embrace the new. Te ignite a new spark that will light a new life, with a deeper meaning, broader experience and much more fulfillment that you had so far. A rebirth. (tags: ways start fresh) [...]
[...] speak. But almost any major situation I experienced this year was about starting fresh. As usual, a huge list emerged out of [...]
Hello Dragos!
I read over the post twice, because it is just awesome, love the simple bulletpoint layout, we can read the bolded lines and than read the description if we want
By the way, there were many interesting points to consider and i think restarting our morning routine is very important, we should always strive to do something productive, and by doing it in the morning, we feel good the whole day 
And if we consider more than one point that you pointed out, maybe the combination of Accepting Change, Making up a plan, Practicing Yes and No and Eliminating Sabotage will be pretty positive, and eliminating sabotage should be a must, because failure will constantly drop by and if we sabotage ourselves every time it comes, it just wont be fun anymore.
Personally i will update my life device drivers, i am sure it will speed up my productivity because it bolds up the real goals and clears up the road.
Thanks!
Hello,
I just wanted to say that I love your “self help” blogs. (Not sure what else to call them) I’ve been on your site for a few hours now just reading and thinking about everything you have have written, and I have to say that I am very impressed. For the past four years I have been trying to make changes in my life, and I’ve done okay so far. But I have had a hard time trying to figure out were to start. You have giving me what I need to make it happen and I just wanted to think you for taking the time you write down your wisdom for everybody out there. Some of us just need the extra help. So, thank you!
Lexi
[...] sister sent this link to me – 50 Ways to Start Fresh. At first I thought she was trying to hint at something, but [...]
I love this guidelines specially with the part of accepting changes and laughing more often. Those two are my strong points right now, I always smile at people and some of them tell me that I made their day just by smiling and looking at them positively. Yes, we just need to accept change live positively. We all have problems and we just need to handle them well and possibly look for someone that can inspire us. Thank you very much and kudos!
i know this might be out of mind, but, somehow each day we will find ourself fall into depression, anger,and other negativity haunted us, and easy say, im one of them.
wink wink. soyeah, i want to correct myself and boost my positivity, i googled about self esteem etc. so yeah, i felt REALLY GRATEFUL to find this website. its trully made my day. 
thank you so much for this lovely article!! 
) i love it so much ^^ this article change my life and my negative attitude. so come on guys,
lets start fresh
thank you so much!! =)) you just made my day.
i felt calm and soothe once again,and i really enjoyed my life and grateful.
i love my life.
May god bless you =)
What a wonderful, empowering article. Thank you for sharing it.
This is one of the most inspiring things I have ever read. Thank you for streaming it into my awareness as well as the awareness of countless others.
This is amazing! I wished I had stumbled upon this post earlier.
In my life, I’ve never accepted defeat… but I wish I had done that.
Fortunately, this post really got me going again.
Thanks!
hey Dragos, I Just stumbled on your blog tonite and I just have to let you know how much your 50-ways-to-start-fresh article resonated with me,after trawling the internet your blog article is profound in the way its presented and easily accessible, as well it just makes so much sense.. without going into to much detail, I am standing on the edge presented with a choice of making a fresh start in another location after a failed relationship and a period with burnout resulting from work overload. My deadline is in 2 days.. (new job on the offer ) I do feel strongly this is the right move for me, but also a bit apprehensive and concerned that i will just infact be running away, or as you state it being a Quitter… !!
I have one question for you, is it quite normal to hesitate making such a decision ?
Thank you for your Blog.
Of course it’s ok to hesitate
After all, this is a big decision. Also, hesitating proves that you are actually pondering many ways and not just dive in irresponsibly. Just follow your intuition and you’ll be fine.
I don’t know if this will work for you given the context, but it works for me every time: In the end, everything will be ok. If it’s not ok, then it’s not the end.
Take care.
Valuable information. Lucky me I found your site by chance, and I am stunned why this twist of fate didn’t took place earlier! I bookmarked it.
Magnificent website. Plenty of helpful info here. I am sending it to a few friends ans additionally sharing in delicious. And naturally, thanks in your sweat!
Great work! This is the kind of info that are supposed to be shared around the net. Disgrace on the search engines for not positioning this put up higher! Come on over and discuss with my site . Thank you =)
Great list, very inspiring!
One question: what does “Practice Hazard” mean?
I relay like this article and i am going to move to another state with a clean mind. I am supper open minded but shy at the same time whihc makes it hard for me to meet new ppl . This time, I promised to myself to be what I wanted to be and aim for the best. I am 28 with AA degree (RN) and I feel like I am getting old. However, who knows there might be a palace for me somewhere.
Way to go
[...] blogger, Droga Roua, had a nice list of things to start fresh. Let’s start [...]
What a fantastic list. I wish I could condense it down into a little sticky note to carry around with me all day.
When I moved away from my home state a few years back, I felt anew right when I moved into my new house. I had made new friends and I had realized that I basically was creating a new slate. I would tell anyone out there that want to feel new again, highly consider moving somewhere you always wanted to live! Even if you don’t feel comfortable, slip outside your shell and always know that you can move back!
Very through list on how to start fresh! Wonderfully written.
I know this blog entry is old but I just came across it now. A lot of it is very good advice but I’m wondering…….how do you reconcile point number 2 – “Just Leave” with point number 34 “Quit Being A Quitter”. They seem to contradict one another. Number 2 says quit your job if it’s bad for you but Number 34 says hang in there and don’t be a quitter?
“Just leave” means having the power to get out of a stupid situation, even if it’s tough to do it. “Quit being a quitter” means always doing everything in your power and not just quit after the first setback.
Hey Dragos!
This is a great post (and I can see you’ve got a few other great ones too)… I’m going to share this on my new blog “Kill Yourself Happy” (if you’re happy for me to do so?!).
I’m starting with a video called “Life Sucks? Start Fresh.”, so this is perfect to refer people to your post afterwards.
Cheers,
Matt McCovann
Thanks, as long as you keep a link back to the original article, it should be ok.
Hi, Thanks for this great post. I’m going to re read it as hoping it will inspire me. I think I’ve hit the bottom. Divorce, struggling financially for 4 yrs, now stuck in a bad relationship. No money, lots of debt, work thin on the ground, fed up with the work I do anyway. Just want to wipe the slate clean and start again but at 50 it’s so scary. I’m fed up with feeling bored, fed up ,anxious, stressed and all the other grotty things. Going to try and be brave !
It’s “then”, not “than”. . . You are less clever THAN you think. . .so, THEN, check your analogies to ensure they will make sense to others.
Absolutely. I’m also less nicer THAN you think, so, THEN, you may safely sail away from here if you’re not finding anything useful.
It seems that for you it will be difficult to ”start fresh”
#51 Dragos took his ball and went home.
Nope, not yet. I’m still around. Just in a different shape. Makes it harder to recognize me, that’s all
I am a self-confessed grammar nazi myself but I do cut slack to those for whom English is not their native tongue! Because however bad Sasha thinks your English is, it’s certainly better than my Romanian, and probably hers too!
mwahahahaha
I just finished University not achieving the grade I wanted. I’ve felt trapped and lost as to where I go from here. I’m back with family but no money, I no longer like the friends I have here I can see that i’ve changed.
France amazes me, I feel like going with the clothes on my back and starting afresh but i’m not certain whether that is the right thing to do.
I found this post inspiring and full of wisdom. Is there any advice you may be able to offer?
thanks for this great post. i thought i had hit the bottom. graduated from highschool with a poor grade and could not get admission in any college bcoz of my health troubles.broke up with my boyfriend. but now i’m attending a college and doing quite fine. grades r good.meeting new people. health trouble gone. learning to dance salsa. life’s good
Yaa
Yaaa
This is a great post. Sometimes people do not realize that starting fresh can help them put their lives in perspective. I am personally looking to make a new start, and I stumbled on your article via google. You give really sound advice and I am really going to try and apply some of these principles to my own life.
Thanks for this post! I love it when I find something that really inspires me, and I go to ‘bookmark’ it and find I’ve already done it at some point since you wrote this. It always seems like the greatest collection of advice on starting over, and I find something new in it every time I read it. Much needed, and much appreciated.
Fantastic article!!! Life changing. Thank you for posting this. God bless <3
I must tell you these tips will come in handy more than once in the life of any person who actually wants to do something of himself! Thank you so much for sharing, I would really need to start over fresh myself from time to time …
The best way to start fresh:
Build a relationship with God. =]
Wow, just wow. I needed this. Dragos, I can’t thank you enough.
This is simply phenomenal and I particularly like #30.
Randy
Hi, this is amazing stuff and i particularly like all the points. I had a great life two years back but now i am going through some bad phase and i feel i myself is responsible for that and now i want to start my life from zero again. The above points are very helpful. I am starting by doing small small things
Well by accident after I lost my husband to vehicular death, lost my home, my great job and benefits, my credit, I have tried most of this in the last lonely 3 years. I see no real future to be able to support myself, live on my own, or have a love in my life, sometimes no matter how positive and hopeful one stays, life doesn’t move forward well let alone happily…
True. The good news is that these “stuck-in-the-middle-of-nowhere” intervals doesn’t last forever. It will pass. Believe me.
I have nothing. the ones who loved me most have turned on me, i want to just leave and start new, where no one knows anything and i can be anyone i want. i have been hanging on for so long I’m 21 and don”t know how much longer it can last. Can you help me please?
Wow, so many good points, so little time
Hello.
Over the past year, I have been fighting with unfortunate obstacles in front of my personal development and career, which were both going very well, if not perfect. I think the problem was that I found myself in a storm of degenerated people and events at a blink of an eye, which left me without a logical stance. I have tried to understand and solve problems of those people, but it is almost impossible and perhaps undesirable to seek a logic into defectiveness and ugliness of certain souls. We actually know when we are being hurt, used, deceived and tediously faced with wrong doings, as this little voice inside of our brain tells us the truth. We should accept it as soon as possible! I was late very late, but it`s ok as it is never too late to start fresh in life for someone with intelligence. We should move on! We cannot change everything, but if we stay we hurt ourselves permanently. No need to have a contact with someone or event that hurt you. Leave them behind because they are nothing for you. I have applied first few steps in this list, but I think somethings were missing or preventing me to start fresh. Today, I also accept the defeat, but for good. It is a new beginning. I really like the list because I have already applied some of the points and it worked for me. Now, it is time to move on, and get back what was mine, take new risks, learn new habits, eliminate some people from my life, make new good friends, renew myself and most importantly improve myself. Learning and applying it nicely is always good! There are couple of thins on this list that I know would help me to enhance myself. Because couple of things were missing before, now I found what were they. THANK YOU!
Really happy to see it’s starting to work out for you.
I’m gonna tell you a secret: every once in a while I re-read this list too. Especially when I feel the need (or I’m forced by outside circumstances) to start anew.
Thanks.
I really needed it. You don’t know how hard is to start fresh and live a human life here, in Iran. We are not as bad as the global community may think, just under the pressure, or somehow captivated, burnt. But as you know, among the ashes, rises the phoenix.
Here I send you my best gratitudes by sharing one of my poems:
Against the will of mister pure,
Truth is clear, let him lure
Man is the disease of this planet,
And only the “Man”, is the cure.
Wow. This is a truly amazing article. Thank you
Thank you Drago, this work of yours feels heaven sent. I have a lot of work to do. I am hoping to start over at 68, but I’m feeling pretty bad. Your suggestions and the way you present them is great. Thanks for sharing.