For a moment, let’s take a trip down memory lane back to when we were all 10 years old. Do you remember your carefree days when all you thought about was what you were going to be doing next? How about when you turned 13 or 15, when you taped on your bedroom wall a picture of that exotic car you promised yourself to drive one day. Maybe you wanted to conquer the world, become a surgeon, an astronaut, an actor. What happened?
It is sad how, as we grow up, the cares of life slowly rob us of our dreams. But the truth is that those aspirations are still ingrained in us as our brain does not lose any information it is fed. Deep inside, those dreams still wander around but unfortunately, some of us never let them rise and fly.
There are too many people waking up every day and not striving to live a life they want. For some reason, they have given up on the future and simply live to end the day just like it was yesterday. I know that life is not easy and we all face challenges. Nonetheless, my goal is to wake you up and give whatever tool necessary to break the mold.
Take Responsibility
You are not entitled to a comfortable life. No one person is responsible for helping you to achieve your goals. If you want a situation to change for the better in your life, you must take ownership of its trajectory. It is easy to blame other people for struggles that you have encountered and in some cases, it may be true. The main thing to remember, as Napoleon Hill says in Think and Grow Rich, ‘every adversity, every failure, every heartache, carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit’. I have observed that successful people take responsibility for the things that they want to achieve or eliminate from their lives. This does not mean that you must work all by yourself but it is the starting point. If you want to achieve more, then this is one of the first steps you need to take.
Don’t let your background, your experiences, your race or even your sex to be an excuse. Go for it because it is fully up to you. If you want to get some more inspiration, check out the University of Southern California’s infographic right here.
Define Your Purpose and Desires in Life
Every single one of us is born with a purpose. It is our duty to try and identify that purpose and to also honor it. This is quite a complex and difficult task, especially when you’ve tried multiple things in your life already and have succeeded at more than one. But, be aware of the signals around you and what excite you. What are you passionate about?
Knowing what your personality traits and what your strengths are can help you define your purpose as well.
There are so many people out there who are continually busy yet they are unfulfilled and unsatisfied. They are tired physically, drained mentally and they also find it hard to stay focused on the future. Working hard is not always the answer. You must first define where you’re going and then find strategic ways to achieve your goals. Successful people don’t spend time tackling the tasks that are not important, instead, they find out what they want and they do everything they can to achieve it. Does it always work as they plan? No, but just like a GPS, it brings them back on the right path.
Know that Anything is Possible
Scientists believe that humans use past experiences to respond to what is coming next. This is a very powerful instrument and it also means your past successes are a source of fuel. Professional athletes spend a lot of time practicing to improve and perfect their skills. The habit created through practice provides many instances for failure and adjustment. This principle can be applied in your life too. When you are faced with challenges, remember the past accomplishment that you’re proud of. Whether they are related to your current huddle or not, they are still points of reference for encouragement. Add to the motivation, work and dedication and see your situation.
If you ever want to be successful or if you want to create the life that you have always dreamed of, it is important to believe. For some individuals, working on self-confidence, self-esteem is the required starting point. Learn to accept failure but don’t make it final.
If your goal is to live the life that you want, giving up should never be an option.
***This article is in partnership with a guest writer, or a brand, or a company and may contain affiliate links. Nonetheless, these are my experiences and my opinion. For questions, contact me directly here.
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