The final step in this process is actually following through on all that wonderful planning.

This is what will decide whether you are a success or just a wannabe.

But again, that is a choice.

This doesn’t show the true you, it just gives you another opportunity to choose who you are.

Since this step is different for each person and each set of goals, there isn’t a systematic method other than what you have already learned. But there are a number of points and tips contained here that can make this process easier. 

Try to enjoy each step along the way!

It is much easier to keep up your motivation if you are looking for something to enjoy at every stage, than if you just muddle through and work towards the day when will be happy. 

Not only will you be more efficient, more productive, and more creative if you are enjoying the process, but you may need to practice being happy. 

If you have rarely ever been happy in life and have always blamed it on outside forces, you probably don’t know how to be happy for very long. 

When finally achieve your goals, you won’t be satisfied for long. But if you practice being happy at every step along the way, you will be able to truly enjoy every success. 

Just about anything can be enjoyed if you try hard enough. 

Even the scary points when you have ventured outside your comfort zone can be viewed as a thrill. Some people jump off mountains or go skydiving to get that rush of fear and adrenalin, but you are achieving it without risking life and limb. 

Even if you (like me) don’t relish the idea of scaring ourselves for the sake of entertainment, if you view every difficult thing as a challenge or an adventure, and determine savor that, it is much easier to find the enjoyment in each step. 

Don’t waste your time focusing on the obstacles (lack of money, time, skills, or opportunity), and spend it instead asking yourself what steps you CAN take. 

They may not seem like much, but by the time you’ve accomplished those, the next steps will likely materialize. 

It’s kind of like driving at night with your headlights on. The whole route doesn’t need to be illuminated for you to drive someplace. 

As long as you can see what’s in your headlights, you’ll get there just fine. 

Make every decision a right one. 

No matter what situation you are in, you can make the most of it. There are ways to thrive if you are only looking for them, and even in the very worst situations you can at always learn something that will improve your future. 

No matter what position you put yourself in, don’t waste time saying “I should have done that other thing instead”. Just tell yourself "This is the hand I dealt myself, so how can I make it a winning hand?" The ways are there, you just have to look for them. 

Surround yourself with the world that you want to participate in. 

Once you have a mental image (or even just a part of that image) of the kind of life you want to live, start trying to go ahead and live any part of it you can. Read the sort of books and magazines that you will in your goal career. Listen to the kind of things that relate to that ideal life. 

Immerse yourself in that world! Also every little area where you can already live the lifestyle, brings you closer to totally embodying it. 

Play a game with yourself. Ask what your future self would do in that situation. Constantly consult that imaginary you. You are simply a collection of the little choices you make. Use that imaginary you as a guide to help navigate through all your little everyday decisions. 

Have you ever noticed that the heroes and heroines in movies don’t sit around and watch a lot of TV? They are too busy doing interesting stuff to sit in front of a television. 

Now, I know that those people are just characters, but nonetheless if you want you life to be more fun and exciting, you’re going to have to turn off the tube and step away from the computer. Even if you don’t quite know what to do with yourself, if you want to really live, you have to quit just existing. 

Remember to retain the control in your life and don’t fall back into blaming others for what goes wrong. What are you capable of doing to make things better? 

Spend time with the sorts of people who fit with your final life. You will tend to become like your friends, so you want to expose your mind to people who are where you want to be. If you can’t make friends with these people in real life, take advantage of this wonderful logging trend, and read the blogs of the sort of people you want to be like. 

Always remember that your plans are flexible. When you get set back or blocked, don’t worry about it, just step back and reevaluate what you can do to take you closer to that goal. By the same token, if you get an opportunity to suddenly make a huge jump ahead, don’t freeze up and get scared just because it’s not the way you had planned. Go with the flow and be open to new opportunities. 

Life's an adventure, so start adventuring!

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