What it Takes

• It takes strength:  I'm not talking about the kind of strength you get by lifting weights - I mean the kind of strength that's on the inside.  The strength of your heart, your mind, and soul.  The kind of strength you get from facing the rough times, conquering them, and coming through on the other side a better, smarter person.  That's the kind of strength to be really proud of.
• It takes heart:  You have to care enough and have enough courage, not only to make it in this world, but to make your life everything you want it to be. 
• It takes determination: No matter what curveballs get thrown your way, no matter how daunting the challenge, you have to decide to do whatever it takes to make the outcome favorable.  You are responsible for knowing what's best for you and going out there to get it.
• It takes confidence: We're not all born with an unwavering belief in ourselves, but "the journey of a lifetime starts with a single step." Never tell yourself you can't do something.  You'll be so surprised how liberating it is to look back on a situation you never thought you'd survive and be able to say "I did it." When you don't give yourself the choice to fail, you won't.  When you make overcoming the only option, you will.
• It takes love: Loving yourself enough to be honest about what you want, what you need, and what's working or not working in your life is paramount to the ability to improve your situation.  Don't ever tell yourself you don't deserve what you want.  Don't ever make yourself a victim of circumstance.  There is a season for everything, and with new seasons come winds of change.  Evaluate which chapters in your life must end and set your sights on new beginnings. 
• It takes faith: You might not be able to predict your future, but you should believe in it anyway.  You can set your course and forge your own path.  You can change directions.  You can reach far-off goals.  You can start over.  If you think it's too late, if you think you're defeated, shame on you.  You don't have to know how, you just have to know that you can.
• It takes respect: Respect for yourself and the world around you is crucial to living well.  Respect yourself enough to know and convey that you have governance of all conditions in your life.  Respect others enough to build more bridges than you burn, to walk away from conditions that don't suit your purpose, and to avoid conflict that does not serve the greater good of which you are in pursuit. And respect the world around you enough to leave everything a little better than you found it.  Make your mark, but make it a good one.
• It takes purpose: Having goals is one thing, but you have to be willing to plot the course and sketch the road map of how to get there.  But do it in pencil - allow yourself room to change course if life calls you elsewhere - but never stop moving.
• It takes reflection: Soul searching isn't easy for everyone.  It can be painful and reveal things we don't wish to see or have been trying to ignore.  But the most refreshing soul searching happens in the face of change you've been resisting or struggles you've been facing.  So often we just "go through the motions" and accept whatever hand we're dealt.  When we look in the mirror and really try to understand how we feel and why, explain our actions and reactions, and identify the positive and negative components of our lives, it becomes easier to decide what stays and what goes, when to "take out the trash," what starts with you, and what ends today.
• It takes guts: "Guts" - having the kind of spirit to go out and grab life by the horns in any little way.  This could mean stepping out of your comfort zone, being assertive, taking charge, pursuing what you want, making something happen.  If you're scared and if you're satisfied with the status quo, ask yourself why and then challenge yourself to change that. 
• It takes perseverance: "Don't put off 'til tomorrow what you can do today." "Yesterday you said tomorrow." "When the going gets tough..." - how would you finish that sentence? Don't be the person who looks back on their past and kicks yourself for not trying things, letting opportunities pass you by, or lazily awaiting the future that drifted beyond your grasp because you didn't put forth the effort to obtain it.
• It takes moderation: Know your limits.  Do all you can, but don't overstep your boundaries.  Some can take a little, some can take a lot, but baby steps are better than leaps and bounds if those large strides are going to push you over the edge.  The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it, so pursue your goals wisely, and pace yourself.
• It takes forgiveness: We all mess up.  All the time.  And usually, when everything seems to be going our way and we're getting along nicely, something blindsides us out of nowhere and trips us up.  The way we handle the bumps in the road is up to us, but if we don't forgive ourselves when we falter, we risk repeating the past and falling into a pattern of self-loathing.  Forgiveness of others is also essential to moving forward.  Let go of those grudges, make peace with your scars, and write a letter to your former self and your future self to tuck away somewhere as a reminder of how to get through the hard times.
• It takes balance: If you have 1,000 goals, all of a different nature, you're going to have to pick a starting point and identify the best way to achieve your goals at a reasonable pace.  You can't work three jobs, record an album, start your own side business, free-lance, handle all your home and personal responsibilities, and also eat, sleep and breathe simultaneously.  Going back to moderation, pick a couple of things that you think you can reasonably start working on together. Set your pace, and don't set the bar too high or push yourself to be done everything at once.  Be realistic in your expectations of yourself, and celebrate the little victories more than you mourn the minor setbacks. And for heaven's sake, don't beat yourself up if you need to take a break.  Whether it's a diet or a hectic schedule - sometimes half a pizza, a carton of ice cream, and a day on the couch are just what your soul needs! Just plan to go even harder after you feel rejuvenated and rested and don't be tempted to make those little "breaks" your norm.
• It takes humility: There's nothing wrong with a pat on the back and a little pride when you've accomplished something.  But always knowing that you're blessed and that you had help is crucial to keeping your feet on the ground, even if your head is in the clouds.  And don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it.  There will come a time when you can pay it forward and return the favor.
• It takes positivity: No matter what, keep telling yourself "it will get better." When you're down, there's nowhere to go but up.  Tell yourself you can do it, you can beat it, you can change it, you can fix it, and you can begin or end.  And most importantly, tell yourself that you call the shots.  It's your life - you can choose the things and people with which/whom you surround yourself.  You can alter your environment.  And if that means changing your circumstances, you can do that too.  The biggest mountains we climb are the ones we climb in our heads.  Don't even think, just know you can - and then do.