You’ve done it, I’ve done it. But then what happens? Is it really a new you? How many years have you stayed stuck in the same ways? I know how it goes, I’ve done it too. You say that this year is the year that you will be cutting out the wrong people. This is the year that you are going to hit your financial goals or the year that you find the perfect job or follow your calling but then life gets in the way. That thought for a better life was never more than just that - a thought.

You have to decide and commit. Anything that it takes for you to have what you want in your life. It’s a daily commitment, you can’t just say it once per year and expect anything to change, that is literally the definition of insanity. You can lose your mind if you never change your approach to your goals. Far too often we find ourselves pointing the finger out away from ourselves. “Oh it’s my family’s fault,” or “if I had a better childhood,” or “I failed too many times in the past to have a future like that.” If you fight for your excuses then guess what - you get to keep them. Do you really want them? What would you be doing if you knew with absolute certainty that you couldn’t fail? Ask yourself that question and watch carefully how your brain responds. Is it telling you the excuses that you are holding onto? Good. Let it bring up all the obstacles you’ll face and go get your goals anyway.

There’s no magic hero that is going to come in and save you. No Good Samaritan that will put in the work for you. No servant is coming with your dreams on a silver plate. It’s all on you and only you. If you won’t make it happen for yourself then no one will.

Ask yourself if the way that you are currently living is in alignment with the values that you hold. Are the people in your life adding to it or taking from it? What can you sacrifice in your life today that will bring you a step closer to your goal tomorrow? Only you know your heart, only you know the calling on your life and only you can bring it to fruition. If you continue to hang around the same crowd or go to the same dead end job that you know is not the right place for you then nothing will ever change. Take that first step.

Now I’m not saying that it will be easy. It will likely be very difficult. Cutting the wrong people out of your life can be uncomfortable, quitting that stable job can be very daunting. Stepping faithfully into the unknown doesn’t mean stepping fearlessly. There will be fear and there will be doubt. But you can do it. You owe it to yourself to make the changes in your life that will bring you the goals that you feel called to.

It all starts with you.