So we have discussed a bit about having, doing, and being anything you want, and specifically looked at deciding what you want. The next step is to identify what, specifically, is keeping you from having it right now?

Before we go on I want to clarify some.  My suggestion to anyone is not to focus only on one area such as professional, or physical or financial, the idea of balance is extremely important, an often used analogy is that of a wheel with each of the several areas of focus together making the surface of a wheel. We must focus on all areas enough to create balance or the ride will indeed be rough.

But enough about that, the next question is to identify what, specifically, is preventing you from having, doing and being what you want?

First off, spend whatever time it takes to identify all of the various challenges for each of the things you want to do, be or have.

The question seems simple enough but as before it takes a bit of effort to get it right. The important challenge here is in identifying the challenges and breaking them into two very important categories, real, and imagined.

The real challenges are those about which we can act, about which we have at least some measure of control. In short, these are challenges that we can change, that we can do something about.

The imagined challenges are those which we can not act on, which we cannot influence.

Why is it important to separate the challenges like this? To ensure that we spend our time and our energy only on those things we can influence, and not on those challenges we cannot change.

These evaluations will be as personal as everything else, that is, what is a real challenge for one person may not be for another. Age and resources will also impact this evaluation process.

So how do we figure out if a challenge is real or imagined. Simple, ask yourself the following questions and be direct and honest in your answers:
1 - Can I change anything about this challenge?
2 - Do I have or have access to the resources needed to change this challenge?
3 - Can I gain access to the resources needed?
4 - Am I willing to do whatever it takes to make the change?

If you can answer yes to all of those questions, then the challenge is real and can be dealt with. If not, then it is best NOT to focus on trying to address this challenge at this time. Does not meant you can\should nnever work on this issue, only that if there are other things you can actually influence, that you focus your time and energies where they can produce results.

Back next time with figuring out how to achieve what you want.