How are you're habits impacting your life? Psychologist's say that 95% of everything we do, think and achieve, whether it's good or bad, is the result of learned habits. Habits can be difficult to change but not impossible. Awareness is the key and repetition of a new and better habit the answer.

For instance what do your morning and evening routines look like? Successful people plan and prioritize their day the night before. They journal and review the results of the day to see what went right and what went wrong and what needs improvement? And they read for at least a half hour everyday.
 
They also have a morning routine. They get up early enough so they can start their day with gratitude, exercise, meditate or read, and go over their schedule again to see if anything needs to be adjusted. They prioritize and tackle the most difficult and important task first.

If you aren't book-ending your day consider starting, you'll be surprised how much more productive you'll be.

Habits To Include In Your Daily Routine:

• Have a clear vision of your dream. What will it look like five or ten years from now and how will you feel when you achieve it?
  
• Write down your goals. A goal that isn’t written down is just a dream.
• Plan/your day/week/month/year.
•  Prioritize – which three to five things need to get done today and which is the most important? Do the most important thing first.
•  Review your day/week/month/year – did it go according to plan? What went right? What went wrong? What needs to be improved? What needs to be changed? Do you need help with something to make it better?
• Journal – this is a great place to write down your ideas, dreams and your review results.
• Read your vision, goals & mission statement daily.
• Gratitude – appreciating what you have can set the tone for the day.
• Exercise – when you’re physically fit you have more stamina and think clearer. Exercise helps to increase the amount of blood and oxygen that goes to the brain. It also makes you feel better.
• Meditate – meditation helps reduce stress and stimulates creativity. If you haven’t meditated before start for just ten or fifteen minutes and concentrate on your breath. Repeat an affirmation while meditating. If unwanted thoughts come into your head concentrate on your breathing and repeat your mantra to yourself.
• Read books to improve your skills or something inspirational. If you read a given topic for one hour everyday in five years you’ll be an expert.
• Choose how you respond to people and circumstances – being proactive vs. reactive. Proactive people are driven by value. Reactive people are driven by feelings, circumstances and conditions.
• Pay attention to what you say to yourself and others. Do you use negative or positive language? Do you reprimand first and ask questions later, even to yourself?
• Do what you have to do, before you do what you want.
• Be able to say “No”
• Delegate or hire someone to do the things that anyone can do. This will give you more time to do the things that only you can do.
• Never assume – clarify expectations and never take anything personally.
• Take time for yourself and your family – a balanced life brings more satisfaction and calmness.
• Surround yourself with people who encourage you, will help you and are strong in areas where you are weaker.

Are you working to fulfill other people's dreams or are you one of the few that’s actually working on achieving your own dream? If you’re not working on achieving your dream, what’s stopping you? According to John C. Maxwell the five most common reasons are:

1. Other people have discouraged you. The people closest to you think you can’t achieve your dream or they think it’s too risky.
   
   
2. Fear of being disappointed and hurt. The worst thing that can happen when you pursue your dream is not reaching it, but think about what you’ll learn along the way! And often the journey is more important than the actual attainment of your dream as dreams can evolve and change over time. But if you don’t go after your dream you have absolutely no chance of obtaining it!
   
   
3. You’ve gotten in the habit of settling for being average.  “The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled for.” – Columnist Maureen Dowd. It’s impossible to be mediocre while pursuing your dream. While working on your dream you will stretch and grow.
   
   
4. Lack of Confidence. Confidence is like a muscle, you can develop it. “Real confidence comes from knowing and accepting yourself – your strengths and limitations-in contrast to depending on the affirmation of others, from the outside.” – Management consultant Judith Bardwick.
   
   
5. Lack of Imagination. “Imagination is the soil that brings a dream to life.” – John C. Maxwell. Don’t worry if you lack imagination its never too late to learn how to dream. “Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born.” Dale Turner.

 
Okay, so you’ve determined that you have a dream, what do you do next? Answer the following questions to determine the odds of achieving your dream:

1. Ownership: Is the dream really your dream?
2. Clarity: Do you have a clear vision of your dream?
3. Reality: Are you depending on factors within your control to achieve your dream?
4. Passion: Are you passionate about your dream?
5. Pathway: Do you have a strategy to reach your dream?
6. People: Have you included the people you need to achieve your dream?
7. Cost: Are you willing to pay the price for your dream?
8. Tenacity: Are you moving closer to your dream?
9. Fulfillment: Does working toward your dream bring you satisfaction?
10. Significance: Does your dream benefit others?

 
If you can answer yes to all of these questions or at least the majority of them, you have a pretty good chance of achieving your dream!
 
I can help you overcome your fears and create an action plan to help you achieve your dream, join my upcoming mastermind “Put Your Dream To The Test,” starting Tuesday June 7th, 7pm. Register here.