There is one thing that we all have in common when it comes to achieving challenging goals. Our untrained brain does not want us to succeed. Our brain has been programmed to protect us. Our brain just wants us to survive, not thrive. Reaching new stretch goals, even when they are positive ones, requires us to take risks and do things differently. Unfortunately, most of us have brains that do not want to leave their comfort zones. So instead of making progress toward a worthy goal, our mind tricks us into fighting the same fires every day. When we don’t make positive changes, our untrained brain wins but we go home feeling exhausted, unproductive and unfulfilled.

In order to thrive, we must retrain our brain by creating a vision and plan for what we want to accomplish during the day. Then commit to taking small positive actions every day, especially on those days we don’t feel like doing the work necessary to reach our goals. As Winston Churchill said, “It is not enough that we do our best; sometimes we must do what is required.”

Most of us know what actions we need to take to reach our most important goals. We don’t need more information. We just need the will power and wisdom to begin taking one small step after one small step.

My mentor, W. Clement Stone, used to say, “Tell everyone what you want to do and someone will want to help you.” There are people in your world that want to help you reach your goals. All you have to do is start telling them what you want to accomplish.

Identify one thing you can do right now to move you closer to a worthy goal you want to achieve and then do it. Not only will you feel better, but each step you take today will retrain your brain to make a positive change tomorrow.

Let’s Get Better. Together!

Bill Durkin