Do you ever wonder what it must be like to remain calm, even when crazy challenges make you feel like everything you value is being pulled out from underneath you? Me too. At least I used to have those thoughts.

If you’re anything like me, you may discover that by practicing mindfulness, you reach a new state of calmness. That calmness can give you a sense of empowerment, which can then cause you to feel, motivated. Your newfound motivation will inspire you to take action, and voila, you’re on your way.

Did you notice any missing pieces in that description? Did you think, “on your way to where?” You have to be crystal clear in knowing where you want to go. It seems strange, but that is what is holding a lot of brilliant people back.

You’ve likely thought about where you want to go on vacation this year. I’ll bet you’ve talked to friends and relatives about destinations they’ve enjoyed. You’ve probably checked out some vacation ideas online and maybe looked up prices and transportation choices. You’ve looked at some reviews and maybe read a write-up or two describing the destination.

But wait a minute. Have you put this much time and thought into where you would like to be in your life in one year, two years, five years or even ten years? For some reason we don’t always take the time to sit down and plan out specifically where we want to go in our lives.

Could it be because our minds are constantly buzzing with thoughts about a zillion different things? Could it be because it’s way easier to think about something in the near future than something in the more distant future? Maybe it’s easier to envision lying on a beach in Hawaii for five days, than it is to think of resigning from your job because you are now putting your time into your passion, the one thing that really gets you pumped up.

For most of us, it can be a little scary to think about changing things around in your life so you can spend all the time you want doing exactly what you want. Would it really work? Would you have enough money to live on? What would other people think? Would I lose my friends?

Do you hear the voice in your head? That voice is there to protect you from danger, but sometimes it can hold you back. Does it say, “stick to what you know” or “ don’t take a chance?” Knowing when to listen to that voice and power on through anyway, can be the biggest challenge ever. Don’t get stuck on this. How many times have you heard, “life is about the journey, not the destination?” Face your challenges, move through them and learn on the way.

Make a plan. Lay out the steps you’ll take to make your dream a reality. Read books or listen to recordings of how others have achieved success. Listen to podcasts and audio books. Learn how others achieved success and then you can use some of the same principles.

Practice mindfulness to remain calm and maintain your focus. Use guided or silent meditations to clear your mind and help gain clarity. If you’re not sure where to start, just begin with some basic meditation techniques you’ll find through an online search.

Most of all, enjoy your new level of calm and the clarity of knowing where you’re headed. You now know your destination, because you understand the key ingredient to making change in your life is making a plan. If you stay focused on your plan and take action, you’ll discover how it feels to live your passion and enjoy a life with true meaning.

You may want to check out the free, ‘Five Step Fine Tune Your Focus Challenge' available at www.mindfulnessmode.com