Fear not, it happens to all of us who have lofty goals and aspirations. As the old saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, yet somehow we expect our results to be more evident, more forthcoming. We forget that each of those thousand miles contains hundreds of individual steps, and that in each moment we can only ‘see’ the few steps behind us and in front of us. Because of this limited view, we tend to forget how far we’ve come, and it is this amnesia which brings about feelings of stuckness (that may not be a word…:) ).

The truth is that life is dynamic and ever-changing, so there is NEVER a time when things are exactly the same as they once were. Even if you wanted things to remain the same, they would not – it’s not possible. In order to feel better about the journey you are on, you need to look back and see how far you’ve come, and to realize that you and your life are truly evolving, whether your outer world shows evidence or not. Some tips for getting your perspective back include:

• Keep a journal or some other record of your goals and dreams, your plans to achieve them, and your feelings, accomplishments and adjustments along the way. By documenting your journey you are providing evidence of where you’ve been, and if you’ve really been learning and growing you will find there are some major differences between ‘then’ and ‘now’ when you read your journal entries from a year ago.
• As Abraham-Hicks tell us, sometimes what happens is we look around at our current situation and see ‘what is,’ and this becomes our focus (see next point as well). Instead, we need to continue looking into the future at what we wish to create, while at the same time doing those things in the now which will continue to lead us there. Hold your vision in your mind, and adjust it as you go. See it, feel it, treat yourself as if you were already living it, and then live into it!
• Remember that the Law of Attraction brings you more of whatever you focus on, so if you’re feeling stuck and uninspired, guess what? You’ll get more of the same, and who wants that? Bear this in mind always, and vow to do whatever it takes to reset your thought processes in order to keep your mind on how you want things to be, not what you don’t want. For difficult days or moments, try such tools as visualizing, meditation, EFT and creating and watching a personal vision video. You may also find that just improving your mood and emotional vibration puts you back on track; try our Inspiring Videos for an instant boost, and of course anything that makes you feel great – funny movies, a walk outdoors or other physical activity, etc. – will help.
• Almost every person who has defined and ultimately fulfilled their own vision of success says the same thing: it took lots of false starts, many wrong turns and much in the way of hard-earned wisdom to finally make it. Those who settle and never try for anything may know what’s coming tomorrow (same old thing!), but they will never know the joys of reaching cherished goals and living a life full of passion and joy. Part of that passion is the emotional roller coaster that comes with pursuing your dreams, so instead of resenting it, ride the roller coaster and enjoy, knowing it’s your own special amusement. Each hill and valley is getting you closer to your dreams, and without the learning and growing you are doing along the way, none of them would ever come true.
• One last note and that is to remember that life happens in cycles. We cannot always be ‘up’ and feel inspired, although with personal development those times can be more frequent and prolonged. Sometimes we just need to rest or spend some time incubating and contemplating, in order to bounce back refreshed and ready to go. One of my favourite quotes is “Resting is paying homage to the magnitude of your journey,” and I couldn’t agree more. Relax, have some fun and take the pressure off yourself. You don’t need to be moving forward at every moment…enjoy the wonderful adventure that is your life, and take it easy sometimes!

Some related articles that can help with this:

Personal Development: The Upward Spiral
Why Aren’t You Constantly Creating Your Life?
Law of Gestation: What is Headed in Your Direction?

Jim Rohn
September 17, 1930 – December 5, 2009

As is human nature, I did not realize quite how much Jim meant to me until I heard of his death and spent the day reflecting on it (I had no choice – I couldn’t get it out of my mind), and on how much his words and wisdom are a part of my psyche. I know I felt a deep sense of loss and cried my own private tears, and I can only imagine how his family and close friends must feel.

Jim’s passion for sharing his knowledge and helping others improve their lives inspired countless audience members to not only improve themselves but also to turn around and help others do the same. So many people have graduated from Jim’s seminars and subsequently passed along his wisdom in different ways, and hundreds of thousands more have absorbed Jim’s words while listening to his audio programs…in their cars, while they worked, while they exercised. An entire company – Herbalife – and its reps all over the globe have enjoyed Jim’s mentorship, and audiences all over the world have been fortunate to have spent time with him while he shared some of himself and his thoughts in seminars.

I have written of Jim often on this site and others, as readers will know, and I am one of many, many people in the personal and professional development fields who have incorporated Jim’s wisdom into their own words and thoughts…we can’t help it! Jim’s words and philosophy have affected so many people on so many levels it would be difficult to find someone in this genre who hasn’t benefited, whether they realize it or not. Jim spoke of business philosophy, but of course it was personal growth and development at its core. I felt Jim’s compassion in every word he said, and he was one of a very short list of people I’ve known of who truly walked his talk. By all accounts, he was humble, gracious, generous and kind, while also being wise, curious and full of zest for life.

I would like to thank Jim from the bottom of my heart for all he meant to me, and for being a shining example of mentorship. Sites of mine such as IncreasingVelocity.com and Live-With-Power.com are my attempts to share what has been of value to me, with the knowledge that improvement in one area of our lives affects everything else in a positive way. I now realize that it was Jim who first, and most deeply, instilled this philosophy in me and I am grateful.

The memorial wall which has been set up to honor Jim has received an outpouring of love, gratitude and grief from around the world. The thousands of messages are added to every day by people who loved Jim, from close and from afar, whose lives he touched. Jim’s spark for improvement and living with passion became our spark, and the flame burns brightly in us and will be passed on. Click here for the Jim Rohn memorial wall.

For more about Jim and the legacy he left via his products, see JimRohn.com. It’s never too late to begin on your own personal path of growth and development, and reap the immense rewards. Nothing would make Jim – and me – happier!