One of the biggest reasons that many people have trouble with self improvement and building a successful and happy life is that they have no idea what they actually want. It's a sad fact that only a small percentage of people have actually taken the time to clearly think about what they really want from their lives. It's also a fact that the people who do achieve great things in their lives are statistically much more likely to have worked out what they want from their lives, to have set goals, made plans and taken action.

If asked what they really want from life, many people will say that they want to be rich, or happy, or financially secure, or not to have to work so hard, or other equally vague answers. And one of the biggest reasons that these people are not making the progress that want is actually BECAUSE these answers are TOO vague. They have no clear idea of what happiness or being rich, or whatever, they think they want actually means to them.

As a result they drift from day to day, week to week, month to month and year to year. Before they know what happened, the best years of their lives have passed them by and they are probably little, if any nearer to being happy or rich, or whatever they thought they wanted than they ever were. In order to have the life of our dreams, it is essential to take the time to work out and define EXACTLY what we want in detail.

Exactly what does happiness mean to you? What amount of money in the bank or income would make you feel rich or financially secure? What would you do with your time if you were to only work part time or retire at a relatively young age? And possibly the biggest question of all - WHY do you want the things that you want in the first place?

If we have big enough Whys, we will almost certainly find the Hows. This does involve effort, but the rewards make it more than worthwhile, and there is a great deal of detailed help available if more inspiration is needed with getting started.

If we make the effort to clarify what we want, develop plans, take action and keep working towards our desires, self improvement and progress will certainly happen, and nothing can stop us. Not only can nothing stop us, but when we are clear about what we want and where we are going, doors can open and unexpected things can happen that will actively help us to achieve our goals.

"The tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn't a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream.... It is not a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for. Not failure, but low aim is sin." - Benjamin Elijah Mays