We face challenges every day. Some days just getting out of bed in the morning can feel like a Herculean effort. Certainly, life can be a roller coaster of ups and downs, but there are days when the sun rises and we realize how much we have to be grateful for and our souls are lifted. 

Wouldn’t it be great if we felt like that every day?

If you feel like you need more time for yourself—time to eat better, exercise more, declutter your home or just make some changes—here are five ways to successfully address and accept the challenges of life.

1. Take inventory

As every business owner knows, you can’t be successful if you don’t know what you have to sell. Whether you are starting a new job or venturing on a weight-loss journey, the first step is assessing your strengths and assets. It’s like having a road map. Take time to write down what you think you need for the challenge, and what you already have on hand to meet it. If your goal is to make more money or to inspire others to lead a healthy lifestyle, you’ll need to know your strengths and how can you build upon them. Understanding what you have in your arsenal is key to getting to the next step and gaining success.

2. Plan your progress

No matter what route you take, a plan is important. Yet even when you follow the yellow brick road to get to Oz, there are going to be plenty of monkeys along the way to derail you. This is where a “Plan B”—an alternate way to get to your goal—is important. If you’re trying to lose weight, for example, a “Plan B” comes in handy when traveling or eating out, and you don’t have access to your healthfully prepared foods. If you take the time to plan correctly, you’ll always feel more relaxed and in control, even when obstacles show up.

3. Keep track

Now that you have a plan, you must track the direction you’re heading and share your progress with your support groups to achieve success. Use a journal, small notebook, or calendar to daily asses and track both your progress and your feelings as you work toward your goals.

4. Reflect on your successes

You don’t always realize how far you’ve come until you take the time to look back at your journey. Take time to learn from your success by identifying what is working as well as your mistakes, so you can keep steering your plans in the right direction. We often forget how important this step is in understanding our direction and path.

5. Love starts with you

Your odds of a successful outcome are greatly increased when you have faith in your ability to reach your goals. This comes from a place of understanding and self-worth. It is much easier to believe you can accomplish something when you know what it feels like to have that “something” under your belt. You’ll begin to see how these feelings of confidence help to move you toward a place of happiness and self love. Success is yours for the taking.