Five easy steps to getting out of your own way and unleashing your awesome on the world.

1. Believe in Yourself

Confidence is key. Stand by what your heart is telling you and what you want—don’t let other people’s lack of vision cloud your own. You are on a mission and nothing is going to deter you.

Remember, if you ever want people to buy into something you are pursuing, you too must believe it with ever fiber of your being. And look, if at first this is a major struggle for you, fake it until you make it. Confidence is a contagious, self-fulfilling prophecy: If you tell yourself enough that you believe in yourself, after a while you actually will!

2. Chase Your Passion

What lights your heart on fire? What gives you that feeling within the pit of your deepest part of your belly that fuels you from within?

Make space so that you can thrive; what is something you continue to do despite it not longer serving you or brining you joy? Let that shit go. Evaluate why you continue to participate in something that no longer brings you joy [or maybe didn’t in the first place]. Is it ego driven? Because you feel obligated? Can’t say no? Whatever the reason, know this: In order to generate opportunity for yourself in your life, you must create the space so that something new can grow then thrive.

3. The Power of Positivity

Your outlook and approach will absolutely determine the outcome of the obstacles you encounter. Challenge yourself to start re-routing how your emotions respond to opposition. While this will most definitely take time, be patient and compassionate with yourself. Commit to not just saying you’ll be positive, but visualize things with a more positive spin.

Try something simple to start: set the tone of each day by reminding yourself to remain positive even when it seems hard—that’s when it’s most important! Also, attaching a phrase like “I will meet each obstacle in my life with positivity, love, and enthusiasm” will give you the strength to maintain your positive mindset.

4. No More Blame Game

Coveting the success of others is a vicious cycle that often ends is feeling worthless and defeated. Constantly looking at what others have achieved, comparing yourself, and detesting the success of others brings you bad juju. Bad juju aside, pointing a critical finger or judgmental finger at others does one thing: Nothing. Moreover, refusing to accept ownership for the mere fact that while you may want something and haven’t done anything is perhaps the first step to enacting changes in your life. No one is preventing you from being who you want to be. No one is thwarting your efforts if you haven’t even made any. No one is going to miraculously appear in your life and grant you 3 wishes like The Genie in Aladdin [sorry to burst your bubble on that one]. Get out of your own way and stop looking at what others have.

5. Get Down and Dirty

Asking the universe for something just isn’t enough. The concept of “ask and you shall receive” is not really conducive to manifesting your craziest and wildest dreams. Simply asking, and putting whatever ‘it’ is you want out there IS the first step—but what are the action steps that you are taking to achieve said greatness?

When you want something in your life, your focus to acquire it must be laser-like. That said, where there is conviction there is no sacrifice. The time to stop asking for what you want is now. Jump outside your comfort zone, roll up your sleeves, and tackle the tough stuff.

Start by make tangible alterations to your life; step confidently into the things you’ve always wanted, and make them your reality. Only you and you alone can make the changes and take serious steps to do so.