If you’re at a point where you keep asking yourself, “How did I get here?,” it may be time for you to figure out ways to change the direction of your life.

Admitting you are dissatisfied with your life may not be easy, but it’s a necessary first step that will lead you toward finding a life and career that you love. Aren’t you glad Mick Jagger was wrong?

If you want to get satisfaction, consider these steps:

Get specific about what is disappointing you. Jot down the details of what bugs you. For example, if you’re disturbed about your home’s condition (unorganized or messy), write it down. If you feel depressed because you never got the training or education you wanted, put that on the list, too. The purpose of this step is to identify the things that you find hard to accept about your life. This list provides you with a blueprint of what to work on to achieve the life you really want.

Come up with concrete solutions for each of the items on your list. If the mess annoys you in your home, write down what you can do in the short- term to feel better about it. Do the same with each item on your list. These solutions will guide you in your quest to live a more optimistic, satisfying life.

Start working on some of your solutions TODAY. Once you make a good start, you’ll be motivated to continue. Keeping with the same examples, get some boxes and garbage bags and work on getting your living room in shape. You don’t have to tackle your entire home at one time, start with one room. Make some calls to the local schools to see what courses they offer in the field you’re interested in. Better yet, visit their websites and you can see for yourself the course offerings, length of training, and costs.

Refuse to let anything or anyone stop you from changing your life. Commit to yourself and your future. Acknowledge that you’re worth the effort to achieve your goals.

Create visual reminders that you can do it. You have what it takes to move your life in the direction you want to go. Each day, be positive and encourage yourself. Tell yourself you can do it with a visual reminder. It could be as simple as a post-it note on your mirror or a positive picture as your computer background.

Don’t complain along the way—it will confuse you. You have acknowledged that there are things you want to change and you are making those changes happen. Why complain and keep reminding yourself that you are not where you want to be yet? Keep in mind that some journeys are bumpy and some changes are a little scary. But when you start to move toward your goals, you’ll realize you’re beginning to love the possibilities.

Show notes are available at allegrasinclair.com/006