Thinking over the past 12 months, do you feel invigorated, motivated and proud of what you have achieved in your career and your personal life? Did you achieve the goals you set for yourself or are you getting close to those desired results?

If not, what's happened? Or, more to the point, what's not happened?

Did you avoid tackling what needed to be done because it felt tough? Did you pretend that you wanted to achieve was not really that important after all? Was it easier to simply not do the ‘Tough Stuff" because you felt that, "I don't want to" or "I don't really feel like it right now" self talk in your head?

Avoiding the tough stuff in our lives will damage our potential to achieve the results we desire. You know what I mean, those difficult conversations with our partner, family members, staff or potential clients and customers could set us on our way to gaining so much however, the action we must take seems like such a big hurdle. Even the exercise regime we promised to get into in order to get fitter, healthier or lose weight may have gone by the wayside because it's less effort to simply NOT do it. Are we kicking ourselves now?

What's making us let ourselves down by not doing the tough stuff?

I've been guilty of this and have realized that the moment we are faced with actually following through on our commitments to ourselves, the temptation NOT to do it makes it feel easier just to give in. Immediately we feel an avoidance of discomfort but in the long run it makes our lives more stressful and harder.

Think about this - our AVOIDANCE creates a few moments of comfort immediately but tremendous dissatisfaction in the long run. Our ACTION may create a few moments of discomfort immediately but can create what we really want in the long run.

Obvious, isn't it?

So, what's holding us back? It's that moment of decision. We make the choice to face what we must do or choose to give in to the emotional wimp in us saying; "I just don't feel like it right now."

Think of the times when you did something difficult, discovered it wasn't so bad after all and you actually enjoyed it! You were in control of your destiny. YOU DID IT! I have always loved that Nike slogan, "Just do it." Make it your mantra.

Here are some steps to get you moving forwards:

• COMMIT to what you want. Tell yourself, "I WILL do this" not "I should do this." The word "should" is not a call to action.
• ACKNOWLEDGE that it might make you feel uncomfortable and acknowledge you have the ability to get through it. (That Miley Cyrus song, "It's The Climb" comes to mind.)
• PREPARE all that needs to be in place to encourage success. It could be rehearsing what you are going to say, anticipating how you are going to overcome the resistance of others, doing some research so you have all the required information, getting your exercise gear ready to put on the minute you get up in the morning. Prepare yourself well.
• ANCHOR yourself to get you going. Use a phrase that will motivate you. (Try "Wimp or Wonder Woman" "Man or Mouse" or whatever will work for you!)
• JUST DO IT. The longer you think about it, the more chance you give the Wimp in you to talk you out of it.

Remember that it was the tough stuff you overcame when you learned a new skill, the tough stuff you overcame when you made a positive impression. How did it make you feel? Hang on to that feeling because YOU can DO it!

Jane Jackson is a Senior Consultant at Drake International (Recruitment Services) and Director of Style Success, coaching for success. For more information visit www.stylesuccess.biz or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it