On this side of these posts . . . we don’t know what events have brought you to our site; a job loss, a financial emergency (illness), credit card overload? The most worrisome and traumatic are the first two, the last is the easiest to “fix.”

They all require change in behaviors and probably in attitudes. Few people like change; it takes us out of our comfort zone. Sometimes it requires us to gain new skills…work skills, communication skills, patience. Sometimes it requires us to change the way we think. One question that you must ask yourself . . . “is what I am doing now getting me what I want?"

If your answer is “NO”…then clearly you need to do something differently. Since you cannot change people, places or things…your only recourse is to make changes in yourself. How can you view things differently and is this a time for that attitude adjustment? One really important tip which sounds simple, but is often forgotten: Remind yourself of the goal!

Write down the baby steps that are necessary to reach the goal and stay focused on following those steps, one by one. No matter what others are doing…it is your job to do the next right thing.

—Marcia