HOW I MADE MY DREAM COME TRUE?

 Hey there! ✋

What do you usually do to reach your goals? I’m sure you’ve made a plan and stuck to it, right? Have you ever thought about giving up? I definitely have! That’s why I’m always looking for new ways to succeed, whether it’s learning something new or getting better at something. 🤩

😐To be honest, I’ve stumbled a lot when I tried to follow other people’s “learning formulas” for my job. After a while, I realized that I needed to come up with my own system, one that worked for me. All those formulas I saw online were just references, not one-size-fits-all solutions (kind of like following a cookie recipe — sometimes you have to tweak the seasoning after the first try!).

So, in this post, I want to share the steps I’ve been following to hit my goals. Here we go 😋:

1️⃣ Find someone who inspires you 🌟:

When I see someone doing what I want to do, I think, "Why not me?" They’re human, just like I am (lol). If they can do it, I can too! Whenever I see someone who motivates me, it feels like a sign that it’s time for me to step up and become the best version of myself.

Take my goal of learning Mandarin, for example. I love watching Chinese school dramas and romantic films, and I really want to understand what the actors are saying (it’s just more meaningful when you understand the language, instead of reading subtitles). I started browsing TikTok and found tons of people who were learning Mandarin on their own and taking the HSK test. Honestly, seeing them made me feel like I had to master this skill, too.

2️⃣ List your strengths and challenges 📝:

Continuing with the Mandarin example, I wrote down both the things that could help me and the obstacles I’d face.

💖 Strengths/Advantages:

• I’m good at learning languages
• I love Chinese culture and films (so I’m super motivated to keep going)
• ...

💔 Obstacles/Challenges:

• Time (I don’t have enough to take formal classes)
• Money (it’s not the right time for me to pay for Mandarin courses; I have other financial priorities)
• Hanzi (Chinese characters are hard for me because my native language uses the Latin alphabet)
• ...

3️⃣ Find solutions 🕵️‍♀️:

If your goal is learning something new, the internet is your best friend. Seriously, it’s all out there for free or at low cost! In my country, we say that "Google doesn’t charge a dime," and that’s so true. There are free courses on YouTube, Facebook groups, Udemy, and Coursera that make learning so much more affordable.

For a different goal, like improving my appearance, I had to plan how to save money for that, too. If you want to change your wardrobe, get fit, or buy something new (like a phone or clothes), you have to first figure out what you’re good at and what you need to do to get there.

For example, to upgrade my appearance, I thought:

• My clothes are making me look older → Time to buy a few basic items that are more flattering and easy to mix with what I already own.
• I don’t know makeup, and I only have my mom’s lipstick → I need to buy foundation, some lipsticks, blush, etc.
• My legs and armpits need waxing → Maybe I should treat myself to a spa day!

But all of this requires money, so now I’m focusing on saving by cutting back on small expenses, like making lunch at home and avoiding expensive milk tea. These habits not only help me save money but also keep me healthier!

4️⃣ Set goals 🎯:

Big goals can feel overwhelming, so break them down into smaller steps. For example, my goal is to finish the HSK3 course in 10 months. Here’s my plan:

• First 2 weeks: Get the basics down (pronunciation, writing Hanzi, etc.).
• Next 3 months: Finish HSK1
• Next 3 months: Finish HSK2
• Next 4 months: Finish HSK3

📌 Note: This is just a rough timeline. Sometimes life doesn’t go according to plan, and that’s okay. Don’t stress if things take longer than expected.

5️⃣ Being disciplined ⏰:

When you feel like giving up, keep this in mind: “Don’t waste time setting goals, dreaming, or talking about them if you’re not going to follow through.” That thought keeps me going when I’m tempted to quit.

I don’t have many tips to stay motivated. But when I think about giving up, this quote pops into my mind, and it reminds me to push through. I won’t stop until I reach my goal.

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That’s it! These are the steps I use, and I really hope they can help you too.

Love,
Violet Hela 🌠