Your Pocket:

The 5 Steps to Success

When in doubt, check your pocket. If nothing else, you'll pull out your hand. Your hand has 5 things to tell you:

#1: Be Positive

Positivity can stem from having faith, chasing a dream, or never giving up in the face of uncertainty. You cannot control the circumstances you face in your life, but you are in complete control of your reaction to these circumstances - you can either choose to be positive or negative; to build yourself up or to break yourself down. Always choose to be positive.

#2: Have a Purpose

When you start a new day, a new venture, or a new challenge, find the motivation that will keep you going. Whether you are simply thankful for waking up, looking to make more money, or motivated to win a race, you must be positive (check rule #1) and find your purpose.

#3: Be Healthy

Being mentally, physically, and socially healthy means taking care of your mind, body, and your surroundings. Before you can help others, you need to help yourself; "walk the walk". If you want to survive anything you do, you must be positive, have a purpose (check rules #1-2), and take care of your health.

#4: Be Consistent

Being consistent means finding a routine that fits your lifestyle and which you can maintain over time. A routine minimizes stress by giving you certainty in how to proceed and how to do things that benefit you. If you want to make your life better, you must be positive, have a purpose, be healthy (check rules #1-3), and always repeat that pattern.

#5: Always Do Your Best

"Being perfect is about being able to look your friends in the eye and know that you didn’t let them down, because you told them the truth. And that truth is that you did everything that you could... If you can do that... then you’re perfect."

No one is perfect, and no one can always give their 100% effort. There is a reason this is the final rule on the list, after first checking all the previous ones. Humans are not machines and have natural imperfections. Nevertheless, if you want to make the most out of your life - whether that means success in academics, relationships, sports, or personal goals - you must be positive, have a purpose, be healthy, be consistent (check rules #1-4), and always do your best.