You know there’s so much more you want to accomplish in your life, but you feel paralyzed by setbacks in the past and a little voice that tells you to sit back down. You’re afraid of failing and tired of all that life throws at you. You want to build a business, get a better job, make more money, have better relationships, be recognized as an industry leader, make an impact, skydive, and a hundred other things. You want to live full out and experience all that life offers those that take action.

But none of that happens. Your days are a regurgitation of the same old same. You woke up less than energized, and it’s because you know you’re settling. Your limiting beliefs have kept you complacent. You look in the mirror and feel pain, but you’re not doing anything about taking action on the life you want to live. Let this be your wake-up call. It’s time to stop settling for the life and circumstances your mind tries to convince you are all that you can accomplish. 

Here are four principles you need to understand about creating success and not settling:

1. There is more than enough opportunity for those willing to go after it

Challenging circumstances tend to fuel a belief that opportunities aren’t available. Turn on the news for a few minutes, and it’ll convince you of the negative. Today, more than 4.5 billion people use the Internet. One hundred ninety-six million people use social media every day, and eCommerce sales are expected to top 6.5 trillion dollars this year. Whether you’re building a business or working to make yourself more valuable at a job, the opportunities are there. 

It’s time to stop settling in the way you make a living. You don’t have to stay in a job you hate for the rest of your life or have to feel stuck in a business that’s not growing. Whatever opportunity you need to create more revenue, income, and wealth can be researched and implemented. The digital information age will continue to create opportunities for those willing to research, plan, and execute. 

“Never settle for anything less than your best.” – Brian Tracy

2. You aren’t guaranteed anything in life

The phrase life is short has become a slogan we say but don’t fully believe. No human being is guaranteed anything beyond right now, but we live as if life will go on forever. Let me assure you it won’t.

It’s time to stop settling because right now is what you have. Your mind will give you many reasons to “start tomorrow” or only go so far. Your limiting beliefs are a mechanism your mind uses to try to protect you. It’s your responsibility to push past the limitations of your mind.

To create success, you have to understand and live life as if today could be your last day. Do the things that scare you, take on the tough challenges, step well outside of your comfort zone, and go after all the things you want. Live an unlimited life even if you experience setbacks and moments of failure. Go to sleep every night knowing that you did all you could to create success during the day. Do that consistently, and you’ll accomplish goals that once felt out of reach. 

3. It’s never as horrible as we make it in our minds

Our mind tries to protect us, and it pieces together individual situations to make them feel like one. All of the negative things that happen feed into the belief that life is horrible and bad things are always happening to us.They’re not. You should analyze each challenging experience individually. We can’t stack them, or we’ll stay stuck in a place of bitterness and frustration. Our mind makes it feel worse. Just know that there’s always a path to a better place. The journey to success requires a commitment to overcoming feelings and emotions that convince us to settle. No matter what happened in your past or what someone else has said — it can get better if you’re committed to your growth. 

“There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” – Nelson Mandela

4. It’s time to step into your power

You have an inner power that you probably haven’t tapped into yet. You’re a human being that’s filled with the possibility of creating more, and there’s an inner strength that’s waiting to be unleashed. You will stop settling when you understand that you can’t control what happens to you — the only thing you can control is your response to what happens. Even in the most challenging moments, you can choose to focus on the good and the better path. 

You can change your state through physical movement and get to a healthier place in your mind. You can use your inner strength to fuel past moments that have held you back in the past. The message here is to stop settling. Stop waiting for permission. Stop letting your past dictate the action you’ll take right now. Your limitations only have to be true if you let them be. Claim your best life and die empty.