5 Steps for Achieving Your Goals Through Healthy Habits How your daily routine is critical to your long-term success.

One of my greatest dreams in life was to do a TED talk. I thought I'd walk off the stage feeling energized, motivated, and ready to take on my subsequent pursuit. But instead, I felt indifferent and uninspired, which was enormously frustrating and confusing. I couldn't pinpoint what was wrong until I read the book Atomic Habits by James Clear.

There were two issues. First, I had to reframe my objective. I had made the goal of giving an impactful speech on a TEDx stage my intention, which is why I wound up feeling empty instead of enthused. To regain my motivation, I needed to focus on the mission behind my goal. Meaning I had to shift my attention to why I wanted to be a public speaker in the first place, which was to inspire others and make a difference in the world.

In the buildup to the talk, I was very strict with my diet, exercise, sleep patterns, and schedule, ensuring my healthier habits would afford me the energy, focus, and recall for delivering a powerful speech. But as soon as it was over, I fell back into my old ways. I'd made the talk the reason for my temporary behavioral change instead of understanding that I'd have to continue these new habits to sustain the physical and mental stamina needed to grow and advance professionally.