"Pandav kitne the?"
"Paanch"
"Fingers kitne hai?"
"Paanch"
"aur steps kitne hai?"
"Paanch !!"

Yep, here goes the panchmantra (read: Punch mantra, coz they will help you give punches to your obstacles). At least i have given mine.

1: Make a wish list.
Make a list of things you have always dreamt of, things you wish should happen in your life, your desires, goals and objectives. From anything to every thing, that would make you feel happier and better. This may not actually be your ‘bucket list’ (like in Dasvidaniya) instead it should include things that take you to the next level in the process called ‘life’. Probably make a diary (or a notebook) for this and give it a beautiful name. I have mine and I named it ‘The Ultimatum’ (after ‘The Bourne Ultimatum’).

2: Form a clear mental image of the outcome.
Writing the goal down is just setting a red flag to your thoughts. The real process starts here. See yourself achieve this. For instance, if you want to win a competition, see yourself being awarded and hear the thundering of applause as you move onto the stage! Believe me it works. In your diary, dedicate a few pages for one particular goal. In those pages, stick relevant inspiring pictures or symbols or anything. If you want to excel in the computer industry, stick a picture of Steve Jobbs, for instance, or a multi-storey IT building (which might be yours, ultimately).

3: Get some positive pressure on yourself.
And you thought, pressure is always negative, huh? Nope, not always. Read more for how? Announce amongst your friends that soon you are gonna make an appearance on the stage, or whatever your goal might be. Once you do this, there is some pressure on you to work for its fulfillment since no one wants to be looked like a failure. If this sounds crazy, go for simpler. Set some conditions. Like say, you would go for movie, only if you finish you assignments by Friday. If I was your place, I would do anything to go for a movie!!

4: Set your goals along with a timeline.
Your goals have little meaning if you don’t know when you want to achieve them or you don’t know the deadline. Set that timer on your goals and write it along with your goals in that diary (your Dream Book). Its like you don’t know the date of the exams and you plan to study. How far is this gonna help? Well don’t make any haste while setting a timeline. You should have enough time to blossom into it. It should not happen that you rush through it just because the time you set is very less. I hope I am making sense.

5: The habit rule.
You know something? Activities take time to be transformed into habits. But you know that habits are difficult to get rid of. Then why not put good habits? It takes about a month to fully install a habit. So review your dream book daily and try to install the habits necessary to achieve them. Like getting up early and start exercising, in case your goal is to have a perfect figure. Do this for about a month and after that you will be astonished to see how easy it gets. It becomes a part of your routine.

6: Wait a minute. In the beginning I had said they would only be five!! Oh let go, it doesn’t matter. If you start doing good, who cares about the number. Read on mate.
‘Enjoy the process’. Yes, enjoy the journey towards your goal. I believe its not just your destination that matters but also the path. So don’t just drag through the process, but feel it and enjoy it!!

I don’t know what to say more. I have already shared what I have learned after reading few self-help books and from my old mentor. But I know, what he taught me by example in 1 week, I won’t be able to teach others even in 1 year by just writing blogs. But I hope, it makes at least a little difference in the way you think and work !!