Every single action you take is a step in the right direction. Rejections are necessary in order to get to the "yes". Bad dates lead you to the perfect relationship. Supposed detours take you to your ultimate destination.

I wish we all knew this with our whole heart, and everyday. With faith, in ourself and the greater plan, our journey would be much more enjoyable.

It's normal and easy to feel inadequate or defeated when life isn't going our way. Notice I said, "our way" because our idea of what the path should look like trips us up every single time.

On our road to change and growth, on our way to happy destiny, we experience challenge, loss, rejection, and even tragedy. Persevering ignites our worthiness and sends a message to the universe that we are in this to win it. We are not giving up. We may need to remain open to alternate routes, and an outcome that we hadn't considered. This doesn't mean settling, or throwing out our plan; it means staying open to receive all the gifts that are in store for us, not just the idea we have in our mind.

Humans tend to focus on what's going wrong instead of what's going right. We are unable to see the bigger picture, so we agonize over what we perceive as something slipping out of our grasp when actually, that "no" is all part of the plan. Setbacks don't mean you are on the wrong path; setbacks are part of the deal. The only way to avoid failure or rejection is to play it safe. If you want a guarantee, there are many available. Typically, that which is worthwhile takes some risk and unknown outcomes. You can apply to a job you know you are overqualified for, and most likely get it, and avoid the sting of rejection. Or, you can reach for a job that is challenging, and see what happens. Even if that job doesn't come through, another one will, as long as you keep going.

Small actions that require some faith can be taken regarding our own mental health, our personal life, our family life, or our career. We know how we want to feel, and we have an idea about where we want to be - the love, the money, the success, the fulfillment, the internal peace. Every small action is a step forward, whether we label it as a win or a fail. The action is what matters, not the outcome.

Successful outcomes rarely occur because the person gave up after the first try. Anything you are moving towards takes acceptance of the challenges and acknowledgment of the small, daily action it takes to get there. Trust that you are on the right path. Trust that your commitment is not going unnoticed. Small actions add up, and it is the culmination of daily discipline that leads to change.