Achieving something worthwhile in life often requires more than having a good idea or setting a goal. It can take persistence, self-belief, patience and the willingness to keep going when progress is slower than expected. Sometimes it also takes the encouragement and support of other people.

We tend to think of achievement as something we must accomplish through our own efforts. While personal responsibility and action are essential, we don’t always have to work towards our goals alone. The right people can help us see possibilities we have overlooked, question limiting beliefs and find the confidence to take our next step.

Meditation can also play a valuable part in this process. It gives us an opportunity to become still, examine our thoughts and reconnect with what matters to us. When combined with practical action and supportive relationships, it can become a useful part of a more thoughtful approach to achieving our goals.

Let’s explore how persistence, meditation and shared encouragement can help us move forward, particularly when we feel stuck or uncertain about what to do next.

Persistence When Things Don’t Go to Plan

Consider the story of Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, the co-creators of the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series.

When they began looking for a publisher for their first collection of inspirational stories, they encountered considerable resistance. Publisher after publisher rejected their manuscript. Their idea was questioned, their proposed title was criticised and they were repeatedly told that a collection of short stories was unlikely to succeed.

Rather than immediately abandoning their idea, they continued looking for a publisher who understood what they were trying to achieve. They believed the stories had value because they had seen how audiences responded to them when they shared them at presentations and events.

Eventually, a publisher agreed to take a chance on the book. The first Chicken Soup for the Soul became a remarkable success, selling 1.3 million copies in its first year and a half. The series subsequently grew into an international publishing phenomenon.

According to the publisher’s account of the book’s history, the authors received 144 rejections before finding the opportunity they needed. You can read more in the Chicken Soup for the Soul 30th anniversary announcement.

Their experience illustrates something important about achievement. An initial rejection doesn’t necessarily mean an idea is worthless. It may mean that the timing, presentation, approach or person making the decision isn’t right.

Of course, persistence doesn’t guarantee success. Some ideas need considerable improvement and others may not be viable at all. However, one person’s negative response shouldn’t automatically become the final judgement on what you are capable of achieving.

When you encounter a setback, consider asking yourself:

Is my goal still important to me?
Have I received useful feedback that could help me improve my approach?
Am I facing a temporary obstacle or a genuine reason to reconsider my direction?
What have I learned from this experience that I didn’t know before?
Is there another way to pursue the same goal?

These questions help you distinguish between giving up too soon and recognising when a change of direction is sensible.

Sometimes the next step isn’t to try harder. It’s to think differently, seek advice or approach the situation from another angle.

Why the Right Support Can Make a Difference

There are times when we become so involved in a particular goal that we lose perspective. We may doubt our abilities, become discouraged by slow progress or convince ourselves that we aren’t good enough.

Our thoughts can become repetitive. We revisit the same concerns without finding a useful solution. What initially seemed possible begins to feel increasingly difficult.

This is one reason supportive relationships can be so valuable.

Another person may recognise strengths we have overlooked. They might offer a different perspective, suggest an opportunity or simply remind us why we started in the first place.

Having someone who listens without immediately judging or dismissing our ideas can also make it easier to express what we genuinely want. Sometimes explaining a goal aloud helps us understand it more clearly ourselves.

However, not everyone is the right person to involve in every ambition.

Someone who is consistently negative, dismissive or inclined to turn every conversation into an argument may not provide the encouragement you need. Even people who care about us can unintentionally undermine our confidence when they don’t understand our goals or share our enthusiasm.

Choose people who can offer a healthy combination of encouragement and honesty. You want supporters who believe in your ability to make progress but who are also willing to ask sensible questions and help you recognise potential problems.

Depending on your circumstances, these people might be friends, family members, colleagues, a mentor or members of a meditation or personal-development group.

It is also worth remembering that support doesn’t have to mean agreeing with everything you say. Genuine encouragement can include constructive feedback, practical suggestions and a willingness to help you work through difficulties.

The best supporters help you become more capable and independent rather than making you dependent on their approval.

How Meditation Can Help You Move Forward

Meditation is often associated with relaxation, but its potential value extends beyond simply feeling calmer.

When we step away from the constant activity of everyday life, we create an opportunity to observe our thoughts rather than automatically react to them. We may begin to recognise how fear, self-doubt, impatience or assumptions influence our decisions.

For example, imagine that you want to start a small business but keep postponing the first step. You might tell yourself that you need more experience, more money or a better opportunity.

Some of those concerns may be entirely reasonable. Others might be ways of avoiding the uncertainty involved in trying something new.

A period of quiet reflection can help you examine the difference. Instead of allowing every anxious thought to determine your next move, you can consider what is genuinely necessary and what you might be able to work through.

Meditation isn’t a substitute for making decisions or taking action. Nor does it guarantee that your circumstances will improve. Its value can lie in helping you develop a little more awareness and perspective before deciding what to do.

There is also scientific research examining meditation and psychological wellbeing. A systematic review published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that mindfulness meditation programmes could produce small to moderate improvements in certain areas, including anxiety, depression and pain. The researchers also noted that evidence varied between outcomes and that meditation was not shown to be superior to other active treatments. You can read the research here.

For personal development, one useful way to approach meditation is to allow yourself some quiet time before and after considering an important goal. You can also explore the benefits of meditation if you would like to learn more about incorporating this practice into your life.

A Simple Meditation and Shared Support Practice

One of the original ideas behind this article is particularly interesting: bringing a small group of people together to support one another’s goals through meditation and positive intention.

This can be adapted into a simple 30-day practice. It combines personal reflection, visualisation and the encouragement of others without requiring complicated arrangements or a great deal of time.

Step 1. Choose a small group

Invite a few people you trust to participate. One to four other people is a manageable starting point. You don’t need a large group. What matters is that everyone is comfortable sharing and willing to respect one another’s intentions.

Make participation voluntary. Nobody should feel pressured to reveal personal information or pursue a goal they would rather keep private.

Step 2. Write down one meaningful goal

Ask each participant to identify something they genuinely want to work towards over the next 30 days.

Encourage everyone to be reasonably specific. Instead of writing “I want to be successful” a person might write “I want to complete the first three chapters of my book” or “I want to establish a regular walking routine.”

A clear goal gives the group something meaningful to focus on. It also makes it easier to recognise progress.

Each person can briefly explain why the goal matters and what kind of support would be helpful. Some might appreciate encouragement, while others may benefit more from practical suggestions or simply knowing someone is thinking positively about their efforts.

Step 3. Agree on how you will support one another

Ask for volunteers to include each person’s goal in their thoughts during their daily meditation or quiet reflection.

Agree on the type of support everyone is comfortable offering. You might choose to focus on confidence, courage, clarity, patience or a positive outcome for each person.

Respect the fact that people have different beliefs. Some may understand this as prayer, others as positive intention, loving-kindness meditation or simply wishing someone well.

There is no need to impose a particular spiritual interpretation on the practice.

Step 4. Visualise progress and a positive outcome

At the beginning of your meditation, bring to mind the person you are supporting and their chosen goal.

Imagine them feeling confident, capable and happy as they make progress. Picture them taking the necessary steps and responding constructively when difficulties arise.

For example, if someone wants to complete a study course, you might visualise them approaching their studies with concentration, managing their time and feeling satisfied as they complete each section.

If someone is working towards a personal goal, you might picture them developing the confidence to take the next step.

The intention is to offer positive thoughts and encouragement, not to assume that visualisation can control another person’s circumstances or guarantee an outcome.

After a few minutes, let go of the visualisation and continue with your usual meditation practice.

Step 5. Take practical action and check in regularly

This is an important part of the process. Each person remains responsible for taking action towards their own goal.

Arrange a brief weekly check-in where participants can share their progress, discuss obstacles and identify their next step.

Keep the conversation constructive. Celebrate small achievements rather than concentrating only on the final outcome.

At the end of the 30 days, review what happened. Did you make progress? Did the support help? Did you learn something about yourself or your goal? Is there anything you would approach differently next time?

Remember that progress won’t look the same for everyone. One person might achieve their original goal while another discovers that they need a different approach. Both experiences can be worthwhile.

The real benefit of this practice may be the combination of focused attention, positive encouragement, accountability and practical action.

Turn Positive Intentions into Practical Action

Thinking about a goal and imagining a successful outcome can be encouraging. However, there is a difference between picturing what you want and preparing yourself to achieve it.

It is easy to become attached to an ideal picture of the future without considering the everyday effort required to get there.

A more useful approach is to combine a positive vision with an honest assessment of the obstacles you might encounter.

Suppose you want to improve your health by becoming more physically active. You might imagine yourself feeling stronger and enjoying the benefits of regular exercise. That’s a positive starting point.

Now consider what could prevent you from following through. Perhaps you tend to feel tired after work, the weather discourages you or you find it difficult to maintain a routine.

Once you recognise these obstacles, you can make a practical plan.

If you feel tired after work, schedule a short walk earlier in the day.
If bad weather interrupts your plans, choose an indoor alternative.
If you struggle to maintain a routine, arrange to walk with a friend.
If your original plan feels overwhelming, begin with ten minutes rather than an hour.

This approach turns an intention into something you can actually do.

Research into a goal-setting technique known as mental contrasting with implementation intentions has also explored the value of identifying obstacles and deciding in advance how to respond to them. A 2021 meta-analysis covering 21 studies found a small to moderate positive effect on goal attainment.

You can read more in this research paper.

One simple way to apply this idea is to complete the following sentence:

If [a particular obstacle occurs], then [this is what I will do].

For instance, “If I start doubting my ability to finish this project, then I will review what I have already completed and identify one small task I can tackle today.”

Having a response ready can make it easier to keep moving when motivation fluctuates.

When Persistence Means Changing Direction

Believing in yourself and remaining committed to something worthwhile are valuable qualities. However, persistence should not mean pursuing the same goal indefinitely regardless of the consequences.

Sometimes circumstances change. We gain new information, our priorities evolve or we realise that what we originally wanted is no longer right for us.

A goal that once seemed exciting might begin to consume so much time and energy that other important areas of life suffer. We might neglect relationships, compromise our wellbeing or continue investing in something simply because we have already put so much effort into it.

Recognising this doesn’t mean you have failed.

There is a difference between abandoning a goal because you have encountered a temporary difficulty and making a considered decision to move in another direction.

When you feel uncertain, ask yourself:

Does this goal still reflect what I value and want from life?
Am I continuing because I genuinely believe in it or because I don’t want to admit that my plans have changed?
What is pursuing this goal costing me in time, energy and relationships?
Could I achieve something meaningful by changing my approach?
Would letting go of this particular goal create opportunities for something more suitable?

Sometimes the best decision is to pause, reassess or release an ambition that no longer fits your life.

As explored in Room to Grow, allowing ourselves to change can create space for new experiences, ideas and possibilities.

We cannot always know what lies ahead. What initially feels like disappointment may eventually lead us towards an opportunity we hadn’t considered.

That doesn’t mean every setback is secretly a blessing or that we should expect something better to appear automatically. It simply means we don’t have to regard an unexpected outcome as the end of our ability to move forward.

Achievement Is Only One Part of a Fulfilling Life

It’s easy to become so focused on what we want to accomplish that we forget to appreciate the life we are already living.

We tell ourselves that we will be happy when we reach a particular milestone, earn more money, complete a project, receive recognition or finally achieve a long-held ambition.

There is nothing wrong with looking forward to these experiences. Achievement can bring satisfaction, confidence and a genuine sense of accomplishment.

However, if we postpone our happiness until everything falls into place, we risk overlooking the value of our everyday lives.

Much of what makes life worthwhile happens along the way. It can be found in the relationships we nurture, the kindness we offer, the knowledge we gain, the experiences we appreciate and the contribution we make to other people’s lives.

We can work towards an important goal while still enjoying the present. We can be ambitious without allowing our ambitions to define our entire identity.

Perhaps the most worthwhile achievement is becoming someone who continues to grow while remaining connected to what matters most.

Meditation can help us reconnect with our intentions. Supportive people can encourage us when our confidence falters. Practical action can turn our ideas into progress. And the willingness to change direction can help us recognise when another path deserves our attention.

None of these things guarantees that life will unfold as we hope. Yet together, they can help us approach our goals with greater awareness, resilience and perspective.

Choose something that matters to you. Give yourself permission to seek support. Make time for reflection, take the next practical step and remain open to what you learn along the way.

Hi, I'm Thea Westra at Forward Steps (forwardstepsblog.com)

Since March 2003, I've been sharing practical, positive, thought provoking and inspiring self improvement content online. My aim is simple - to offer tips and resources that help us enhance our daily experience of life and to keep stepping forward. Perth, Western Australia is the place I call home and I'm the author of "Time For My Life: 365 Stepping Stones". You might also know me from the Forward Steps personal development blog and the daily series of "365 Forward Steps Notes", all designed to add wings to our unique life journeys.

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