In choosing simple living, rustic living, or country living, you opt to have more control over your time, your resources, and your surroundings. In city or urban lifestyle, time is of essence. You must get from one point to other as quickly as possible, and be doing something else while you are getting there. Having lived in metropolitan area of Chicago, just watching crowds of people attests to fact that everyone is going somewhere, they are preoccupied with their own thoughts and their main concern is their daily planner. The train stations and bus depots at rush hour are a scene of mass confusion to inexperienced observer. There are individuals getting off trains, others getting on. They are seriously searching for seats, or making due by standing in aisles, in between train cars, or making themselves comfortable on stairs leading to upper level. Other passengers walk over them, around them, and even under them. However, if you were a participant in this ballet of transportation, you would see a method to madness. The people get to where they are going, so that they can begin a journey to their next destination.

In remote areas commonly referred to as rural living, pace is more leisurely, but it can get hectic when need arises. The rules are a little different. Your choice is that convenience is sacrificed for serenity and seclusion. It may take you longer to get some- where, but that’s a small price to pay to have time to watch that sunset or stop and breathe in clear, clean air. Watching an eagle fly to top of a tree can be a form of therapy for frazzled nerves and disappointments. The pay may not be as lucrative as in city, but expenses are more controlled. Daily restaurant lunches are bypassed for brown bag delights of yesterday’s chicken barbecue. If weather is good, lunch can be enjoyed outdoors, along a quiet lake, or next to a meandering stream.

Reflect back on some of your greatest success and achievements. How did you think? Act? How did you get there?

You started off with a dream or a vision that caused you a burning desire. You know it, feel it- that gut feeling is telling you to do it, jump into action. Like a tiger eyeing its prey with pinpoint focus. I bet you have felt this way before.

Do you recognize these three personal drivers: Thought, Desire, Action. These drivers are within you, ready to be explored and developed. All three attributes go hand in hand in achieving goals you set for yourself. Achieving success that you want is a mindset, an attitude that you need to continually nurture and develop. It is a never-ending process that allows us to keep improving our lives.

Can you do it yourself? You are not alone.

It’s important to surround yourself in a positive environment where growth, encouragement and success is unbounded and championed. Negative thoughts taint your mind causing self-doubt and second-guessing of your thoughts, desires and actions. No one has right to kill your dreams before you’ve had a chance to advance them.

Also, don’t get caught in a mind trap that I call "thoughtless" thinking. What do I mean? Your thought patterns become routine and automatic. You do things same way, over and over because that is what is expected and that is how it has always been done. This is easiest way and fastest way to get stuck in a rut, never to advance.

Progression will never occur when thinking becomes stuck on a narrow track. You need to break out of that thought process and allow yourself room to think and grow.

The rise of Internet is a great example of how dreams and vision were explored and played out. Sure, there were quite a number of failures but these failures are lessons that have become next thought form. Without trying and expanding your thinking, how will you know if you will ever achieve success? It’s only natural to want to get a feel for things and to build confidence. Start small and start slowly but make sure you get started.