There’s a reason why anyone and everyone will tell you that you can accomplish anything you want in life so long as you put your mind to it. As cliché as it is to say, believing in yourself really is the key to achieving any goal. As important as it is to work hard, stay focused and never give up, it’s all for naught if you don’t believe in yourself.

I’ll admit that I often feel more discouraged than not when it comes to pursuing my dream of becoming a TV comedy writer. I’m an incredibly impatient person, so even though I keep working on scripts and sending them out to writing contests, when I fail to see the results I was hoping for, I can’t help feeling disappointed. Of course, the fact that something’s difficult to attain just means that it’ll be all the more worthwhile once I do finally get to where I want to be one day, in LA, writing for TV. I realize I sound like a broken record when I say I can’t give up, but that doesn’t make it any less true. I can’t, and I won’t.

So, I reiterate, as important as perseverance is, believing in your vision is also crucial. Whatever you’re hoping to accomplish, whether it’s something big or small, the first step you can take is to put your goal out into the universe. In a way, it’s like you’re taking control of your own destiny. If you say it with conviction, and subsequently put in the time and effort to make it happen, there’s no reason your aspiration can’t become a reality. The only limits in life are the limits we create for ourselves. If one way isn’t working out, then it’s time to recalibrate and try another method. I say all this both as a reminder to myself as well as to anyone else out there who may be feeling discouraged that they aren’t where they’d hoped to be quite yet. Just remember, it’s never too late.

Now, I’ll throw some of my goals out into the universe, and I encourage you to do the same. With the right amount of hard work, I will see to it that my dreams do indeed become a reality. Here we go: Before this year is over, I’ll take another big step forward in my writing career by getting a new job and continuing to work on my craft and develop the skills I need while gaining new experiences. By next year, I’ll buy myself a car and figure out a plan for moving to LA by getting into a writing fellowship. I’ll prove that I have what it takes to make it in the business and never stop developing my voice as a writer. I’ll do it. Just you wait and see, universe!