How many times are you going to say I wish? I wish I could do what you do with your money. I wish I knew how to pay off my debt quicker. I wish I knew how vital investing in my future could be. So here is a good piece of advice: STOP WISHING and start making moves. Hoping for something doesn’t make it happen any sooner than it would if you completely forgot about it.

These days it’s all wishing and no planning. So many of us have become accustomed to settling for how things are because we don’t want to fear failure. We have put off our dreams, goals, and even our day-to-day duties because life is — well — a lot. I get it. I feel overwhelmed, too. But having debt can make that stress feel like a weight sitting on your chest. 

It’s even harder to face debt because today, it’s become natural to have something immediately when you want it instead of having to wait. If you don’t have it now, you don’t want to wait longer than necessary. Everything that comes along with money and success takes time! 

Here are some tips to help you avoid wishing for financial success and start acting on it.

1) Take risks 

My dad gave me some great advice the other day when I told him how I felt about my salary cap. He told me that he thought the same when in his 20s, and instead of staying in that role, he left. He took a job at the ground level in a new field, making less money, but he worked his butt off to change that. He changed fields because the income was better, the quality of life was better, and he needed to risk it.

So many of us become too comfortable with stability and our benefits that we forget how big of a risk it is to stay in a role with stagnant income. Of course, there is nothing out there saying you can’t stay at your current job and find another way — especially if the burden of looking for a new job feels too heavy. But, risks are sometimes worth the hardship.

2) Dive headfirst into your debt 

This should go without saying, but if you’re sick of your debt, it’s time to do something about it. First off, I need you to hear that you’re not alone. You deserve financial stability. You can make a change for the better. So now you try: say those same things aloud to yourself. 

Diving headfirst is one way to face the fear and anxiety that comes alongside this reality.

3) Put the numbers at the forefront 

If you don’t force yourself to physically see your goals and plans every day, who will do that for you? If you put something out of your mind for long enough, you can subconsciously forget about it. Financial denial is very real. But, eventually, avoiding those problems rears its head. When it gets to the point that forgetting about it is no longer possible, you have already forced yourself into an uncomfortable situation. Embrace those fears and show them who is in control.

Write it in your calendar, put a post-it on your mirror, and leave a note on your refrigerator. Whatever makes it easier for you to remember what you need to do and why you are doing it will become the only motivation you need.

4) Accept that it takes time

Unfortunately, no matter how hard you Google, it’s unlikely you’ll find a miracle solution to delete your debt or invest in an alt-coin that will send your money to the moon. Instead, patience can be one of the best realizations we have during debt repayment. 

You need a plan with a realistic timeline and the understanding that sometimes the best pay off-plan is to set up your automated payments, add extra cash to your bills as you can, and wait.

5) Make the time to do it 

How often have you used this generation’s catchphrase, “I don’t have time?” I say it myself nearly every day. But in reality, the time I have is there if I make time for this value. Someone once told me that humans are very good at lying to themselves. How true is that? We can convince ourselves of pretty much anything we want. Our minds are that powerful.

You can always make time to do something important to you. If you can’t, it’s about prioritizing. What do you need most to accomplish your goals and plans today? Decipher what is more valuable to be financially successful, and all will be good.