It’s one thing to know you ought to do something, or even to feel unhappy with the way things are and wish things were different. But it’s another thing to actually do something about it.

You have to be sufficiently motivated to change before anything of lasting importance is going to happen.

Sometimes this motivation takes the form of getting fed up. Maybe you’re tired of fights about money or bill collectors calling. Or it may take the form of fear. Maybe you’re terrified that you’ll lose your house if you don’t get things under control soon.

Things don’t always have to be that extreme — you could just wake up one day bound and determined to make a change.

Once you get to that stage, you’ll probably find yourself noticing all sorts of things that can help you. Then you’ll be able to do what it takes to get to where you want to be.