We talked over the last month about being more fearlessly creative in the new year and started visualizing the artistic life we want to create for ourselves. Did you begin 2016 with high hopes and dreams but are already starting to find yourself at a loss for what to do next? Don’t worry; almost everyone experiences this feeling when they can’t see the whole picture at once. So, as Jack Black would say,

You can move forward using these four steps:

1. Set big goals and define them based on why you want to achieve them.

Get out of your comfort zone and imagine the possibilities for creating the life you want. The best first step you can take toward achieving something is to understand why you want it. Creating a vision board is a great way to connect with your reasons for pursuing specific goals.

Envisioning how success will look and feel keeps you motivated when the going gets tough.

2. Learn from others and seek out mentors.

Read and learn everything you can about what you’re trying to accomplish, including how other people have approached goals similar to yours. What skills did they hone? How did they train? What did they do to take care of themselves physically and emotionally? How did they spend their time? Also, seek out mentors who are already successful doing what you want to do and learn directly from them. They could be a teacher or vocal coach in your town and/or someone who gives you great advice, coaching or feedback online.

Not everything you read or hear will work for you. Be sure to take all that great input and tailor it to your own situation and personality.

3. Make a goal pyramid.

Draw an actual pyramid (or download the free Goal Pyramid template I created for you), listing your main goal at the top: Learn to tap, Prepare a killer musical theatre audition, Add five great songs to my audition book, whatever. Underneath, break it down into specific monthly, weekly and daily goals, filling in the details with what you’ve learned from others’ experiences and from your mentors.

Mapping out the steps takes a goal that might seem out of reach and makes it manageable. You’ve never had time to take a tap class? Take the first step and eliminate one thing in your schedule that’s less important to clear the way for you to attend at least one tap class a week.

This goal pyramid will help you celebrate small achievements along the way. Did you take an online voice lesson? Download a new audition song? Awesome! Jillian Michaels, the personal trainer best known for helping people achieve their fitness goals on NBC’s The Biggest Loser, says, “Successes help you feel capable. They motivate you and help redefine how you see yourself. Over time, you’ll build up the self-worth that makes striving for and reaching goals simpler.”

4. Face the unknown, and take ownership of creating your best life.

You have more control over your life than it may seem. Setbacks will occur but it’s how you respond to disappointments that matters most. You can give up, or you can turn those experiences into resilience that inspires you to continue pursuing your goal.

Confront what you’re afraid of as you pursue your goal by answering these questions:

• What if I try and it works? Your answer to this question is your “why” and can be your strongest motivation to move forward.
• What if I try and fail? Mistakes are inevitable, so try to think of them as helpful feedback. Instead of saying, “I’m a failure,” ask yourself, “What can I do better next time? How can I learn from this experience?”
• What if I do nothing? We sometimes think that doing nothing is like hitting the pause button, and it won’t really affect our goals. But doing nothing actually sets us back because it creates negativity that makes it harder to for us to move forward.

Actress and comedian Amy Poehler says, “Great people do things before they’re ready. They do things before they know they can do it. Doing what you’re afraid of, getting out of your comfort zone, taking risks like that — that is what life is.”

So now you’ve got a step-by-step plan to help you get started on making your goals a reality. Which one will you tackle first? Share your thoughts in the comments below or share an image of your goal pyramid on the AuditionCutPro Facebook page!

Imagine what a game changer it would be if you could boost your confidence level and performance ability at auditions simply by visualizing yourself succeeding. Some might call this daydreaming, but brain researchers have learned that “visioning”—actively imagining something you really desire—is a little bit like yoga for your brain cells. Visioning is a chance for your mind to focus on the experiences you would like to have, creating the mental space and emotional energy to make those experiences reality.

If you’re like me, in January you think to yourself, “This will be the year that I learn how to manage the worries and doubts that come with living a creative life,” but the following December, you’re surprised at what a challenge it has been to thrive as an artist during the past year.

What if we began 2016 with 10 strategies to embrace the challenges of living an artistic life and re-harness our creative spirit?