Journalled on Thursday, 3 August 2023 | Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro: 28 degrees, hot and sunny with a cloudless sky.

It has been a productive week so far. I have a clear understanding of what I need to do professionally in the future, what actions I need to take, and what I desire.

We need to set goals, not just dreams. Goals have specific dates, deadlines, or a reasonable idea of when something should be accomplished. On the other hand, a dream can linger without any specific timeline.

It is essential to know how to turn a dream into a goal. This starts with setting deadlines and taking action. Two fundamental characteristics are deadlines and actions.

Discipline and courage are crucial for success. Without courage, it is difficult to achieve anything. Consistency is also essential.

We must be consistent in what we do, even when the desired results do not come immediately or in the way we expect. Perseverance is key! Consistently believing in ourselves, even when faced with challenges, allows us to reach our goals eventually.

Lastly, belief is key. We must believe in what we do and build, even when things do not go as planned. We need the faith to continue and see things through to the end, doing what is necessary.

So, to turn our goals into reality, we need to take action, set deadlines, exercise discipline, muster courage, maintain consistency, persevere, and believe. Each one of us is stronger or weaker in each of these attributes, but we should have a bit of each to realise our goals.

What fuels our goals?

Our desires. Whether material or spiritual, our desires act as the driving force for change in our lives. Most of us were not born with the Midas touch, so it is important to have strong desires, something we genuinely want in our lives that is significant enough to motivate us to leave our current situation and risk everything for something better.

This is something I have been wrestling with for the past couple of months: What do I really want? What is so important to me that I want to change everything, whether it’s a thing or a new lifestyle? It’s important to be clear and certain about what we want so we don’t change our minds every week or month.

It must be so important to us that we will not be happy until we have reached it, and that no distraction will take us away from this path, no matter what. We must not change our minds or allow distractions to hinder our goal of reaching our goals.

Today, I talked to Tadeu, who offered to pay for my flight ticket to England using his credit card. Essentially, we will arrange an exchange, or “permuta” in Portuguese.

I will continue to give him and his grandson private classes, and the amount he pays me each month can be deducted from the credit card bill for the plane ticket. The total value can be settled in two or three months, which is manageable for me. This arrangement is also convenient for Tadeu in some ways.

There is always a way to resolve things; it is just a matter of wanting to find a solution. This arrangement will benefit both of us. Additionally, Tadeu will receive miles on his credit card, which will be useful in the future.

I will not increase his monthly fee as a gesture of appreciation for his help. It is important to remember that everything is a two-way street; it is never one-way. When it is one-way, we experience problems.

I am juggling multiple tasks and responsibilities and feeling happy and motivated. I am seeing the world through rose-coloured glasses and thoroughly enjoying it.