Living a successful life is what nearly everyone wants to accomplish. While many people desire this, only a select few would actually call themselves successful. What separates those that live a fulfilling life from those that struggle? There are five main ingredients that need to be mastered. With the help of these guidelines, you'll be able to turn the tides in your own life.

The first aspect of success is goal setting. While this may seem obvious, it is absolutely critical. You might say that every self-help seminar and book in the western hemisphere talks about this. This may be entirely true, but if you haven't applied it yet, you're probably stuck in the same boat you were in before you heard it. Confucius said, "Man shoot at nothing, sure to hit it." Imagine watching a football game without end zones. What would be the point? Yes, there would be a lot of action and a few good plays, but it would be completely pointless. If you're going through life without working towards something, you're doing the exact same thing.

The next pillar of success is that of habits. You can have successful or unsuccessful habits. Habits control what you do every day. If you don't believe me, think about what you did this morning. Did you have to consciously think about putting clothes on? Did you put your pants on your head? Of course not! This is because you've developed habits that take care of the mundane tasks of life. A wise man once said that successful people develop habits of doing the things that unsuccessful people don't want to do. Why is this? This way they don't have to think about them anymore.

Another critical factor of success is positive thinking. This is the most important part of the process because you literally become what you think about. Every philosophical and spiritual book has had this philosophy in it, and for good reason. You can't do something without first seeing it in your mind. If you wish you had more money and then sit and think about how much money you don't have, you're probably still broke. You have to focus on what you want instead of lack. The subconscious mind moves into form whatever picture it has to work with. If you give it a picture of what you don't want, you will inevitably get the same thing again. Always look for the "silver lining" in every situation and you will definitely live a happier life.

Productivity is the fourth aspect of success. Sir Walter Raleigh was once asked the secret of his success. He replied, "When there is anything to do...I start it." This is a simple enough concept, but if you put it to work in your life, your life would never be the same again. Be productive every day and do all that you can do. You'll be surprised at the vast benefits you will receive.

Living a healthy life is the last part of the puzzle. Without health, nothing else really matters. If you get the mansion, the six cars, and the luxury, you can't enjoy it if you're on a hospital bed. Take care of yourself and enjoy what you've accomplished.