Why You Should Follow Your Curiosity

By Lewis Howes

When considering a career and a lifestyle, people often offer the advice to follow your passion. It seems like solid advice, but what happens if you don’t know what your passion is? People ask me all the time how to find their passion, which is always a hard question for me to answer.

Until my conversation with Elizabeth Gilbert.

You might know her as the author of the New York Times best-selling book turned movie, Eat, Pray, Love. What you might not know is that her perspective on following your passion is much different than you may have ever heard.

Since she was 6 years old, Liz knew that she wanted to be a writer. She focused on who she wanted to be and never expected her book to take off the way it did. Her focus was never on how the audience would respond, but always being the best version of herself as a writer. With her success with Eat, Pray, Love, so many doors opened up for her and eventually led to her being invited by Oprah to be a speaker on her SuperSoul Sessions tour. It was during one of her talks that an audience member changed her perspective on passion.

As many creative individuals do, Liz also offered the advice of following your passion. She always said that you know what you’re passionate about when you would do anything to do that one thing. However, this audience member asked whether not knowing what one’s passion was made that person a failure.

It dawned on Liz at that moment that not everyone could say that they have always known what they wanted to do. So how do they find what their passion is? They follow their curiosity.

To Liz, there are two categories of people when it comes to this subject: jackhammers and hummingbirds. The jackhammers, which she identifies herself as, are the ones that have always known what they wanted to do; they’re loud and impulsive and determined. Then there are the hummingbirds. The hummingbirds exist to cross-pollinate, taking ideas from multiple places, and are responsible for keeping the culture open to new ideas.

A lot of times, society doesn’t give enough credit to the hummingbirds. These individuals often explore many different areas, whether it’s through careers or hobbies, in order to find what their passion is. Finding your passion isn’t about looking for a big sign to point you to it but being open to the invitation of creativity. As Liz points out, if you are truly following your curiosity, your eyes have to be on the ground looking for the next clue on your scavenger hunt.

I consider myself a humming-hammer. In my business, I am constantly testing new things, but when I do, I go all in. It aligns with how I always describe living my life like a sports season.

There are many things that I have been able to bring to my business as an athlete, and the mentality of living in seasons is a powerful one. There is the pre-season, the regular season, playoff season and post-season. The pre-season is when I research new ideas and see what is working in other businesses, which then of course flows into the regular season, when I am testing to see how everything is working. If everything is working according to plan, we make it to the playoffs, where the focus is on the championship (or in this case, creating the best product possible). During my post-season, I evaluate the season and from there determine whether I want to continue on the path I’m on or change the path.

It’s not always easy to cross into the unknown and try something new, but that’s what I love about Liz describing this as curiosity. Oftentimes, whether in business or in life, fear holds us back from discovering what our purpose is. It can be disguised in anxiety, apathy or acidity, but if we give ourselves permission to explore our curiosity, it can lead us to finding our passions.

The Blue Collar Attorney

By Bob Cox

Whenever I think of a typical attorney, I have a mixed bag of positive and negative expectations. The positive images that come to mind are a person who’s extremely well dressed, intelligent and articulate. On the negative side of the ledger is an individual that may be a bit frosty, aloof and unapproachable. Once inside their office, I would expect to see a plethora of framed plaques, certificates and awards filling the walls that surround an immaculately decorated and expansive office space, filled with high end furniture that costs more than the average family sedan.

When I first met an attorney named Steven H. Berniker three years ago at a veteran’s PTSD fundraising event, I liked him instantly. Not only did I find his sharp wit and self deprecating sense of humor delightful, I was amazed by his friendliness, warmth and down-to-earth spirit.

Steven’s office is a reflection of his no frills approach to practicing law. While he could certainly afford to impress his prospective clients with a lavishly decorated office, Steven resists the urge to splurge because his primary goal is to offer the very best service at the lowest possible prices and keeping expenses down is a crucial part of his strategy.

I spoke with Steven the other day to learn more about his approach to practicing law.

Q: Please tell us a little about the Law Office of Steven H. Berniker.

A: We were established in 2009 and are dedicated to providing quality legal services at a fair price. Our firm focuses on family law, social security, disability and veteran’s benefits.

Q: What is your educational background?

I graduated from U.C. Berkeley in 1986 and graduated from Hastings School of Law in 1990 and have been an attorney in good standing since 1990.

Q: What inspired you to open your own practice?

A: In 2007, the law firm I was working for was planning to open a satellite office in Sacramento and at that time, the economy tanked. They changed their mind and I was here. So, I decided the best thing to do would be to use my experience and go out on my own.

Q: Was it scary for you to venture out on your own?

A: Well, yes. I started out in a 250 square foot office, no clients and all I had in my room was a computer and a phone.

Q: How did you manage to navigate through those humble beginnings?

A: By offering very competitive prices for quality representation. I really undercut my competition and I still am. I’m significantly less if you look around. But I don’t know how to say that without sounding cheap (laughs).

Q: Aside from offering low attorney fees, what else do you do to offer superior value?

A: We also offer unbundled services. Usually, when you hire an attorney, let’s say for divorce, you would hire me and anything that happens in your divorce is my responsibility. Unbundling allows my clients with limited budgets to select a portion of the services I provide, such as handling the custody part of your case in the event of a divorce.

Q: Is there anything else you do that makes your law firm stand out?

A: I’m really good at handling custody cases. I’m also very knowledgeable in dependency cases. Dependency is part of the juvenile court; when kids are taken away from their parents. In those cases, custody is fought out and it is often bloody, especially when relatives come in. My experience really does roll over well into plain family law.

Q: What elements of family law do you focus on?

A: Family law is a broad topic. It includes division of property, spousal support, child support, domestic violence and establishing restraining orders or opposing them. So when we say I do family law, we do all of that.

Q: You also focus on social security and veterans benefits, is that correct?

A: Yes, I worked for a very large worker’s compensation firm in Santa Rosa and when they had injured workers that were never going to return to work, they would have me deal with the social security part of the case. I have done hundreds of social security hearings and I’m very familiar with how to win your case. At that time, I also handled a number of V.A. cases as well. A lot of veterans apply who work can get social security and V.A. benefits. So, we assist veterans who have served our country and suffered injuries during their service. If we can prove all that, then you can get a stipend every month on top of what you’re getting.

Q: Do you have a specific approach to dealing with challenges and staying positive?

A: My approach is very blue collar. If you come to my office, it’s not fancy, as you know. That allows me to keep the prices down and my approach is very goal oriented. What I’ve learned about law is that fairness is a concept that people have but what you consider fair, the law may not, so we need to be goal oriented and how we get to what you want.

Q: I’ve always enjoyed our meetings because you have a terrific sense of humor. Does that help you in your practice?

A: Yes, because I’m dealing with good people during difficult times. I don’t know how to say it in a nice way, that’s what you’re here for (laughs)! A good sense of humor helps deal with the stress and nastiness that is going to come up. It’s important to realize that yes, this is a stressful time, but this is going to pass and life is going to go on.

Editor’s notes: For more information about the Law Office of Steven H. Berniker, visit their website at www.familylawfirmsac.com, call (916) 480-9200 or stop by their office at 2424 Arden Way, Suite 360 in Sacramento, CA.

The Sweet Taste of Coming Home to Menchie’s

By Bob Cox

When Spring Mason, the co-owner of Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt in Rancho Cordova said that choosing to invest in this franchise was like coming home, I knew exactly what she was talking about. Early on in my sales career, I was searching to work with a company that valued principals over profits while providing a healthy environment of integrity, respect and support. When I found the company that offered that and much more, it felt like coming home to work for the first time in my young life.

Just one year ago, Spring and her husband Terry embarked on an extensive search to find the best franchise for their family, a franchise that was much more than just financially successful and growing. Like me, they were also looking for a business that had a positive, friendly and family oriented culture. Out of all the franchise around, Menchie’s stood head and shoulders above the rest.

After accepting an invitation to the Menchie’s headquarters in Encino, CA Terry and Spring were pleasantly surprised by the company’s representative’s intense focus on their core values of treating people right. “We actually found Menchie’s through an internet search. I was worried that our meeting was going to be about numbers, graphs, charts and profitability. Instead, it was all about the culture of the franchise, the family, the community, giving back and how to treat your team”, Spring said.

Once they were excited about the Menchie’s business philosophy, the next step was the sweet task of sampling the tasty treats. “During the process, we visited a few of the local shops to try their products and we absolutely fell in love with it! We would go out on date nights every Saturday and sometimes two days a week to get our Menchie’s fix. So we definitely fell in love, first with the business and then with the product”, explained Spring.

Here’s how the rest of my conversation went with Spring.

Q: What makes Menchie’s frozen yogurt different from other yogurt shops?

A: Menchie’s has its own proprietary blend, while most of the other yogurt companies buy from just one company. Menchie’s actually has a dairy in southern California and a research and development team onsite at headquarters in Encino, CA. They’re Certified Kosher and organic, which means they don’t use any hormones or antibiotics on their cows. We also avoid using high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors and flavors.

Q: Is there anything else that makes your frozen yogurt taste so amazingly great?

A: Yes, they also pay for the licensing for several name brand ingredients. We serve an Oreo brand of cookies and cream, a York Peppermint Pattie flavor, Skippy for our chocolate peanut butter brownie, a Butterfinger flavor and Cinnabon flavor as well!

Q: What are your most popular flavors?

A: We always have 12 flavors and our standards are chocolate, vanilla, tart and Dole Pineapple. We also offer non-dairy options, which are our sorbet’s and also have no sugar added options and low-carb, no sugar added yogurt as well. We also make fresh waffle cones every day, which smell and taste amazing.

Q: You also offer frozen yogurt cakes, which I had never seen before. Can you tell us more about them?

A: Yes, we’re one of the few frozen yogurt companies that make cakes. We can special order cakes, so you can pick whatever flavors you want in your cake and add your favorite toppings We can create custom designs and even print designs like your photograph and place it on top of the cake as well, which is completely edible.

Q: Did Menchie’s come up with the idea of making frozen yogurt cakes?

A: Yes, they were the first to actually launch that product. Along with the amazing flavor, the other great thing about our frozen yogurt cakes is they are healthier than the ice cream cakes and have fewer calories per slice. They’re also working on frozen yogurt sandwiches made with cookies outside. We are currently serving Dole Whip Floats, like the ones found in Disneyland, and we will be launching Frozen Yogurt shakes in the near future.

Q: Can you tell us a little more about the culture here at Menchie’s?

A: We’ve both worked in the corporate world and know what it feels like to be a number in a business. I’ve always been drawn to jobs where I feel like I actually belong there and feel valued. They encourage all their franchisees to donate to the community while making everyone feel like a welcomed guest in our home.

Q: Do you have a large variety of toppings to choose from?

A: Yes, we have 32 dry toppings and 12 chill bar toppings, including fresh fruit for people that want a healthier option. We also have five sauce toppings and will be bringing out another topping which is a no sugar added, fat free chocolate. We use natural sweeteners like stevia, which tastes great.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?

A: Even though people see us as a franchise, we’re truly a family run business, which includes me, my husband Terry and our son, so it’s definitely a family environment. Actually, when we hired our team we told them we want them to feel like family, so if they ever have issues to come to us and we’ll do whatever we can to help.

Q: Do you have any advice on how to deal with challenges and stay positive?

A: Terry and I have actually been through a lot. We’ve been together over 20 years now and we both worked in the housing market when it crashed. We both lost our jobs at the same time with small children at home and had to basically rebuild from nothing. So, we could’ve either taken it as the worst thing in the world and just regress or we could be a team and work together and build off of it, so that’s what we did.

Editor’s notes: For more information about Menchie’s in Rancho Cordova, visit their store at 10933 Olson Dr. in the Target Shopping Center or call (916) 858-2606.

Allergies: They’re Nothing to Sneeze At

By Bob Cox

Allergies are affecting more and more Americans each year, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Approximately 30% of adults and 40% of children are plagued by various allergies and around 50 million people suffer from nasal allergies in the United States. The results from allergic reactions range from symptoms as benign as sneezing to as severe as death.

The definition of an allergy is when your immune system reacts to an external source called an allergen. Allergens can be ingested while eating, drinking, inhaling and even absorbed into your skin. Professional dog trainer Kevin Salem knows a thing or two about allergies as he has suffered from a growing number of them over the past several years.

When he learned that Dr. Roc Gantt, the founder of the Natural Health Clinic had a proven track record for helping people with environmental allergies, he scheduled time to give his treatments a try. After the first session, Kevin found immediate and lasting relief from his pollen allergy. He was so overjoyed and excited, he asked Dr. Roc if he had any treatments to help him with the growing number of food allergies that were completely disrupting his life and the answer was a resounding yes!

At that time, Kevin was receiving allergy shots from his doctor for an extensive number of foods, including all meats, rice, lettuce, tomatoes, corn, peaches, bananas, milk and even coffee. The allergy shots he had received from his doctor didn’t make much of a difference, so he eagerly agreed to give Dr. Roc’s treatment a try and the results have been amazing!

The symptoms Kevin suffered from his food allergies included acid reflux, abdominal bloating and cramps, skin breakouts, labored breathing, low energy, sneezing, coughing, wheezing and an increase in asthma attacks. All those annoying discomforts are completely gone. Kevin can now enjoy the foods he loves without all the pain and displeasure.

With a unique and comprehensive treatment plan, which includes acupuncture and a variety of other methods, Dr. Roc was able to give Kevin immediate relief from his allergies. If you or someone you know is suffering from either environmental or food allergies, call Dr. Roc Gantt of the Natural Health Clinic today at (916) 349-9223.

Discovering the Magic

By Bob Cox

While I like to think of myself as a genuinely optimistic person, I do have my moments where dark clouds of despair sweep over me like a London fog. Fortunately, I’m usually able to get back on a positive track quickly, thanks to the help of my wise and wonderful wife Diana. She’s not a pity party planner for people who wallow in misery, so I’m grateful for her direct, no nonsense approach to proactive problem solving.

Recently; however, I experienced a setback that really rocked my world and sent me down the rabbit hole of negative thinking. I caught a nasty flu that had been going around and it literally knocked me off my feet. For over three weeks, I experienced coughing so relentless and extreme, it threw my back out. Every time I coughed, which was around 10 times a minute, the pain in my back flared up and was so extreme, I thought I would pass out. If that wasn’t depressing enough, Diana, who’s been dealing with a variety of serious health issues, also got violently ill.

Every day felt like we were being held hostage in our reclining chairs, coughing and sleeping. Because we both are business owners; each day of work missed meant one more day of lost income. I was feeling more and more hopeless as each day drug on while the financial pressure rapidly intensified.

During a brief moment of clarity, Diana suggested that I go and see the doctor. I felt like saying I’m too sick and depressed to go, but I realized she was right and after my visit, I received three prescriptions that I was confident would help me recover.

I also decided to take another prescription, not from my doctor but from motivational speaker Brian Tracy and get back to reading something positive every morning, no matter how bad I felt. I had recently purchased a book that I thought Diana and I would both enjoy titled The Magic and after each daily session, I began to feel better, stronger and healthier.

The book was written a few years ago by Rhonda Byrne and it’s much more than a book you simply read. After each short chapter, the author encourages her readers to perform a variety of tasks that focus on the miraculous power of gratitude. Of all the exercises she recommends, the one that really helped me regain my sanity and positive outlook was the daily task of journaling ten things I was grateful for and why.

As I wrote down each thing I was grateful for and why, two amazing things happened simultaneously. I was getting a break from all the negative thoughts and then replacing them with genuinely positive memories. Each day I’ve taken the time to write down ten things I’m grateful for has become a little more challenging because I have to dig a little deeper in my memory bank to find those positive experiences.

The challenge of coming up with ten more things each day to be grateful for has been very good medicine for me. The positive improvements I’ve had in my overall outlook on life have been powerful and profound. I feel much lighter and happier overall at home and at work. I’m also able to think more clearly and my listening skills are much sharper. Thanks to the magic of consistently journaling, feeling and expressing gratitude, I’m more enthusiastic about the future than ever and that is something to be truly grateful for!  

7 Ways to Persist When Everything In You Wants to Give Up

Sonia Thompson

Have you ever felt like your lungs were going to explode?

That’s what it felt like during my hike up Machu Picchu.

The ancient city sits more than 2,400 meters above sea level and my group eagerly started climbing just after 5 a.m. I ended up alone, behind the group, with more than 1,100 meters left to go.

I never imagined the journey would be so difficult (evidenced by the shoes I chose to wear). I worked out regularly, but that didn’t prepare me for the altitude. I couldn’t seem to get enough air.

I wanted to give up. My body was begging me to stop. My weary mind wanted to follow suit.

But I persisted. And I made it to the top—lungs and heart intact.

Here are the seven things that helped me keep going that day, when everything in me wanted to quit. If you find yourself in a situation where you want to give up, these lessons can help you, too.

1. Ignore everyone else.

In the beginning of the climb, I only saw the people passing me. Every time I saw someone hiking with ease, I felt bad about myself. But when I stopped worrying and stopped comparing everyone else’s journey to my own, I began to focus on my own mission and how I was going to achieve it.

As you work toward your dream, it can be easy to get distracted when you see others achieving their goals easier, faster and better than you. It can make you feel inadequate and unsatisfied with your own progress. But when it comes to conquering a goal, what’s happening with others is irrelevant when it detracts from your ability to move forward.

When tackling a difficult task, you need every ounce of energy you can muster. Make sure to channel it to a place that will propel you forward.

2. Become your own biggest supporter.

When I started the hike, I wasn’t alone. But within 10 minutes, I was behind and alone. At first I was frustrated my companions abandoned me in my time of need. But then I realized my burden wasn’t theirs to bear.

Although it can be energizing to have others around to motivate and support you, having them there is a luxury, not a requirement. That lesson allowed me to turn inward and find in myself the strength and determination to keep going. I began to encourage and high-five myself with every step.

Sometimes on the road to success, you have to walk alone. If you find yourself in that position, find a way to give yourself what you need to continue.

3. Stop and appreciate the little things.

I began the hike before the sun was up. As I continued to climb, it started to peek around the mountain, giving glimpses of the beauty all around me. It was magical. During the catch-my-breath breaks, I marveled at the privilege of seeing nature in all her beauty. In those moments, I gave no thought to my struggle. I was too busy being grateful for being right there.

It can be easy to focus all your energy on reaching your ultimate goal. But if the only thing you can see is your end destination, you’ll miss the beauty of the journey along the way. The new experiences and welcome surprises provide much-needed fuel to keep going.

4. Focus on the next step.

It discouraged me to think how far away I was from the top. So I reframed my goal into mini-milestones that made the next steps more manageable. Just take one more step, I thought. OK, now just get over to those stones. Alright, once you get to that bench you can stop and rest for a few minutes.

When your goal seems too big, it can feel impossible, which opens the door for resistance to creep in. By breaking your target into bite-sized pieces, you can keep yourself in motion and build momentum.

5. Throw your watch out the window.

Before the trek, I read that most people make it to the top of Machu Picchu in about 45 to 60 minutes. It took me longer. When I focused on the time it was supposed to take, I was frustrated at myself for not being good enough or fast enough. But nobody cared how long it took me to get to the top and I shouldn’t have, either. All that mattered was completing my journey.

As you work on reaching your goals, stop looking at the clock. Stop measuring yourself against someone or something else. It will only serve to distract you from focusing on what you need to do right now to advance. 

6. Stop looking for a way out.

Not everyone who goes to Machu Picchu hikes. You can take a bus straight to the top and save yourself the emotional and physical strain. Early on in my climb, I thought about retreating or waving down one of the buses on their way up.

When your pain is at the forefront, it is natural to want to make it go away. But when you invest time looking for a way to abort your journey, you waste precious energy that could be used to help you overcome momentary pain and discomfort for long-term growth.

7. Acknowledge your limitations.

I had to be honest with myself. I was having trouble getting air and I couldn't keep the pace of the group. Pushing my body to the limit by trying to keep a faster pace wasn’t going to go well for me. My path needed to be different, and that’s OK. After implementing my new strategy, the journey was less grueling.

Your road to success might not look like everyone else’s. That’s OK. Everyone’s situation is different. Instead acknowledge where you are, so you can give yourself what you need to be successful.

As you work to achieve your goals, there will be obstacles, bumps and bruises along the way. When the journey becomes more uncomfortable than what you are used to, it can be easy to throw in the towel and retreat.

But if you follow these lessons, you can find the strength to keep going in the midst of difficulty. And when you persist, you’ll discover the reward was worth the effort.

Don’t give up.

4 Ways to Actively Reprogram Your Thoughts

By Michael Pietrzak

“He can’t help it; he’s set in his ways.” The folk wisdom that adults can’t change is being challenged by new research. Our personality is not cast in stone in childhood; the brain is highly reprogrammable at any age.

Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to form new neural pathways, interconnections between parts of our nervous system. This happens after injury but also in response to our environment, thoughts and emotions.

As with building muscle, the more we “work out” certain neural pathways, the stronger they become. Robust pathways become our favored psychological “highways.” We can generate more happiness, calm and kindness in our life simply by practicing these emotions.

Throughout our lives, we have unwittingly used this technique to program negative emotions, but we can do the same for patience, love, passion and joy.

How many of you know something intellectually but fail to apply that wisdom? You know jealousy will push your partner away, but you get angry when they talk to the opposite sex for too long, anyway.

“When judgment or negativity comes up, it means your internal dialogue is off,” says Thais Gibson, a personal development expert.

Thankfully there is a simple fix. “Your subconscious mind works more through feeling than language,” Gibson says. By leveraging strong emotion, we create a direct line to the operating instructions of your subconscious.

Think about a time you were incredibly angry or hurt and changed a belief that you now hold? In my case, when I lost a business deal, I used my anger to replace an attachment to one specific version of success.

Here are four methods you can use to train yourself to think and feel anything:

1. Tony Robbins’ Priming Method

Tony Robbins says emotion is created by motion. A change in your physical “state” will change how you feel. Last month I attended his Unleash the Power Within seminar and learned about priming, which harnesses this principle.

Here’s how it works:

1. Sit down with your eyes closed and raise your hands above your head.
2. Breathe heavily in and out through your nose for three sets of 30 breaths.
3. On each out breath, pull your arms downward, making fists.
4. After three sets, feel gratitude and self-love.

In the resulting state, you can easily plant healthy new thoughts and beliefs in your mind.

2. The Demartini Method

Human behavior specialist Dr. John Demartini also uses neuroplasticity to reprogram the brain. He asks his clients a series of questions to help them neutralize negative emotional charges and replace them with emotional equilibrium.

His method alters several structures of the brain, including the hypothalamus and amygdala, which are responsible for expressions of fear, guilt and aggression.

How does it work? When facing a challenging situation, Gibson says, “Question the situation itself and ask what good comes from it.” Look for the benefits, because there’s always at least one.

Maybe your enormous strength, which you value so greatly, comes from a parent abandoning you as a child or a physical illness? Seeing the good can help you drop unhelpful beliefs quickly.

3. Affirmations

“Whatever we plant in our subconscious mind and nourish with repetition and

emotion will one day become a reality.” ―Earl Nightingale

Over time we can become set in our ways. Repetitive thinking leads to stronger connections between neurons, and the brain defaults to these deeper pathways. We get stuck in a rut. But there is hope. It’s possible to be the architect of our own Scrooge-like metamorphosis using affirmations: phrases repeated often and daily.

Our subconscious is the factory that generates many of our thoughts—positive and negative—and can be reprogrammed not only with strong emotion but also through repetition. Affirmations lodge new operating instructions into your subconscious the same way that listening to a song on repeat will leave it stuck in your head for days.

Tony Robbins bridges the gap between repetition and emotion. His “incantations” are affirmations done with explosive emotion and conviction.

If your affirmation is “I am a persuasive speaker,” then your incantation would be the same words, shouted while beating your chest and jumping around. The idea here, upheld by the science of neuroplasticity, is that our brains are more susceptible to reprogramming under conditions of heightened emotion.

4. Visualization

“What you imagine, you create.” ―Buddha

Visualization works like affirmations to rewire our neurons and attract the thoughts and feelings we want.

Vividly imagining yourself doing or having whatever you want works well for quickly getting your dream job, house or relationship, but it can also work for attracting healthy emotions. If you consistently visualize yourself reacting to challenges with calm and compassion, you will manifest this behavior.

Take time every day to visualize yourself having the emotional resilience or the positive beliefs that you want. With even five minutes of daily practice, you will start to see powerful change.

After 15 years, I still meditate at least 10 minutes each day. But after 15 years, I still struggle with insecurity, fear and anger. I had little choice but to seek out a way to actively install new patterns.

Meditation pulls me out of the stream, but with the new tools, I’m building a boat to better navigate the flow without getting soaked. You can do the same, but be patient—you’ve taken a lifetime to wear in your neural grooves. Consistent and skilful practice is the way.

Have patience; you’ve got this.