“The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… These are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.”

-Confucius

Extraordinarily motivated people are driven to go above and beyond; they are trusted by others, focused, and confident in their own abilities. Seeking and achieving your dreams means you are really living your life.

So here are 12 habits of People who achieve excellence and their dreams:

They’re Internally Motivated

It is their intrinsic desire to be their best selves and succeed that drives their motivation. They are internally driven—not pushed—toward new adventures, the unfolding journey, and the possible outcomes—they relish challenging themselves, learning, and exploring.

They Don’t Waste Time Judging

They objectively observe the successes and mistakes of others and learn from them instead of judging or comparing themselves. They don’t waste their time with judgmental, gossipy people either.

They Are Humble

They are willing to admit they made a mistake and apologize. They encourage feedback from others and use it to take steps in the right direction.

They Look at the Upside

Instead of focusing on what’s not working and bad experiences—which so many of us tend to do—they instead focus on what is working and their successes. If they find themselves overthinking a miscalculation, they automatically flip a switch and think about those things they did do right.

They Are Authentic

They are true to themselves despite what others think—they don’t live their lives solely to please others.

They Push Beyond Their Comfort Zone

Extraordinarily motivated people face discomfort head on—they never choose the easy route—to get what they want. They push themselves out of their comfort zone and get rid of those annoying internal voices that say, “You are limited in what you can do.” They trust their abilities and know they will come out on top.

They Continue to Learn

They read a lot and are brilliant observers—they are always watching and searching for new, more efficient, and faster ways to achieve. They understand that in order to grow as a person, they must always continue to learn.

They Know What They Want

They have a clear vision of what they want their lives to look like and who they want to be. Their clarity comes with the wisdom to know what things to harness and what things to avoid. Their mottos are, “Never say never” and “Anything is possible.”

They Don’t Give Up

When they stumble over that proverbial bump in the road, they problem solve, come up with a plan, take action, and get past it. They understand that a sure way to lose a battle is to quit—which is not a part of their vocabulary or an option.

They Don’t Blame Others

They never blame others for their failures. They understand that ultimately they alone are in charge of their actions and choices and no other.

They Take Time for Themselves

They know that in order to stay motivated and on top of their game, they have to carve out time for themselves. Rewards of time away from it all and taking care of themselves are more important to them than material possessions.

They Surround Themselves With Motivators

Their friends are those who are trustworthy, positive, and supportive and who bring out the best in them unconditionally. Their friends help them take on the world side by side and, when needed, help them get back on their feet again.