When pursuing a new career path, the excitement of the outcome can sometimes cloud your judgment when setting goals and expectations for accomplishing those goals; sometimes, the reality catches up to you without warning. We've all experienced this as we pursue long-term and short-term goals or in our everyday life, but do not be discouraged;

Here are five ways to get back on track:

Quit being hard on yourself. Breathe; it's life! That's a part of the journey of growth and learning. Setbacks happen, and when they do, we sometimes question whether this is the path we desire. When faced with these moments, we must see it for what it is and quit being too hard on ourselves as we process and figure out what's next.

Set goals that are realistic to you. We often hear about setting realistic goals, and that's important. However, consider a few things. Are they practical for your lifestyle? How do they fit into your current responsibilities and daily schedule? Do you have the time to pursue these new items on your checklist, and if so, how will it change the way your day looks? Take some time to figure out if your goals make sense right now or whether you need to take a break and clear a path so you can be successful.

Be flexible. Flexibility is the ability to improvise when necessary. If you are a to-do list person, you can become frustrated when things are left undone at the end of the day. Being willing to leave some less-priority tasks unchecked allows you to focus on the essential tasks and complete the items of lesser importance later with less stress.

Require excellence. Pursue excellence instead of perfection. As you go after your goals, strive to set a standard for excellence. Excellence determines the way you approach your work and how you show up. It prepares you for rocky roads and allows you to navigate new obstacles differently.

Recommit and keep going. Pick yourself back up and keep going. Recommit to your goals and take it one day at a time. Life tends to be a little sweeter when you have a purpose and a destination.

Good luck on your journey; keep going.