“FIRST SET GOALS”

What is a life without goals? We all know people, including ourselves (at times) that wander aimlessly through life without goals. Of course during times of transition or loss it is normal to loose direction and feel paralyzed, the process feels empty but it does serve a purpose. Before we can fill a bucket with fresh water we have to empty it. When we do finally feel ready for new direction, it is still easy to lose direction and slip back into old modes of thinking and doing if we do not set goals.

A few highly motivated individuals find setting goals an unconscious process that comes easily. But the majority of people find they have to work at it, in fact many individuals have no idea how to put their lives in motion with the use of goals.

Before you begin to set goals, allow yourself some time to dream. What is it you have always wanted to do? What are you wanting to achieve through work or personal life and what are you willing to sacrifice? Where do you see yourself in five, ten or thirty years? This may sound over simplified but it is a valuable tool in helping you understand the stuff of your dreams which without we are destined to only skim the surface of life rather than living it to it’s fullest.

Identify your purpose: this will unify, solidify and help you gain focus. Authors of “DARE TO WIN”, Hanson & Canfield state “A purpose is the underlying direction that gives meaning to our goals like leaves attached to a growing tree for the purpose of keeping that tree alive and healthy.”

Learn to believe in yourself and your dream. Never doubt it and never look back. You may encounter roadblocks or feelings of rejection and failure, use these as learning tools to reset your course. Don’t give up just give it your best effort and stay focused on the outcome.

WIRTE YOUR GOALS DOWN. You need short, medium and long range goals. Short-term goals are the everyday day to day stuff that adds up to a bigger picture. Let’s say you are going to use foods and supplements to lower your cholesterol yet you start each day with eggs and biscuits. This is not working a short-range goal. Your medium range goal might be to have your cholesterol checked monthly to make sure that the foods and supplements you have chosen are working to bring the numbers down. The long range goal would not only include the lowered cholesterol but the real benefits of having improved health- more energy, vitality, less worry about a heart attack or other related health problems.

When the time comes that you loose your direction, and we all do, looking at your written goals will help you stay focused on the outcome. They can reaffirm belief in yourself and your ability to live your dreams.

Some other tips-

1. Dream big, but be realistic.

2. Getting there should be a big part of the fun. If it isn’t fun, maybe you need to

reassess your goals.

3. Don’t take yourself or your failures too seriously.

4. Have a belief in a higher power and don’t be afraid to ask.

5. Be willing to take risks. You may fear you won’t achieve your

goals and feel like a loser. Join the club. It’s a known fact that those that fail the most

end up succeeding the most.

You’ll never know how good your life could be unless you try. Till next time, Rebecca.