Lifetime Goals… Lifetime goals: Start with an overall vision of your life and decide on the long-term goals you want to achieve. The next step is to break these down into the smaller goals that will lead you to realizing your lifetime goals. Woman drinking tea To make this clearer, let’s take the example of Barbara, whose lifetime goal is to be a famous novelist. In order to turn her dream into reality, she must draw up a plan of action comprised of smaller goals, such as: Reading the kind of books she wants to write Writing a page a day Keeping a journal (my personal favorite) Joining a creative writing workshop where she can get feedback on her work Doing a course in fiction writing at an acclaimed university Completing her manuscript Looking for agents and publishers Chances are good that you’ll have more than one lifetime goal. Apart from her artistic goal, Barbara can look at the other areas of her life (career, financial, education, spiritual, family, and relationships) and create a lifetime goal for each Ensure Your Goals Reflect Your Own Desires… If you want your goals to be achievable, let them be your own idea. Chase the dreams of your heart, rather than the aspirations others have for your life. For example, if you want to lose weight just because your partner wants you to (and you’re happy with your body), your lack of motivation will snuff out the success you seek. “One’s philosophy is not the best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes. In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And, the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.” – Eleanor Roosevelt Keep it Realistic… Determine if you have the ability, or can gain the necessary skills, to achieve your goals. Take into account any limitations you may have to work with that could make the journey longer or force you to make adjustments along the way. For instance, Ralph has a chronic respiratory challenge that requires hospital care from time to time. Since he doesn’t have access to a hospital out at sea, this will likely prevent him from being the first man to sail around the world. “Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them.” – W. Clement Stone Set a Deadline for Your Goals… If you’ve given yourself 10 years to achieve some large goals, divide that time frame into increments to achieve smaller goals that will lead up to your large goal. The next step is to set a one-year plan, a six-month plan, and a one-month plan. Decide what you’ll achieve in these time frames. For example, Barbara can set the tasks it takes to complete her manuscript within reasonable time frames for her. Perhaps she would give herself a month to plan out her novel and then a month to write each chapter. When her initial writing is finished, she might give herself 3 months to revise it (including the time she must let the work alone so she can return to it with fresh eyes), and another six months to find a publisher. Tailor your tasks for your goals and your time frames around what works for you! This sets you up with a reasonable expectation of the time it will take you to achieve each goal. Adjust your timeline as necessary to move past challenges along the way as you pursue your goal, but always have the big picture, with your ultimate success, in mind. “Goals give you a compass in order to direct your path through life.Goals focus your thoughts and actions on areas that have precise purpose and meaning.” – Catherine Pulsifer
Posted on: Wed, 17 Jul 2013 19:35:54 +0000
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