Ready Set Goal!

"We can do whatever we wish to do provided our wish is strong enough.... What do you want most to do? That's what I have to keep asking myself, in the face of difficulties." ~ Katherine Mansfield

What do you want to have in your life at this moment and for your future? What are your goals for family, career, health, financial, education, spiritual, hobbies, social, public service, self-development, intellectual, life-style, and recreation? Do you want to get out of debt, buy a house, travel, become more knowledgeable on a certain subject, learn how to paint, change careers? What are your goals? And what is it going to take for you to achieve those goals?

Goals are best completed with a life plan or as many people today call it, "A Bucket List." The term "Bucket List" was made popular by the 2007 movie The Bucket List staring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. In the movie, the two terminally ill men travelled around the world with a wish list of things to see and do before they died. Many people believe that creating a bucket list can channel your energy into accomplishing goals rather than wasting time on things that don't matter.

A person in business is always recommended to have a business plan. In sports, the team has a game plan. In finance, there are financial planners. And then, into our adult years we're encouraged to have a retirement plan. All of these plans are developed to achieve the specific targeted goals. Our life must also have a plan... an outline to follow... a blueprint.

Developing a life blueprint takes time... it is a huge endeavor. It's not something you should expect to complete in just one hour. You should do a lot of meditating, writing, and soul-searching. Jot down the things you want to see in your life as they come to mind. A Mead Five Star Subject notebook works really well, it has folder pockets for papers, and it's durable. You can paste pictures or a calendar into your notebook for visual effect, as well. I like to use notebook tabs for separating categories, subjects, and keeping like items together. Your plan will need to include a precise course of action and a deadline in order to start achieving your goals. Keep in mind, this is a serious life plan, but it can also be fun, too. Create your notebook into a life plan you want to open. Make a wish or want list by pasting pictures from a catalog, book, or magazine. Paste your business card, photos, prayer cards, poems, quotes, etc. Place things in your notebook that are going to motivate you to start crossing items off your list. For example, if your goal is to lose weight... keep a record of your fitness routine, eating habits, and weight. Paste inspiring pictures of what your goal should look like. Get creative with your life plan. It shouldn't have to be a one page outline on a piece of paper. But again, do what works for you!

Remember, goals can be short-term, starting with months: 3-month, 6-month or 9-month goals. And, they can also include long-term by years: One, two, three, five, seven, or 10 year goals, and so on. Make a life plan according to your lifestyle. Whether your goal(s) will take 3 months, two years, five years, or ten years-- in order to reach your ultimate destination it will be imperative to devise a plan. Otherwise, without a plan: 1) Your goals will lag, be unfocused, unorganized, and move at the speed of a turtle. 2) Your plans will take triple the time. 3) You'll continuously feel immobile, defeated. out-of-control, incomplete, unconfident, unorganized, unsatisfied, unhappy, and in limbo. You don't need to be "unplanned." The only "un" you need before a word in achieving your plan is "(un)derstanding".

At one time or another, we've all lagged at finishing our goals, but for a lot of people there is a consistent pattern of not finishing what they start... a.k.a: self-sabotage. People who are stuck in a time warp of incomplete goals- a "merry-go-round" of unfinished business. Goals that have been sabotaged by their own fears and insecurities. When you're not working towards a desired goal, you are jeopardizing your own destiny's course of positive time management. So, ask yourself, "What is holding me back from completing my goals?" Is it because of:
1) Fear
2) Low self-esteem/depression
3) Laziness
4) Lack of motivation
5) Financial reasons
6) Focusing on other people's drama
7) Creating your own unproductive daily drama
8) A pessimistic outlook/ negative attitude
9) Procrastination
10) Excessive excuses
11) Spending your time unproductively.

Stop and take a deep look within yourself and find out what's holding you back from achieving productive results. You have to look inwardly at how badly you want to accomplish your goals.

Perhaps you've already created a life plan and it needs some updating and attention to get it current. If you've been working on a goal for ten years and are continually repeating the same destructive patterns of incompletion or progression, then maybe it's time to make peace (finish it) or revise it to a shorter term goal. Many times, unforeseen occurrences happen in one's life and just like a blueprint it will need some revising. There's nothing wrong with that. Crafting the life you want is a lifelong process and you should review your plans frequently. Don't stash your notebook above the closet hoping things will cross off by themselves or that mentally crossing off items will work. Keep it handy so you can check goals off your list as you accomplish them. I like to keep mine right on my desk to motivate me where I can visually see it, revise it, and cross things off daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly.

You are the only person that can accomplish your goals. If you are struggling to make a life plan and feel you cannot do it on your own, find a trusted friend, family member, or life coach to help you. Life coaching is a profession that is profoundly different from consulting, mentoring, advice, therapy, or counseling. Life coaches can help you discover what your obstacles and challenges might be, and then help you choose a course of action to make your life what you want it to be.

Writing a plan can start with just knowing what is desired in your life, then taking a few practical steps to accomplish those life goals. Devise a plan to stay focused on your goals because there is self-power in setting goals. The rewards for achieving goals cannot be measured. In return for your commitment to a goal, you gain: self-confidence, renewed pride, a higher self-esteem, satisfaction, happiness, and peace. Stop spinning your wheels and getting nothing accomplished... make a plan to reach your ultimate life goals!

Why wouldn't you want to finish your goals to have those rewards? Seeing your goals to fruition will benefit not only you, but everyone around you. And only YOU can make it happen!

"If you really want something you can figure out how to make it happen." ~ Cher