If your approach to life is mainly one of “going with the flow,” you’re likely to find yourself being washed down the stream, backward.

To have any real sense of getting somewhere, it’s helpful to know where you’re starting from and where you want to go. Goal setting is a dynamic tool for getting things done, and helps you clarify what is important in your life, what your priorities are. And it aids self esteem. By setting goals you are resisting the mentality that says you are a victim in life. Instead, you affirm your choice for self-responsibility: “I am responsible for my life and health” and “I am a worthwhile person.”

Goals are like maps—they keep you on course. More than that, goals are like magnets—they tend to attract things that help get them accomplished. It’s almost magical at times, the way this works. When you put down in words what you want to achieve, you immediately start to see or remember the resources that are all around you.

Many people make lists of the things they have to do that day or that week. When they cross some items off, they have a feeling of accomplishment. Even if they only get through half the list, they still feel good knowing that they’ve moved forward.

There is power in setting goals, so tap into that power now.

Small Changes - An Exercise in Setting Goals
Setting Goals for Life
Traps to Avoid

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