Advice on Obtaining Your Goals in Life

Most people live day to day, just surviving, and not giving much thought to their lives. Many have distant goals in their minds for the future, but usually not very defined ones. Mid-life crises result from adults reaching the mid-point of their lives not having achieved all they hoped and not understanding where things went wrong. A clearly defined vision statement for your life is necessary in order to achieve the life you really want.

How do you define your life vision? Where do you want to be in five years? Ten years? Twenty? These are simply worded questions but the answers are not simple. In fact, for most adults, the answer is a clear “I don’t know.” This lack of insight can be because of fear. If we don’t set a goal, we don’t have to face the fear of not achieving it. But fear, even though it can seem an insurmountable roadblock, can be overcome. Conquering fear can be as easy as making an active choice not to allow fear to hold you back any longer. Then when insecurities arise, remembering the resolution you made to overcome fear can put these thoughts to rest.

Procrastination can also keep us stagnant in our lives. If you know you want to get a better job, but keep putting off taking the extra training you need to be promoted, you defeat yourself. It’s very easy to let life and the millions of day to day details that have to be dealt with, get in the way of moving forward. Setting time limits on your goals can help to change this paralyzing mindset. Your journey truly does begin with a single step, so get those feet moving!
In some cases, it’s not fear or even procrastination that holds one back, but not having any idea of the direction. Some times it helps to sit down and journal.

Complete the following statements:
1) I enjoy __________
2) I have fun when I ______________.
3) I am happiest when _____________.
4) I’ve always wanted to ____________.
5.) I’d be very upset at the thought of dying without ever having experienced ____________.
6) One thing I’ve always wanted to see is _________________.
7.) The one thing I’d love to do but am not sure I can is _____________.
8.) Other people tell me I should pursue ___________.
9.) I really seem to have a talent for ___________.
10) Describe what you’d like your life to look like if there were no limits.

Answer these questions through the first time quickly, writing down the first things that come to your mind. Then wait a day or so and go back to the questions, taking time to re-answer each one with more thought. How do these answers compare to the impulsive ones? Are you dreaming as big as you can for yourself, or are you still placing limits on what you “think” you can achieve? Dream big.

Don’t face the end of your life feeling there was “something more”, something your life was missing. The old saying, “Life is not a dress rehearsal” is very true. The curtain is going on and you need to put on the best show you can before it goes back down. Life your dreams. Aim high.

Identifying your talents can help in defining goals. What comes easy to you but difficult to others? One woman I know is a gifted writer but, because she fears others reactions to her work, doesn’t try to have anything published. However, she owes it to the world, as well as herself, to share her amazing talent. Too many artists die and only then is their work discovered. What talent are you keeping hidden? Do you write songs in the shower? Whatever your talents, you were blessed with them in order to share them.

No one can make us happy. It’s something we have to do for ourselves. Don’t pass up your opportunities because of procrastination and fear. You can overcome all obstacles to live your dreams, if you only make up your mind. Starting today, define your vision and move toward it.