Life Goals

According to the data collected on 43things.com the 10 most popular life goals are as follows:

1. Lose Weight
2. Write A Book
3. Stop Procrastinating
4. Fall In Love
5. Be Happy
6. Get A Tattoo
7. Go On A Road Trip With No Predetermined Destination
8. Get Married
9. Travel The World
10. Drink More Water

I think depending on what stage of your life you are at, your goals will change and evolve. But I am willing to bet that almost anyone who has ever set goals for themselves can related to at least 3 of the above goals.

So here is the big questions

What are you doing to get one step closer to your goals?

Please share your thoughts below.

• Can you related to at least three of the above goals?
• Are you working towards any goals right now? If so what are you doing to get closer to your goal or goals?
• Do you have any advice you would like to share on working towards a goal or goals?

Learn How to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions

Every New Year we take the opportunity to resolve to do better – to make some kind of change in our lives that will lead to greater success or personal growth – and then by Valentines Day – they are often all but forgotten. However, the idea of making such resolutions is not frivolous.  New Year’s Resolutions are great ways to set goals and start your year off in the right direction – so how to keep them? We will look at that big question below.

First what are the most common New Year’s Resolutions? According to a Time Magazine- Marist poll, the usual: Quit Smoking, Lose Weight, Exercise more. Interestingly enough – the most common resolutions have to do with moderating something – or breaking a bad habit. That being the case, the best advise I can give if you want to stick to your resolutions- take a page from those who have been through successful addiction recovery – and start by:

• Being realistic – Don’t kid yourself. Set realistic goals. Addicts, who start out by saying they will “never” use again, are doomed to failure. But if they say “I will not use today” – or ”this week”, or “this month” – it’s a realistic start. And if heroin addicts can quit that way — you can moderate any behavior you want to change whether that is having a donut with your coffee only once a week – or not losing your temper with your kid.
• Try Cold Turkey – Even if just for a little while, the theory is whatever behavior you want to moderate, drinking, eating, even smoking – abstaining completely even for a little will prove to yourself that you can ”do without” and make moderation in the future – that much easier.
• Have a plan – Decide in advance what you need to do to avoid temptation. Call a friend, meditate, work-out, whatever it is – have a contingency plan in place.
• Use your friends – Or get better friends if they are the ones adding to the behaviors you want to change. But either way, the experts agree that sticking to your goals is better accomplished with the help, and accountability offered by like-minded people. Let the world know about your intentions – the more people that know what you are trying to accomplish, lose weight, quit smoking – the more support you will get from the people around you..
• Change your environment – And break patterns of behavior – if you drive by that same coffer shop to work every morning that is just too tempting – pick another route.
• Be honest with yourself – Psychologist’s say in order to modify a behavior it is important to understand what it is you are getting out of the behavior. For example if you know you are over eating to deal with stress – then find some other healthier substitute – such as yoga – or meditation.

And finally, all of the experts agree, that in order to keep a New Year’s resolution – expect to have a few set backs, and slip ups – but don’t let little failures take your eye off the goal.

Setting & Achieving Goals

“Lean on me, when you’re not strong, and I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on. For it won’t belong, ‘til I’m gonna need – somebody to lean on…”

The familiar words of Bill Withers’ inspirational classic – ring very true when it comes to achieving goals and solving problems. Experts agree that one of the most successful ways to achieve your personal goals  – is to share them others.

Sharing Goals Makes You More Accountable

Acceptability and accomplishing goals is the cornerstone of the concept of the Mastermind group. But sharing your goals for personal growth even with just one other person raises the level of accountability. You become accountable to that person, when you tell him or her, I am going to do “XYZ” by this or that date, towards a given goal. He or she is there to see that you keep to your word –or hold you accountable.

You can have an actual formal arrangement with this person, who will check up on your progress – or it can be just informal and still be effective. When a person close to you is aware of your goals – it will come up as gentle reminders in social situations.

For example, if you are trying to moderate drinking – the person you have shared that goal with may remind you not to order that cocktail – and also if he or she is aware of those kinds of goals, that individual will be less likely to tempt you by engaging in the behaviors you want to moderate.

Also, sharing your goals will make you more accountable to yourself. If the only one who knows about a given goal is yourself – you may be more inclined to “cheat” – but if you know others are out there cognizant of your goals and watching – it may help you stay on the “straight and narrow.”

Sharing Your Goals Gives You Perspective and Objective Advice

Let’s face it, everyone loves to give advice. And when you share a problem, or a goal with another – whether you actually ask for it or not – one of the first things they will do is offer some advice. It may not always be good advice– but sharing goals opens up a wealth of possibilities and options you may not have thought of, or experiences others may have had with reaching the same goal.

Also sharing goals brings a fresh outlook or perspective to your problem or goal. The person you share the goal with may have access to resources you do not have – or recommend books, websites, or other ideas related to the situation, you may not be aware of.

Sharing your goals with relatives and trusted friends no doubt can help you focus and accomplish your dreams. Many people are also using social networking and the power and ubiquity of those communities to share their goals online. This is especially true when it comes to less personal, or career or work oriented goals.

Even for personal goals, once you have shared them with your “Inner Circle” you can use Twitter and Facebook – to keep everyone in the loop – or get some positive feedback and encouragement by posting things like “Hey, congratulate me- today is my 5th day without a cigarette!”