***** Positive Thinking, Happy Living

I recently read about a survey (by the University of Chicago) which suggested that those who relish challenge are more likely to live up to 10 years longer than those who spend their lives inhibited by timidity.

Trying to realise our ambitions, even if we don’t always meet them, is preferable to not having the courage or motivation to take the risk. So not making any resolutions because we fear that we’ll break them is having a defeatist attitude, as we allow procrastination to become an insidious habit which stops us from leading more fulfilling lives.

What do you think of Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Ted Turner, Tiger Woods and hundreds of others who have made it to the top, aometimes against all the odds?

You probably think they are smart, intelligent, great, masterful and I agree. I believe they probably are all those things you think of them and perhaps even more.

Now I want you to think of yourself. Do you think of yourself as having those same attributes or maybe more? Do you think you can do the things these icons have accomplished?

You're frustrated. You dutifully follow Goal Setting 101 advice, but it still seems that you lose sight of what you want and how you'll get it. See if any of these common goal setting mistakes - and how to correct them - are behind your frustrations. Make the adjustment, and try again.

A visitor to our site asks, "Why is it important to have a Dream? I’m used to setting goals and 'just doing it.'

The difference between a goal and a Dream is not just setting a time frame for its attainment and then "making it happen." More and more people are beginning to realize that their old aspirations that they thought were going to make them happy actually make them even more unhappy. A new way of thinking has begun in large numbers. People returning to their Dreams. The Dreams of their Hearts.
Some call it "Living with a Purpose," others refer to it as "Right Livelihood."

How is your year so far? After good momentum from New Year's resolutions, and 4 months of hard work, it's a great time for a healthy review of action steps and results. This renewal process will help you curb tendencies towards burn out, and help you refocus on the path to success.

But First, Ban the Inner Critic!

In order to have fun while you conduct an effective review and renewal of your goals, first silence the Inner Critic - that negative inner voice that dishes out guilt for all the things you should have done, could have done, or forgot to do.

An article by the Editor

I asked a friend, “whose year is this”? “I don’t know” was his innocent reply.

This year belongs to no one but every one. 2012 is a great year for those who have decided to make it great for them. They have great hopes, great goals, great enthusiasm and great motivational power to make this year the greatest year of their success.

While each person is different, and each goal is different, still one principle is applicable to any goal you are trying to accomplish, from losing weight, to starting your own business, to cleaning out the clutter, to writing a best seller.

*This principle is GOAL - STRATEGY - ACTION.* (Those of you in management will recognize this as a version of Strategic Goals, Tactical Goals, and Operational Goals).

For our purposes, Goal is a broadly defined target such as 'buy a house'. No particular house or market value, etc. is established at this point.

You’ve been talking about pursuing your dream since high school. You’ve been stuffing a file with places you’d like to travel since you got your first job. You’ve envisioned what your boutique store would look like for years, even driving around searching for the perfect location, yet you’ve never taken that next step.

So, what’s stopping you?

In my coaching with clients they regularly share the obstacles that are stopping them from moving forward. At least fifty percent of the time, these items are perceived, not real.

"A goal is nothing more than a dream with a time limit," says Joe L. Griffith. Great idea! Does having a deadline improve your work habits? Many folks get so much more done when they are clear about when it has to be completed. Why not do this with the things you want most in life?

When you set the bar, you know you can move it. The trick, then, is to make the commitments you make to yourself as important. or, even, more important. than the ones you make to others. For some, that's a revolutionary idea!