he first thing you must do when planning goals is to write them down. They might change as you move toward them, but having something written down is an important step you must not skip. It will also let you see how far you've come. Ask yourself where you want to be in a year. If that seems too soon make it three years or five years.

The second thing that is important is to focus on them. Make your goal a part of all you do. Never let it slip from your mind. What you focus on expands. So having it foremost in your mind leads to action on your part. That will keep your energy from scattering all over the place.

If there are failures along the way just keep moving your feet. No one has ever made it to the top without failing sometimes, or even many many times. Failure teaches you lessons along the way. It makes you stronger and builds character.

Breaking your goals down into mini-goals makes them much more simple and effortless. Breaking it down even more into daily tasks helps you organize your time needed to begin and move forward. From that, create a step-by-step plan.

Use a journal to follow your goals and your progress. Always use positive statements and inspiring dialect. Write your goals and statements like they have already happened. Over time, you will start to believe them and that alone will motivate you. Visualize your success. Use all your sense when seeing your success in your imagination. Reward yourself when you reach each step. Acting 'as if' will help you attain your goals more quickly.

Finally, having gratitude for what you do have puts your attention onto the positive parts of your life. Stop reacting to what others want from you. Choose a path that is more focused on you and that is right for you. Expect good things to happen and they will. Along the way you'll gain new insight into yourself and your life.
by : Lori Klauser