How to Set Goals - and Reach Them (part 2)

Getting Unstuck: 8 Simple Steps to Solving Any Problem

Let’s look again at Dr. Joy Browne’s article in the Parade Magazine on How to Set Goals - and Reach Them.

We need to periodically review our goals to make sure that they are still something that is truly important to us. Also, re-evaluation gives us a sense of direction and progress. If we continually see no progress…it is definitely time to take another look at that goal. Do you still want it? Do you want it bad enough to do something about it? If it no longer applies to you, get rid of it.

How about making new goals? Is there a secret? Here is what Dr. Joy Browne says:

Avoid New Year’s-type resolutions. Set personal goals according to your own internal timetable and steer clear of the type of goals traditionally made at the start of the year. You know the ones I am talking about: lose weight, stop smoking, spend more time with the family, get fit. They’re ubiquitous. I call them “pity party favors,” since these recurring unmet goals focus exclusively on the negative and only make us feel lousy. They become a part of the baggage that we all carry around. Speaking of which, if you’ve had the same well-defined, time delineated goal for years, something’s not working. Toss it or redefine it.

She also says Be Specific, Think in Steps, and Figure Out Your Tactics. Pretty common goal setting stuff. Then she adds three more points that I really appreciated:

Limit Their Number - she says tackling more than one goal at a time is foolhardy. Most goals are going to be composed of smaller achievable goals.

Build on Your Skills - she says that if you want to develop a brand new expertise, consider what other previously unknown skill you were able to master.

Embrace Change - she reminds us that the world changes and we are not the same people we once were. Our goals remind us of what we dare (or dared) to wish for. They are milestones by which we assess our growth, progress and transformations.

And just to keep things balanced, let’s take one more look at Goal-Free Living: How to Have the Life You Want NOW!Goal-Free Living: How to Have the Life You Want NOW! Author Stephen Shapiro says:


A few years ago, I uncovered a startling secret. After traveling the world and interviewing hundreds of people, I discovered that the most creative, passionate, and successful people were NOT goal-oriented.

Yes, I realize this runs counter to everything that you have been taught. But it’s true. Let me explain.

When you are consumed by your goals, you focus on the future rather than being present to what is around you. Life seems like a sacrifice. You become stressed as you work hard toward your goals. As a result, you rarely perform your best (there’s a reason why 92% of New Years Resolutions fail). Life doesn’t flow effortlessly. And to make matters worse, because you are so focused on your future goals, you often miss “hidden” opportunities that would bring you even greater success and happiness.

Goal-Free Living presents an alternative philosophy: You can create true success in all aspects of your life - career, relationships, sales, parenting, and more - with less effort and without the burden of goals and plans.

I think they both have something to offer us. Remember, the key is balance and openness to what life has to offer you right here and right now. What do you think?


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