Goal Setting and Life Plans

So what does it mean to truly live? and how do we go about this? Goal Setting!

First of all, everyone is different. So if you find someone who is happy, and do exactly as they do, it doesn’t mean you will be happy also.

We need to find what it is you want to do, and what you want to be.

To some it is to be wealthy, to others to be healthy, to some to find love, to a lot, all of the above!

So here’s what you can do to find what would make you truly happy, and start the road to achieving this.

1: Find somewhere quiet, close your eyes and imagine what you would do if money was not an object, you had no dependents, nobody relying on you and you could live anywhere. Write these down. Anything is possible here so go crazy! nothing is too small or too big, (one of mine was to go to space, another was to remember to water my plants as they keep dying on me), if it would make you happy write it down

2: Take a good look at the list you created every day for a week. You can add to the list as the week goes on but don’t cross any off just yet. Remember this list is for you, so at this point do not take family members, partners or friends interests into it.

3: Keep dreaming!

4: When the week is up, cross off any that are absolutely impossible, eg; if you have five children relying on you it may not be practical to apply for a year long stint on the space station. BUT, keep an open mind, do not cross items off because they are difficult, only if they are absolutely impossible. (I have children and travel the world regularly). Also, do not cross off items because you cannot afford them, anything is possible especially increasing your incoming OR finding alternatives to fund dreams, so money should not be a factor at this stage.

5: Now you have a list, create a 30 year diary. YES THIRTY YEARS! even if you are sixty five, there is a very good chance you will be here in thirty years. For now break the list down into the following categories. Now, 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, 15 years and so on…

6: Hopefully there’s a few you can implement now, right now, so take action with these immediately, not tomorrow if you can do them today.

7: Pin the list somewhere you will see it daily, in your bedroom, on your fridge, or make a screensaver for your computer.

8: Great, Done. This exercise is far more powerful than it may seem and you will see this before long. A clear, well defined life plan is the greatest investment of time you can give yourself if you do not already have one.

9: Remember, your life plan is a guide, and not a rule. You can ( and I do ) regularly change the plan as your interests change or you develop new relationships, hobbies etc. I do try to leave them all visible however, as it is good to reflect back on what you once dreamed of, even if you have no desire to achieve that specific dream anymore.

With a plan now in mind, and in writing, your subconscious will start to make decisions based on your happiness. Many of these will be small and go un-noticed, but if one our goals is, say, to exercise more, and you are reading this daily, you will find that you naturally want to take the stairs instead of the lift, or to walk to the shops instead of driving. I know it may sound silly, but try it, it works!

Live, Love, Laugh.