Follow your dreams

Goals are dreams that we are prepared to work hard for

And so, we have successfully swum from 2015 to 2016. For some of us, the waters were fairly calm—for others, very stormy. But for the majority, this is the part of the year when we plan for something different and something bigger; something that we would like to accomplish in the coming months and years.

Our desires are the propellants that take us forward. Without desires and plans, a person stays stagnant and indecisive in his or her next step. When we have a goal in front of us, then we take responsibility for our own life. Goals are dreams that we are prepared to work hard for. Having goals helps us feel good, since that gives us a sense of purpose and direction in our lives.

1. Pick with your heart, not only your head

Very often, the decisions we make and the goals we set for ourselves at the beginning of the year suck all the appeal out of their realization because they are made out of duty, or maybe because it is expected of us. That is why I am not really a fan of the obligatory New Years resolutions and goal setting. 

A goal that we set for ourselves when we feel inspired or follow an inner calling has a much higher rate of success. And when we feel that we recognize our thoughts and dreams in everything that surrounds us—the songs we hear and the stories we read, the media that surrounds us and that we follow—then we just know that it is the “real thing.”

2. Set yourself a goal and follow it

Your goal should be clear, concrete, and measurable. If you cannot imagine your goal very clearly, or if you do not believe that you can achieve it, it will be hard for you to devote yourself to it and take the necessary measures to make it a reality. Also, you have to define how you will know when you have achieved your goal: a goal has to have a measurable result and time frame in which you plan to complete it.

It is also very important to write down your goals. By putting your goals down in written words, you exponentially increase your chances of achieving them.

It is vitally important to constantly take steps—even little ones— towards fulfilling your ambitions, and not just daydream about them.

After every successful step towards your goal, reward yourself, since that encourages you to stay on your path.

If you ever fall into a situation you cannot get out of, re-evaluate your strategy and move forward.

3. Keep in the forefront of your mind the reason behind what you are doing

Also, in order to increase the chances of achieving your goal, you have to have in mind why you want to achieve it; its fulfilment must bring you emotional satisfaction. As we work on achieving our goals from day to day, we sometimes forget the original reasons why we wanted to achieve them. The routine that we establish over the years becomes precisely that: a routine that looses its meaning, its purpose, and its significance.

If we are saving money, we cannot lose sight of the reason why we are putting it aside—whether that is for our children’s education, or a trip we have been dreaming about…

If you have in your mind’s eye the point of everything from the very beginning, that will help you in several ways:

• Your satisfaction in life will be endless, since you’ll be inspired and motivated to stay on track and achieve your goals
• You will learn to let go of goals that bring you little or no satisfaction, or even that look pointless

4. Set aside time for fun

In working towards a goal—while not forgetting its purpose—we must not forget to have fun and pleasure; get yourself some regularly! That means that it is important to set aside time for things that uplift you and charge your batteries. Even if that is just a walk in the park, time with friends, a concert, or watching a movie with the family… Do not deprive yourself of that!

5. Foster gratitude for the things you already have in life

The most important and basic principle, which is in the basis of everything else, is the feeling of gratitude for the things we already have in life. It is not a question of giving routine thanks, but rather the sincere feeling of thankfulness brought on by the people that are a part of our lives and our everyday experiences, even the not-so-pleasant ones. Maybe that is not easy in those moments where we have to face a problem or a seemingly hopeless situation, but at some point later in life, we understand how much that particular challenge was a milestone in our life, and how much we learned from it. Our greatest challenges are our greatest opportunities to learn and grow, and for that simple reason we can be thankful.

By keeping in mind these simple principles, not only with you achieve your goals, build yourself a fulfilling and purposeful life, and be more satisfied with yourself and your life, but you will also become an inspiration to others, which in itself is a goal worth working towards!