The good thing about setting a goal for yourself…

I always think it’s good to have a goal. It provides a focus and when it is achieved the experience can build self-awareness, self esteem and give satisfaction. Of course, the goals have to be achievable and realistic or you might as well pick up a whip and start flogging yourself.

The beauty about setting yourself a goal is that it can be as easy, or as hard, to achieve as you want. Some people thrive on having a goal that requires a lot of work and dedication (like passing an exam), while others are happy with something more mundane (such as eating two pieces of fruit a day). Either is okay as a goal is a goal at the end of the day.

Dr Phil says ‘…goals have to do with aspects of your existence that you control and can therefore manipulate. In identifying your goal, strive for what you can create, not for what you can't.’

I always knew Dr Phil sprinkled gems of wisdom, I only wish I’d read this at the beginning of 2014 before I set my own goals.

I am pleased to say that I did achieve some of the goals I set myself in 2014.
I completed and published my second book, The Gossamer Trail , which was short-listed for The New Talent Award at the Festival of Romantic Fiction in England. As a result, I was invited to my first romantic fiction award ceremony where I had the opportunity to meet other authors and the director of Choc Lit Publishing, Lynn Vernham. It was a special moment for me as I had the opportunity to meet knowledgeable people from the "book world" who were happy to share their knowledge.

I am now in the process of writing my third book, an 18th century romance.

However, I have failed to achieve some of my goals and, on reflection, I now realise that the areas where I have failed are aspects I could not control. One does not have any control over someone else’s decision, we can hope to influence them but the ultimate control is with them not with you.

As 2014 draws to a close, it is only natural to look back and reflect before looking forward to what we hope to achieve in the year ahead. I will be setting myself new goals, but I will be a little more discerning regarding the goals I set myself for 2015.

The good thing about making a goal for yourself… is that you can change the goal posts at any time and put them wherever you want. It’s your goal setting game after all and, more importantly, it’s your life!

http://www.drphil.com/articles/articl...