AMY HANSEN

When you set a goal, you can either declare it publicly or keep it secretly to yourself.  Everyone is different, but there might be a few reasons why you should make your goal public.  Often you don't make your goal public because if you fail, then you're the only one who knows about it.  It's less likely to look bad on you and other people won't judge you.  Yet, there is some accountability and support in making your goal known.  Here is why you should make your goal public.

Fear

One of the biggest reasons why you don’t declare your goal publicly is because of fear.  The fear of being judged if you fail.  The fear of what other people will think of you for setting your goal.  The fear of the backlash of people who try to cut you down and tell you all the reasons why you shouldn’t, can’t, or won’t achieve the goal that you’ve set for yourself.  This is why it’s so much easier to just keep your...

You might be losing motivation to achieve the goal that you’ve set for yourself.  This causes you to stop taking action towards your goal and it soon falls to the wayside.  Life takes over and you’re back to your normal daily routines.  Only to kick yourself for giving up on your goal once again.  Don’t let that happen!  Here is how to stay motivated to achieve your goal.

Set A Realistic Goal

One of the fastest ways you lose motivation to achieve your goal is when the goal seems out of reach.  Perhaps you set an unrealistic goal for yourself.  Maybe that’s unrealistic expectations of what you can achieve or by when.  You need to be realistic with the time and effort it will take to achieve your goal.  You may also need to seek out help in order to achieve the goal that you’ve set.  Be realistic about what you can do and make a commitment to yourself that you’ll show up to take daily action...

In order to achieve your goal, you need to make daily progress towards your goal.  What you do on a daily basis adds up.  That’s why it’s so important to look at what you’re doing each day if you want to achieve your goal.  Here is what to do on a daily basis to achieve your goal.

Goal

The first thing you need to do each day is to remind yourself of the goal you’re working towards.  Write down your goal at the top of a piece of paper so that you communicate to your subconscious what you want to achieve.  Reminding yourself daily of what you want to achieve will put your goal at the forefront of your mind.

Actions

Then, make sure you’re taking daily action towards your goal by scheduling in at least one task that will move you closer to achieving your goal each day.  Small actions add up and build momentum to help you achieve your goal faster.  This daily progress will keep you motivated to continue taking...

Having a system to consistently make progress towards your goal will help you stay on track and achieve your goal faster.  Here are six steps to help you consistently make progress towards your goal.

Create An Action Plan

Start by getting a paper planner.  On paper, write down an extensive list of the tasks you need to complete in order to successfully achieve your goal.  Then, choose at least one task that you’re going to do each day to move you closer to your goal.  Create your action plan either first thing in the morning or the night before.  This way you’ll have a clear view of what you need to be doing each day.

Schedule Your Task

Next, schedule a daily task in your planner with a specific time.  It’s usually easiest to do this task first thing in the morning.  That way, you won’t leave it up to chance and get to the end of the day without completing it.  Set aside the time you need to get this one...

It’s the start of a new year and you most likely have some big goals that you’ve set for yourself.  Maybe you’re feeling a bit excited or nervous about what you want to accomplish this year, which is completely normal.  But, imagine if you had a crystal ball and could see exactly how this year went.  Some of your anxiety and fear might disappear.  You can give yourself some reassurance about how this year will go by writing a letter from the future detailing the amazing year you’ve had and everything you’ve achieved.  Here is how to write a letter from your future self.

Set The Scene

Begin by finding a quiet place with a notebook and pen.  Maybe you want to light a candle or grab your favorite beverage.  Whatever puts you in the zone to visualize and write unapologetically from the heart.  Now, visualize it’s the end of the year.  Imagine your future self is writing some words of wisdom and...

January is a great time for new beginnings and setting your intentions for the year ahead.  One of the best ways to set your intentions for the year ahead is to pick a word of the year.  This word should empower you to achieve your goals.  Here are five steps to help you in choosing your word of the year.

Dream

Give yourself permission to dream.  Close your eyes and just allow your mind to run wild.  Visualize the year ahead and what amazing things you want to make happen.  Nothing is too big or too small.  See who you’re with, what you’re doing, and most of all, how you’re feeling.  Take the next few minutes to get in touch with your hopes, goals, dreams, and aspirations for this year.

Vision

Next, write down what you saw in your vision.  Write down what sorts of things you want to achieve and how you were feeling in your vision.  Maybe you felt proud, accomplished, excited, happy, etc.  Think...

In order to achieve your goals in the new year, you’re going to need to let go of a few things that have been holding you back.  Leave behind what’s not serving you so that you can step into the new year with a clear, fresh, and focused mind.  Here are five things to let go of this year.

Validation

The first thing you’re going to need to let go of is seeking validation from others.  Stop looking for approval from other people before taking action towards your goals.  What someone else thinks has no bearing on what you can achieve.  Constantly searching for approval will only hinder your progress towards achieving your goals.  Don’t let others limit what you can and cannot do.  Instead, focus on what you want and what you’re working towards.  Find your own internal acceptance by loving who you are and being proud of yourself for what you can achieve.

Worry

One of the biggest things you’ll need...

As the year winds down, now is the perfect time to reflect over the past year and figure out how you need to show up in the new year in order to achieve the goals that you’ve set.  Take a deep look at who you are being and what you need to do differently in the new year.  Here are three steps to help you do just that.

Who You’ve Been Being

Start by focusing on who you’ve been being over this past year.  Think about how you have shown up for yourself and your goals.  Maybe you’ve done things that have pushed you outside your comfort zone.  You may have expanded your comfort zone by putting yourself out there and trying some new things that you’ve never done before.  Or, perhaps you held yourself back by letting the fear, worry, and self doubt prevent you from achieving your goals.  Reflect back over this past year to truly take a look at who you have been being and how you have been showing up in your life.

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As the new year approaches, it’s time to assess where you are and decide where you want to be in the new year.  Here is a five step process to help you focus on setting a new goal for next year. 

Figure Out Where You Are

Begin with where you are right now.  Complete an assessment of your life and figure out where you are.  Ask yourself if you are where you thought you’d be.  A whole year has passed.  You may have achieved your goals this past year or perhaps you didn’t quite make it.  Whatever is the case, take a moment to assess where you are with your goals so that you know where you’re starting from in the new year.

Life Areas

Next, consider how you feel about all different areas of your life from personal to professional.  Perhaps you’re feeling happy, exhilarated, and fulfilled.  Or, maybe you’ll feeling stuck, frustrated, and overwhelmed.  Think about what has made you feel this...

As this year winds down, you may be thinking you’re not quite where you thought you’d be.  You may have set some goals for yourself that you didn’t quite manage to reach this year.  Or, maybe life took a completely different direction because of certain challenges.  Don’t get disheartened.  Instead, here is what you can do when you didn’t achieve your goals this year.

What Didn’t You Achieve

Start by taking a look at what you wanted to achieve but didn’t.  Assess the goals you set for yourself and the progress you made this year.  Perhaps that’s a lack of progress.  Acknowledge where you are.  But, don’t beat yourself up and feel bad.  You are exactly where you’re supposed to be.

What Held You Back

Next, ask yourself what got in the way of you not being able to achieve your goals this year.  Perhaps you faced some external or internal challenges.  Maybe...