A Guide to Setting Goals and Reaching Them

Every little child wants to be somebody when he or she grows up. Maybe a doctor. Or a firefighter. Or president. But often, as we grow we lose sight of our dreams and settle on an easy path through life. While this tactic usually makes sense-what are the odds you'd be president anyway?-it can be disheartening. Identifying a dream that fits your adult self can be fulfilling, and it is possible to achieve this dream as long as it is a realistic goal.

Think about how far you've come in life already. When you were a little kid, did you every think you'd grow to be an adult? Did you ever think the Internet or instant messaging would be possible? Odds are, you didn't dream of these things. But they happened. The same can be said for the dreams you have of your personal life. You may think they are impossible, but with a little work, anything can happen.

To start toward achieving your dreams, you first have to identify what your dreams are. Keep it realistic. You probably won't be president of a country or of a company. But maybe you want a promotion or a new job. Or maybe you'd like to learn something new, like a language. Or you could desire to get in shape.

Write down all your dreams, giving each a separate sheet of paper. Then, under each dream, write what you think it would take to get there. For example, if your dream is to learn French, you would probably write about taking French classes, speaking to French people, and maybe going to France. Add anything you can think of to this list. Next, circle the items on your list that you think are impossible. Maybe you think going to France will never happen. Or that you'll never have enough time to take a class.

After you've circled the parts of your dreams that you think are impossible, think about why you've done this. Odds are, these items are not truly impossible, they'd just be difficult to fulfill. Re-examine what you've deemed impossible. Maybe a trip to France seems too expensive, but think about the costs and how long it would take for you to save up. What would you have to sacrifice to get there?

If you're serious about following your dreams, you'll have to prioritize other aspects of your life to fulfill them. Saving up for a big trip might mean staying home for dinner instead of eating out, or skipping that shopping trip with your friends. This isn't as hard as it seems, however, if you set reasonable goals for yourself. Tell yourself you will achieve your dream in 10 years, then set up checkpoints along the way. In a year from now, for example, you might set a goal of saving $200 toward your dream simply by cutting out little things in you life.

Following your dreams takes honest self examination, a lot of time, and a good deal of sacrifice. But if you really want to do the things you thought were impossible, you can. With diligence and a plan, nothing is out of the question.