Start Your Goal Journal Now!

We all have goals and dreams. Unfortunately many of us let our lives pass by with out reaching for our dreams. People are great at telling themselves and why they should not do things. We constantly fill our lives with why we shouldn't do things. The purpose of this article is to help you move beyond those negative statements and head down the path of your dreams.

I have shared the ideas presented here with my coaching clients. They have loved them and used them successfully. I hope you will take the time to thy these ideas out for yourself. The steps in this article are important tools. Try to do each one the best you can. Most of all be honest with yourself. No one but you has to ever read your notebook. So don't hesitate being vulnerable and truthful. Through out this article I will use the words goal and dream interchangeably. You should use which ever one you are most comfortable with.

What is a Dream Notebook?

Your dream notebook is a place where you write down your dreams, goals, and ideas. Some may call it a goal notebook or a journal. What ever you call it the purpose is the same. It is a sanctuary for your biggest aspirations. Your notebook will help you clarify, organize, and plan. It will become a source of hope and inspiration when ever you begin to doubt yourself. Going after your dreams is hard work. There will be times when you feel like giving up. Your notebook will be there to remind you of why your dream is important and why you need to keep going. It will also be a record of how far you have come.

Creating a journal for your goal gives it a place in the physical world. You may have heard of the Laws of Attraction and Manifestation. Writing in your journal gets these laws working for you. The more you plan things in your notebook the more real they become. Your dreams are like oysters waiting for you to discover the pearls inside. They are treasures and need to be treated as such.

Step One

The first step is to get a goal journal. You can buy or make one. After you have your journal add some inspirational words and pictures to it. Decorate it in a way that fits you and your dreams. Your journal can be any type of notebook or binder. It doesn't matter as long as it fits your needs.

If you don't think you are a very crafty person or you just feel silly decorating a binder, try simply writing your favorite inspirational quote on the front of your notebook. After you have finished decorating your journal, you are ready for step two.

Step two

Clearly state your goal. Write down everything about it. Be as detailed as you can. Picture this dream life in your mind. How does it look, feel,smell, and sound? Do not censor yourself! Don't let what anyone else wants or thinks take over. This is about you. It is ok to be selfish here. What will make you happy?

This step can be hard. Take your time with it. If you find that you are having a lot of negative thoughts during this step, write them down on another page in your journal. We will deal with those latter. Try not to let them get in the way of this step.

After you have a idea of what you want to do and where you want to go, you can start planing. Plans can be complicated or simple. Simple ones are the best to work with. They are easy to manage and are flexible. Even the biggest grandest goals can be broken down into simple steps.

Step Three

Start creating your plan using Action Steps and To Do Lists. Think about your plan and what you need to do to accomplish it. Use that to do list to create action steps. This list will always be changing as you complete steps and add steps. Don't be discouraged by steps that seem impossible. Turn big steps into mini goals and list the small steps you need to do to reach them. I know this sounds like a lot of work and list making. I enjoy list making. I helps me to organize and keep track of everything. Give this process a try and see what works for you. This is a learning experience and you have nothing to loose and knowledge to gain.

When you complete something, cross it off. Give yourself a treat when you cross things off. You have earned it! Even small accomplishments need celebrating. As you move through the process of manifesting the life you want your dreams and goals may change. You might find yourself traveling down paths you never even thought of. How wonderful! When you are working on reaching your dreams you are working with pure potential energy, allow it to reach full potential. It can turn out so much better than you imagined!

I hope you are beginning to see the value of your journal. The more you work with your notebook the more ideas will flood your mind. Write them down. You never know which ideas will be your best ever. It is best to keep track of every idea. You may want to keep a pocket sized note pad with you. It will help you keep track of things when you can't carry your journal.

While we pursue our dreams it can be tempting to keep are heads in the clouds. Daydreams are wonderful things, but the can't make themselves reality. To live fulfilling lives we need to dream big and go after those dreams. Unfortunately here in the real world there are all kinds of obstacles to deal with. Taking the time to give your dream a reality check can help you plan for and over come them. In your goal notebook you write down problems that you run into and possible solutions. You may dream of being a wonderful sculptor and not know a chisel from a nail file. That would be an obstacle, one that you can over come. It is important to be ready to create Action Steps to get you through obstacles. It is hard work and giving up is easy. Giving up only leads to regrets. Do you really want to reach the end of your life, only to say " I wish I had done that."

Keeping one eye on reality is only half of your job as a dream seeker. You also must be a shining knight for your dream. You must defend it, uphold it, and stand by it. Your dream is a beautiful glowing object. Your dream will be tested, beat up, and knocked down. You must be willing and ready to pick it up out of the mud, polish up and place it back on the pedestal. Living your dreams and finding your joy is very hard work, but so worth it.

Step Four

Go over your list of ideas,plans, and action steps. Are there any obstacles that you can see? If so, do some brainstorming to come up with some possible solutions. Share your dream with someone you trust. Write down any concerns they have about your dream. They may be able to point out obstacles that you haven't thought of. Can you think of some possible solutions for them too? You may not be able to foresee every problem, but with good planing, you stand a better chance of solving any problems. This information will also help you create a stronger plan.

The process of creating your notebook and deciding to go after your dream can fill you with doubt. Negativity is a dream killer. People around you will tell you that you will fail. Worst of all you will say it to yourself. Negative self talk is more damaging than anything. Changing your negative self talk takes time, but you can do it. The first step is realizing what you are doing. Your Inner Critic can be sly and harsh. You must learn to stop your Inner Critic in its tracks. This is called thought stopping. The moment you begin to think a negative thought you must stop it. Say to yourself, "No, that's not true." Then you must replace the thought with a positive one. Positive affirmations are powerful! You can change your thinking and create a joy filled life.

Step Five

Make a list of the most common negative things you say to yourself. Read over them. Where did they come from? How did you come to think that? Write a positive response to each of them. Memorize some of your positive responses so that you can use them when ever you need to. Create a positive affirmation or motto that you can say when ever you need a boost. Saying your affirmation out loud every morning will help you get your day off to a great start. I know it sounds a little cheesy, but it really does help. Remember those Laws of Attraction and Manifestation? They work just as hard for your negative thoughts as they do for your positive ones. If you are focused on what is wrong with you or your life, you will draw more of that to you.

As you fill up the pages in your notebook your dream will grow. It may even change. That is ok. Treat your dream like a living thing. Love it, nurture it, and give it space to grow. The rewards will far out way the effort of overcoming those obstacles. Your notebook will be a record of all your trials and accomplishments. What a special treasure!