Are you satisfied with the way things are going in your life? Continuing to achieve the life goals you’ve set is hopefully bringing you considerable happiness and contentment. But, perhaps you’ve taken a different path and you think it would be helpful to add some goals. Sometimes, life requires that we alter the direction we’re headed.
Maybe your focus has changed due to the loss of a partner or job, demanding that you relook at the goals you established long ago. Whatever the case, pondering whether or not to change your life’s dreams may be in order.
Consider these ideas:
1. Review your current life list. Pull out the list of life goals you compiled years ago. Are they still what you want? Maybe you’re ready to let a few of them go to make room for some new ones that are more fitting. Give yourself permission to adjust your list as needed.
• For example, maybe you thought you’d become the president of a company someday, but you’ve discovered that you’re more of a salesman. You love making new acquaintances and watching your sales stats rise. It’s okay to remove the goal of becoming president.
2. What do you want out of life? It’s a good idea to have your goals written down and in a file where you can easily access them to make changes and updates.
• Even if you’re unsure of what your overall goals ought to be, jot down experiences you want to have and place them in your file.
3. Verbalize any changes to goals you’re considering. Inform your partner of the type of life you want since your lives and goals are intertwined. Altering your life goals will involve your joint agreement and efforts.
• Talking about what you want helps you conceptualize your goals. Your close friends and family will also want to support you in your quest to accomplish your master life plan.
4. Infuse elements of your goals into your day. When you include daily efforts to create the life of your dreams, your goals won’t just be some lofty ideas you rarely think about. Be strongly connected to the objectives that will lead you to your goal.
• For example, if one of your life goals is to take a trip to Europe, start a computer file where you can copy and paste links to websites and information about the places you want to visit. Also, have a paper file to keep magazine articles and photographs.
• Look something up, check your bank account to ensure your travel funds are building, or read a travel article each day.
5. Try setting and achieving mini-goals. If you’re curious about a particular goal, but are unsure as to whether you want to change your life’s direction, establish a mini-goal to start exploring this area. You’ll be able to feel things out and figure out whether the new goal enhances your interests.
• Do you want to go further with this new venture? Or have you learned enough to conclude you’ve been on the right track with prior goals you set? Either way, you can put the concept of mini-goals to work for you.
• Establishing small targets that will lead you to accomplish your main goals is smart and effective.
Life happens. Things change. You may see the need to alter the life plan you had previously set for yourself. Put these strategies to work for you when it’s time to remove an old goal or add a new one.
