Designing Your Life for Beginners

By Karen C. Battoe, CPC

1.    Know what you want.

     Stop living in the past.  What you wanted then, is probably not what you want now.  Look at where you are today. Most people think if they do not accomplish their goals at a young age, they never will.  That couldn’t be further from the truth.  You are never to old to achieve your goals or live your dreams.  Every moment you spend regretting the past or worrying about the future is a moment out of the present, lost. Yes, we need to complete the past, wind up our unfinished business and be attentive to trends that could lead to future events, but we can only take action in the present.  So that is where your full attention needs to be  and staying in the present is a full time job. If you had the opportunity to wave a magic wand and change anything in your life, what would it be? Answer the following four questions:   

1.    What is it I want to change or have?

2.    Why do I want to change or have it?

3.    How will my life be different and better by changing or having it?

4.    Are you ready to take the first step today?

2.     Change your thinking.

     Old thinking – I have tried before and nothing changed. Change is difficult, impossible and unachievable. 

     New thinking – I want this and I am the only one that can make it happen. Change is manageable, possible and achievable.  Change creates wonderful possibilities and opportunity’s to think about important things in my life, make a fresh start, get out of settings that have been draining, go places, and make choices about how I really want to live. As much as 94 percent of your inner dialogue tends to be about the things you fear, your worries, the people you're angry at, your problems, your concerns and so on. You have to consciously keep your words, your inner dialogue, consistent with what you wish to accomplish.    

3.   3.      Work on one goal at a time.

     Write down the goal that you want to start working on today, right now, this moment. We focus too much on the future.  In order to achieve any goal, you must bring it into the present, where you can give it life and work on it. Write your goal on a piece of paper. On the left side write the date you are going to start and on the right side the target date for achievement.   

A g4.        A goal is something attained only by prolonged effort, determination and commitment.  

     To be effective, goals must have certain characteristics.  It must be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time bound.  You cannot achieve a goal for someone else.

5.        You can not achieve a worthwhile goal without following a plan.  

     It is like taking a trip without a road map. Before you can make your daily plan you need to make two lists.  One is a master list and will be ongoing and the second list is what you will put on your action plan and execute and evaluate on a daily basis.  For example, a marathon runner just does not decide he or she wants to run in a marathon and does it.  It takes a lot of planning, executing and evaluating to make it happen.

6.          Believe in your goal and yourself.

     Committed individuals have a strong belief system.  Before you can achieve any goal, you need to do some personal work.  Get rid of the self-limiting beliefs, gremlins and take out the trash. Remember that the only obstacle standing in your way is YOU!

7.           Are you willing to invest in your goal?

     Are you willing to invest time, money, emotion and other resources in achieving your goal?  You may have to give up other activities, projects and social events in order to achieve your goals.  Your perspective about what is important and worth wanting, shifts.  You may have to re-orient your life.  Some people may not share your passion for your goal and could even be disruptive to your plan. Check your boundaries.

8.           Have a support team.

     Surround yourself with people who share your vision, believe in you and want you to succeed.  Ask them to hold you accountable to your action plan.  Some of my clients have a buddy system. 

9.   9.           Make your goal part of you and your life.  

     To achieve a goal it must be in your mind consistently.  Verbalize it everyday to others and to you.  Surround yourself with visuals.  Post your action plan where you can see it.  Have a picture of your completed goal.  Some of my clients have a beginning picture and as they move closer to their goal the picture changes. Write statements or affirmations in present tense for example,  I am… Write in your journal and last but not least, read, execute and evaluate your action plan everyday.

10.           Baby Steps! 

     A Chinese philosopher said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. For change to occur in your life you must take the first step.  Take one step at a time.  Don’t worry what is ahead of you, only on the step you are taking at this moment.  The hardest step is that first one.  You can accomplish anything if you do it one step at a time.  What are you waiting for?  Take that first step now!

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