tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29671319.post-1167953265595587092007-01-04T15:24:00.000-08:002007-01-05T09:25:30.076-08:00<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Here we are again in the first few days of our new year with lots of new resolutions, dreams and goals. I could not help but wonder why at this time when we have so much strength in setting our goals for the year and we are so committed, do we fail so often and fall short of our dreams.<br /><br />I believe it is because we lose FOCUS as our goals were not planned with our true values in mind. Right now at the beginning of the year we have our goals written down, we read them and do all the things that are required to be successful in the realization of our new goals. However, as we get back into the real world and have daily concerns and to dos to deal with, the goals that we felt were so important at the beginning of the year fall away to new found priorities, many of which sneak into your lives unexpectedly. We get into the rut of doing things that are not in alignment with what we truly value and want to accomplish for the year or in life.<br /><br />If we really want to achieve our New Year's Resolutions we must have the personal commitment to plan goals that are values-driven and then keep these goals in focus through keeping them in alignment with what we truly value at all times. Keep the list simple. For example, if one of your values is health and your goal is to watch what you eat and not unconsciously put junk food in your body, the list could say: Eat Healthy. You should carry this on a piece of paper with you so that each time you stop to put food in your mouth you will automatically ask yourself "is this healthy"? I find that this system really helps me when I stop in at a coffee shop. I found that my favorite drink has become a Dopio Expresso with some foam (far less calories than Chai Tea Latte). I also no longer have a treat each time I have my coffee shot so this alone saves more than 500 calories a day.<br /><br />When challenges arise in our daily schedules, we need to remind ourselves of what it is that we truly value so that we can prioritize accordingly. A good way of keeping on top of your values-driven goals is to put them right into your electronic calendar or to display them prominently on your computer desktop. For those of us who keep lists, diaries or manuals of any type, write down your goals and read them each and every day to remind yourself of what it is you truly value in order to keep your focus.<br /></div><br />Happy New Year!<br /><br />All the best to you,<br /><br />Peter<br /><br /><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29671319-116795326559558709?l=www.lifemanual.com%2Fblog%2Findex.html' alt='' /></div>LifePilothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07259644286959635001noreply@blogger.com0