Goals and Planning

Take a look at your life right now. Just take a moment to ponder over where you've been, where you are, and where you are going. It is easy to see where you have been, Even easier to see where you are, but can you see where you are going? Do you know what your future holds? Where will you be tomorrow, a week from now, a month, a year, five years, ten years?

Those who travel life aimlessly and without direction wil lalways wonder what the future holds. Some will look on the future in fear, some with hope, some with confusion. Others seem to care little about the future and give it no thought whatsoever; they focus only on the present.

We can know what the future holds. We need not wonder in fear and confusion. First, decide where it is you want to be. What is it that you desire for your future? Whatever your hopes and dreams, do not belittle them or think it is impossible. Write them down. Make them concrete, so they are no longer dreams but goals.

Now that you know where it is you want to go, compare that to where you are. Are you acting in a way that will help you reach and achieve your goals? Can you connect the dots between where you are and where you want to be? It does little good to set a goal you do not know how to obtain. Any goal is going to require some work and effort, whether it be small or large. If you are not willing to do that work and put forth that effort, your dreams and goals will always remain beyond your grasp.

Someone dreams of joining the army. They decide they are going to do more than dream, they're going to do it, but they never contact a recruiter, never take the asvab, and never get into physical shape. They graduate high school, get a part-time job at a fast food restaurant and spend all their time and money on movies and video games. Someday, they say. Someday, I'll join the army. Will such a person ever fulfill this goal? Not if they continue on the path they are currently treading. They must resolve to do the work that will get them into the army.

Someone wants to become a famous judge, dreams of having their own court tv show. As with the someone who desired to join the army, there is a specific path that must be followed if such a goal is to be obtained. The person must go to law school, work with a law firm, get to know the right people, and be very good at their job. Without completing these steps, this dream will never be accomplished.

To give our lives purpose, We must decide where it is we want to go and connect the dots between here and there. The scale of our goals can be far-reaching and all-encompassing. They can cover those things we wish to accomplish by the end of our lives, and small simple things like what we want to hjave done by tomorrow. As we set goals and make plans to reach those goals, we are charting a course for our lives, taking control, and giving ourselves purpose and direction.

We should set goals in every aspect of our lives, like seeking improvement in physical-fitness, knowledge, learning and intelligence, emotional health, talents and skills for recreational use, skills for work, interaction and communication with other's, most importantly our spiritual health and well being. By setting these goals and following the necessary steps, to achieve them we will constantly be moving forward and improving ourselves through work, study, and experience.

Planning and goals will give us purpose and direction, and with this will come confidence, strength and direction. We can be confident in knowing where we are going. We will find strength in standing our ground and avoiding those things which will lead us astray. And we will find happiness in our accomplishments as we learn, grow and improve.