Actualize Your Unique Goals For A Life Filled With Happiness And Success by Mark Victor Hansen

When people say things like: "The ocean is beautiful" or "There's nothing more breathtaking than a sunset" do you ever find yourself robotically agreeing with them without consciously thinking about their statements?

This is a common practice. What if, when you really think about it, you discover you prefer mountain peaks to ocean views, or would rather watch the sun rise than set?

Your opinions are your own– they belong to you. Never allow others to tell you what you think, who you are or what you should be doing with your life.

Some parents and families nurture children well. But in the process they instill in those same children certain expectations that stem from their own unfulfilled desires.

How many adults do you know became a doctor or a lawyer because their parents wanted them to? Did a friend of yours go into their family's business because it was also expected of them?

If you have a burning desire to be what your parents, family and friends want you to be, that's one thing. But if your true passion has nothing to do with medical school or the family business then it is your responsibility to follow your heart. Is this being selfish? Absolutely – but it is your duty to accomplish your mission on earth.

Are people going to be upset that you're not doing what they want you to do? Sure they will – but do not be swayed by those who do not have the courage to follow their own dreams.

You're not responsible for the happiness of anyone but yourself. You were put here for a reason. Do the work you were born to do.

What's exciting about using our mind is that we can short circuit all the excuses thrown up by our fears.

Mark Victor Hansen
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Mark Victor Hansen - Co-Author of the Chicken Soup For The Soul series of books. For over 25 years, Mark Victor Hansen has focused solely on helping people in all walks of life reshape their personal vision of what's possible for themselves. Visit MarkVictorHansen.com for resources, secure shopping and web-only product specials, speaking schedule and current projects. Mark is also the co-author of "The One Minute Millionaire" book.

The Top 10 Reasons Why Planning Your Life is Vital By Barb Elyett

If you have ever planned a vacation, wedding, surprise party, or special event, you know how much work is involved. Planning, checking, adjusting and planning again is all part of the process of creating the result that you want.

Many people understand the importance of planning events in their life but very few understand the importance of actually planning their life.

It is said that people don’t plan to fail, they just fail to plan. It is pretty obvious that a wedding would be a disaster without a plan. Well, what about your life?

You have a choice to either make things happen, watch things happen or wonder “What happened? Which will it be?

If you are serious about living in tune with your deepest dreams and desires you need to become a “makes things happen” person. Success will not attack you. The way you get what you want is to plan it!

Below is a list of top 10 reasons why planning your life is vital. I have prepared this list to sell you on the fact that you need a plan to get what you want. If you are not yet “sold,” read on.

1) A planned life gives you direction. Planning allows you to know where you are going and how you are going to get there. Without a plan, you lack direction and focus and run the risk of spending your time doing things that fail to benefit your future.

2) A planned life puts your dreams within reach. If your dreams have ever felt a little “pie in the sky-ish” it is probably because they were not grounded in a plan. A plan provides action steps necessary to achieve your dreams. Apply the action steps and you are on your way to making your dreams happen.

3) A planned life puts you in control. If you leave your life up to chance or let others control it for you, you are sure to be disappointed. Taking control of your own life is the only way to get what YOU truly want.

4) A planned life gives you peace. Just knowing that you are taking steps to create the life you want gives you a sense of peace. Without a plan, it is easy to get into confusion and despair about which way to go and how to spend your days.

5) A planned life gives you purpose. When you take the time to plan your life you choose to live life “on purpose.” You no longer just “exist.” You embrace the purpose you were created to fulfill and make it happen through action.

6) A planned life gives you passion. Success is the progressive realization of a worthwhile goal. It is not a destination. It is a journey. When you are headed towards a goal, it makes your “present” more fulfilling, more passionate and exciting.

7) A planned life empowers you. Planning puts YOU on YOUR side. When you are single-minded about where you are going, you have power to live your life your way.

8) A planned life honors God. You are to be a steward of all God has given you. To manage your life shows that you respect the gift of life that you have been given.

9) A planned life puts your subconscious mind to work for you. When you plan, you plant a vision on your subconscious mind. That vision creates the opportunities for you to succeed at your plan.

10) A planned life gives you freedom. Freedom exists in one place, inside of you. When you claim the freedom you have to shape your destiny, you are truly free.
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Barb is a Life Coach and founder of Making Dreams Happen a coaching service that exists to put people back in alignment with their deepest, most passionate dreams and make them happen. Barb is also a successful Singer, Songwriter and Speaker. Sign up for Barb’s free So Alive Inside! newsletter at www.BarbElyett.com.

7 Goals Worth Pursuing By Brian Bartes

Before a commercial airplane takes off, the pilot has a very clear destination in mind, and a flight plan to get there. The plane leaves at a specific time, and takes off toward a specific destination. The plane is off track, though, at least 90% of the time. Weather conditions, turbulence and other factors cause this.

However, feedback is given to the pilot constantly. The inertial guidance system of the aircraft continually helps the pilot evaluate and revise the plane’s position to reach the expected destination on time. The plane takes off on time, arrives on time, and yet is off course 90% of the time.

Now imagine you are the plane. What is your destination? And do you have a flight plan to get there?

One of the common characteristics of highly successful people is that they are intensely goal-oriented. Successful people know where it is that they want to go in life, and they have a clear plan to get there. Their “destination” is the list of goals that they have written down, and their “flight plan” is the action plan around those goals.

I do a lot of work with my clients around goal-setting, and often solicit feedback regarding the successes and challenges in setting and achieving goals. The question that I am most often asked in this area is “How do I set goals if I don’t know what I want to do?”

In response to this question, here are seven goals worth pursuing:

1. Satisfying work or career. As Marsha Sinetar suggests in her bestselling book, Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow. We all want a career that is fulfilling and nourishing, not draining. Ideally, you are positioned on a positive career path, leading to increased opportunities and raises. Hopefully, you also look forward to going to work virtually every day, and your earnings are commensurate with the effort you put into your job. You invest a lot of hours into your work, so it’s important that you are doing something you enjoy.

2. Personal development. The world is changing and, in order to succeed, we must change with it. The way to do this is by growing personally. First, read every day in your chosen field. Next, listen to audio tapes during your commute to work. Take classes or attend workshops. Finally, establish a support structure to hold you accountable for the results that you are committed to achieving in your life. Hiring a personal coach is a great way to do this.

3. Financial freedom. In its simplest form, financial freedom means having no financial stress of any kind in your life. Practical ways to get to this point, if you aren’t there already, include saving 10% of your income, having a reserve of six months living expenses in the bank (or a money-market account) and having no credit card or installment debt (other than a mortgage). A big challenge for some, but a worthy goal nonetheless.

4. Great relationships. How are your relationships with your family (children, spouse, parents, siblings)? Do you have a close circle of personal friends? Don’t forget relationships within your professional network (attorney, accountant and yes, it’s nice to know a plumber, too). All these relationships are important, and we can’t spend too much time nurturing them.

5. Health& Physical fitness. Health is extremely important, and yet we often take it for granted until we are affected by ill health. Be proactive in this area. Eat fresh, healthful foods. Drink 8 glasses of water per day. Limit your intake of caffeine, sugar and alcohol. Exercise at least 3 times per week, even if that means walking for 15 or 20 minutes. Finally, get plenty of sleep each night.

6. Spiritual peace. There is no substitute for peace of mind, and the way to obtain this is through a relationship with God, or the spiritual equivalent for you. Be involved in ongoing spiritual growth. Contribute both time and money to charitable organizations and/or your formal place of worship.

7. Fun & Pleasure. This is about taking time for yourself, enjoying whatever it is that you like to do. Consistently take evenings, weekends and holidays off. Take at least two weeks of vacation per year, to refresh/energize/nourish yourself. Be 100% committed to relaxation. While this time may seem unproductive to some, it will lead to greater productivity in the long run. And it will be more fun, too!

In the real estate business, they say that the best time to buy real estate was 10 years ago, and the second best time is NOW. The same goes for moving toward these “worthy goals.” The important thing is not where you stand today in each of these areas; it’s the direction in which you are moving. Enjoy the journey as you pursue (and attract) each of these elements into your life!
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Brian Bartes is a top personal and business success coach. His bi-weekly newsletter is filled with strategies that support you in achieving greater success in your personal and professional life. Subscribe today at his website, www.LifeExcellence.com.

10 Steps to Achieving Your Goals By Brian Bartes

The ability to set goals and to develop a plan for the accomplishment of those goals is arguably the most important ingredient of success.

Mastering this skill will enable you to achieve your dreams faster than you ever thought possible.

The goal-achieving system below is a powerful, yet simple strategy that can be used to help you achieve anything in life that you desire.

1. Set your goal. The first step is to find a goal that is big enough to inspire you. Unless you are truly inspired to accomplish the goal, it is just a wish. By calling it a "goal", you are affirming that (a) you desire it intensely, (b) you truly believe in your ability to achieve your goal and (c) you are willing to pay the price in advance for achieving your goal.

2. Write down your goal. Writing out your goal stimulates the "filtering" part of your brain, called the Reticular Activating System (RAS). When you write down your goal, the RAS begins collecting relevant information, then sends results to the conscious part of your mind. It acts "behind the scenes", causing you to become aware of opportunities that would have otherwise gone unnoticed. Make sure that the goal is positive, is written in the present tense, is action-oriented, and is specific and as detailed as possible.

3. Establish a deadline for the achievement of your goal. By setting a deadline, your subconscious is activated to ensure the achievement of your goal within the prescribed time frame. If you follow all the steps in this process, and your projections are realistic, then you will achieve your goal by the deadline.

4. Determine how you will benefit from achieving the goal. You will only be compelled to achieve your goal if it is something that inspires you, something that causes such intense desire in you that you are willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish your goal. By writing down the reasons you want to achieve your goal, you’ll discover how intense your desire really is.

5. Identify what stands between you and your goal. There will probably be several elements standing between you and your goal. Make a list of these "challenges", and rank them in order of priority. Then, begin taking action to remove each of the elements that stands in the way of the accomplishment of your goal.

6. Design an action plan for accomplishing your goal. This detailed plan will encompass everything that you have done in the previous steps. Write out all the steps that you will have to take, and rank them in order of priority. Assign target dates for each step.

7. Visualize your goal as already having been accomplished. Review your goal daily. Also, the more detailed you can make your vision, the more powerful it will be.

8. Affirm your goal as already having been accomplished. Every day, read your goal either silently or aloud. Repeat it to yourself, over and over again.

9. Resolve to take massive action toward the achievement of your goal. Persistence and determination will keep you on the success track anytime obstacles try to stand in your way. By taking continuous action, you will eventually reach the point where nothing can stop you.

10. Take one specific action every day to propel you toward your goal. By taking continuous action, you develop the necessary discipline and momentum that you will need to achieve your goals.

Any worthwhile goal requires sustained effort. By consistently applying the methods above, you will develop the success habits that will enable you to achieve any goal that you desire.
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Brian Bartes is a top personal and business success coach. His bi-weekly newsletter is filled with strategies that support you in achieving greater success in your personal and professional life. Subscribe today at his website, www.LifeExcellence.com.