Our chief want in life is somebody who shall make us do what we can.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
1803 – 1882

Have you ever written down your top three goals in life? Take a minute to think about them. You don’t need to write them out in detail; just jot something down about each one. It might be getting a new house, owning a cottage in the mountains, visiting a foreign country, achieving a degree, or some other accomplishment. So take a moment now and think about your top three goals.

Here’s the next question. If you were to share these ambitions with your spouse, children, or parents, would you change your answer? What if you had to tell your best friend about the three things you wanted most in life? Or if you were in a meeting with your peers and had to publicly announce your life goals? Would they be different?

Many times, people have two sets of goals: one they share with others and one set they’re afraid to say out loud. If you’re afraid to honestly share your ambitions, what are your chances of achieving them?

If you really want to meet your goals, you should consider some other questions as well.

What will you do today to move you closer to achieving one of your goals? How many specific actions have you taken in the last week that moved you closer to your target?

Do you have an accountability partner to help keep you on track? Do you think you can truly hold yourself accountable?

Finally, why do you want to achieve these particular goals? If you’re going to reach any goal, you need a strong reason why. The more your reason resonates with your core needs and values, the more drive you’ll have. It’s not enough that someone else thinks you ought to achieve something; you have to truly want it yourself.

If you want to achieve any particular goal in life, follow these steps:

• Get very clear about what you want. Write it down. An intention not written down is just a wish, and wishes rarely come true.
• Be sure that your goal is in alignment with the way you live your life.
• Take action each and every week toward your target.
• Find someone to act as an accountability partner.
• Make sure your goals are yours, not objectives imposed by family, friends, or society.

Reaching a lifetime goal is never easy. Be sure you aren’t sabotaging yourself right from the start.

A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart, and set out to accomplish it.
James Allen
1864 – 1912

Copyright © 2022 John Chancellor