You still need to set goals. Goals can be set at any stage and at any age. Your goal may be something as simple as being able to dress yourself each morning, and it could expand to mean that you want to be totally independent. An article by Vandanaa Belgaonkar: (DNA: Daily News & Analysis. Mumbai: September 30, 2010) focuses on the importance of setting timely goals in order to realize your dream life. I am thinking that your dream life has nothing to do with being dependent on others for your activities of daily living.
You may think you are too old to have dreams or set goals, but goal setting could very well mean the difference between being independent or not. Think about it, and form a mental picture of what you want the rest of your life to be like. Goal setting is what makes life interesting. Goal setting is what gives you that little extra push to achieve.
Most people do not set goals because they are afraid of failure. Instead of figuring our how to make their goals a reality, they either downsize their dreams or stop dreaming altogether.
Time is still at hand. You can start today to set goals and strive to achieve. Set your goals and write them down. Break the goal up into manageable segments and count each success as a victory. Maybe today you are striving to get your clothes on, tomorrow your shoes, and the next day fixing your own breakfast. Is that too basic? How about that exercise program? A walk around the block today can morph into a stronger body tomorrow and this all leads to independent living.
The author further discusses goals. What is a goal anyway? A goal is a dream with a deadline. The goal is very specific. Use the acronym SMART to think about this:
- S stands for a specific achievement
- M is for making it something measurable
- A means that it must be something that is actually achievable
- R means it must be simple and it must be realistic
- T gives it a time frame
A goal minus action is just a dream and will always be just a dream. You don’t just say something like “I want to lose weight.” You say that you want to lose 2 pounds in 2 weeks by means of a diet and exercise plan.
Goal statements should be positive and they should be realistic. You aren’t just saving money, you are saving x amount of money out of each pay check. Your goals can be personal, professional, family oriented, financial, social, physical, mental or spiritual.
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