“Don’t wish it was easier, wish you were better. Don’t wish for less problems, wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenge, wish for more wisdom.”
— Jim Rohn
There has been much said about the power of goal setting but not always in the same breath as when speaking of overcoming adversity or becoming more resilient. Adversity, is part of life. We all experience challenges, some more than others. However, none of us can live a rich full life without experiencing some pain. Life is not fair at times and that is simply the way it is. Like a ship caught in a storm, we can get tossed and spun about leaving us like a ship without a rudder. However, like all of the great mariners of yesteryear, who followed the North Star in the sky in order to get to where their destination was, we can be the same way.
Jim Rohn who was an entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker was a huge proponent of goal setting. He himself became a millionaire at age 30 and then broke by age 31. He was able to pick himself up with the help of good supports and rebuild his life. In my own life, I have been able to weather the storm of job loss and divorce by having goals and focusing on them regardless of what else was going on. Simply put; having goals will act as our north star and guide regardless of the weather conditions of life.
Whenever I work with a client, together we will create a treatment plan in which we identify what the issues are, what the major goals are and what is the plan of action to accomplish these goals. We update this plan every 3 months or as needed. The following is an exercise I learned from listening to Brian Tracy, best selling author and professional speaker who has helped over 5 million people achieve their goals. Write down your top 5 major definite goals to be achieved this year. Write them down each day for the next thirty days. Slowly your life will change because your focus will change and you will begin get closer to the achievement of your goals.
Live well and be well.
David
Empowering people to be more resilient and hopeful is my passion. I am a graduate of Boston Latin Academy high school. I also have an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from Southern Vermont College and then earned a graduate degree (M.Ed.) in Rehabilitation Counseling with a certificate in advanced graduate studies (CAGS) in Mental Health Counseling at UMASS Boston. I have been a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Massachusetts since 2004 and a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor in Massachusetts since 2008.