Life is full of choices. How you will spend your time and money, where you will live, who you will spend your time with (or date or marry), what career path you’ll take. These are just a few of the choices that “20-somethings” face every day. It’s not really a “life crisis”, it’s more like a transition from living a life dependent on your parents and teachers and even your peers, to a life where you are responsible for everything. That means there is no one else to blame for your failure or to thank for your success but yourself.
To make those choices really work for you, it helps if you first explore what you want out of life, then create a plan, develop goals and put them into action. What do you want? What really charges you up and makes you happy? If time, education and money were no object, what would you want to be doing with your life? Think of some peak moments in your life. What were you doing, who were you with, and what was so special about that moment? What is important to you? What must you have in your life in order to feel complete and fulfilled? These are the kinds of questions that will lead you toward who you want to be in life. It’s not just about career. It’s also about how you conduct yourself, your ambition, your drive, how you care for yourself and others, how you use your time and money.
Taking the time to dream about the life you want is a great start. What you do with those dreams is the key to success. Use your dreams to formulate a plan. A plan is nothing more than a series of goals. If you are honest with yourself and if you are willing to do the work to achieve those goals, anything is possible. Goal setting is about creating a vision for your life’s path and motivating you into action. It’s also about breaking your big goals down into smaller achievable steps.
Be specific with your goals, “I will be in school by September, 2010.” Then break those goals down into smaller steps, “I will research 10 schools by July 1.” “I will send in applications by Oct 30, 2009.” And so on. SMARTT goals are specific, measurable, authentic, resonant, thrilling and timely. They are something you can check off your list as completed, with a time frame that keeps you on your toes.
Your dreams won’t come true without a lot of hard work and belief that they are possible. If you believe in your plan and your goals, then your actions should follow suit and reflect what you want out of life. No one plans to spend all their money on cars, clothes and clubbing, but if that is where your money is going, you won’t ever be out on your own or in the home of your dreams. Take a good look at how your actions are supporting or not supporting your goals.
Who are you meant to be? Dreams, goals, actions, belief, and personal management are at the crux of achieving the life that you want. What are you willing and ready to do in order to make your dreams come true?
Monica Leggett is a personal life coach for women and entrepreneurs of all ages. For information on how she can help you find your life's path, call 203-209-5462 or email monica@newstepslifecoaching.com.
Read the rest of the articles in this series:
Part 2: Achieving your dreams is hard work
Part 3: You must believe it to achieve it
Part 4: Manage your time, manage your life.
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