02 Jan Make setting goals and chasing dreams part of your story in 2022
A new year is like a blank piece of paper, which makes it perfect for setting fresh goals and making a new start – but putting in place a plan to chase your dreams shouldn’t be an annual event but something you make a regular part of your life.
Why put all that pressure on yourself just because it is the start of January? Make a manageable plan instead, where you break reaching your goal into bite-sized pieces that are easier to achieve and keep you motivated. You could do this at the start of every month, every Sunday evening, every morning or just when the whim takes you.
“If you don’t know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else.”
Lawrence J. Peter
Set goals to feel good
Regularly thinking about your goals, where you are in life and where you want to be also gives you the flexibility to rethink and change course if the path you are taking just isn’t working out for you. Give yourself the freedom to change tack but keep dreaming, believing and setting goals.
Having something to aim for gives you purpose in life that gets you out of bed raring to go – and brings rewards that make you feel good when you hit your targets. Productivity and motivation are serious self-esteem boosters, so set yourself some goals and get going – you will feel good about it.
“If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.”
Zig Ziglar
Need some guidance? Find a mentor
Staying on track and knowing which move you need to make next to achieve your goals sometimes takes a bit of help and having a knowledgeable mentor is priceless. A mentor will help you to set goals you can achieve, help you to ask and answer the questions that you need to understand your aims in life, and they will give you the motivation and direction you need to keep going.
Some of the world’s most successful people have enjoyed having a mentor to guide them, including Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, who is said to have benefitted from the wisdom of Apple’s Steve Jobs, and fashion icon Yves Saint Lauren, who was supported in his early career by Christian Dior.
Finding a mentor might not be as tricky as you think. Here at Back on Track Teens our role is to guide young people in achieving their best lives. As part of that Back on Track Teens can help with mentoring, coaching and training. Also think about who you have in your life and who you may know – don’t be afraid to ask for help, most people are happy to encourage others.
“If you cannot see where you are going, ask someone who has been there before.”
J Loren Norris
Chase your dreams
Knowing where you want to be and setting targets to get there gives your day purpose. Find focus and fulfilment – and make sure that you get the life that you want – by setting goals, having dreams and finding the support you need to reach them.
“Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
National Hugging Day, 21 January
However driven you are in striving to meet your personal and professional goals, you will still need emotional support, so make sure you find time for a hug when you need it. Emphasising the importance of a good hug, January 21st marks National Hugging Day. Hugging and personal growth are believed to be interlinked and human contact is an important part of leading a fulfilled life. This is something Debra Sofia Magdalene has channelled with her training company Global Hugs Ltd – ‘Hugs’ standing for Hunger for Unlimited Growth of Self. Hugs soothe, comfort and reassure, so give your loved ones a hug and make everyone’s day better.
National Storytelling Week, 29 January to 5 February
Life is about writing your own story. Telling your story is a great way to help and support others. While stories offer an escape from the world in the form of reading and unleashing creativity, they also serve a very real part in life.
In weaving a moral or emotional lesson into a story it has a more profound impact on the mind than being told straight forward facts as it enters your subconscious. That emotional interaction with a story has the power to change people and change lives.
National Storytelling Week encourages youngsters to tell their own story or to invent one – but most of all to be inspired by storytelling. Back on Track Teens shares both true life stories to inspire others, as well as moral tales that give you pause for thought. Look at the Back on Track Teens website to discover stories to inspire you.
Choose the life you want to lead
Having dreams to chase will fill your life with challenge and purpose, giving you the enthusiasm and zest for life that will make you want to seize the day – each and every day.
Ambition will keep you moving forward in life, giving you a sense of self-importance and something to celebrate as you reach and pass milestones. With each challenge that you meet, you will be driven to do more and be more.
Discover what fuels you and makes you want to embrace adventure and challenge, then set a goal and go for it!
What gets you fired up? Have you set and reached ambitions, or are you struggling to find direction and need a little help? The Back on Track Teens community is here to help, inspire and support you. So please, share your stories and feel free to ask for help. Find us at:
What’s holding you back? Set a goal today, however small, and before you know it you will be reaching for the stars and achieving things you never thought possible.
“When it comes to fighting for your dreams, be a dragon. Breathe fire.”
Richelle E. Goodrich
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