Dream Catcher

Image Source: Rebecca Giansante

Goals can be hard to achieve. The bigger the goal, the longer it takes, and the more effort it takes, but there are ways to make the journey smoother and maybe even shorter.

Get support. This can be from anyone. Parents, grandparents, siblings, teachers, classmates, friends, or maybe even neighbors. Find people (or even just one person) who you can turn to for advice or simple encouragement when you find yourself at a temporary faltering point on the road to your goal.

Be flexible. If a path opens up to take you to the results you want that differs from the one you’re already on, don’t push it away without consideration.  Think about it and what benefits a different method may have over the one you’re using now. Weigh the pros and cons, the time taken, the work needed, and so on.  

Be open to alternatives. I don’t mean give up on your long-held dream or desire, I mean keep other possibilities in mind. I’ve personally had this on my mind for a long time.  I want to be an author, but I am also considering the idea of becoming a teacher. It doesn’t mean I can’t do both, but rather it means that teaching is just an alternative for a career (and probably a more secure one) than simply being a writer.  

Take time to relax. If you put too much into something, you’ll burn out and not be able to do your best and be your best. Hard work is obviously important when trying to achieve something, but it’s good for the mind and body to take a few minutes to do something else besides the homework, paperwork, phone calls, and whatever it is you’re doing to move forward.  

You have it within you to achieve whatever it is you’re currently working towards. It can be a short-term goal like a degree or a promotion at work, or a long-term goal like being able to be a stay-at-home parent or owning your own home. Just remember it’s a journey to be enjoyed and not a race to be won.