Reaching Your Goal...Inch by Inch, Step by Step
By Celestine Green

The following article was printed in the April 2004 issue of
Sandscripts, newsletter of Cactus Rose Chapter. Sister RWA chapter
may use this article with proper credit.

Sometimes achieving a specific goal seems impossible. It's easy to
get frustrated or become impatient after putting so much into making
a dream a reality and realizing that it is still far away. You feel
you've exhausted every possibility or maybe you've lost your vision.
When you start thinking about giving up, remember the old saying, "winners never quit and quitters never win."

Being patient and persistent is one sure way of reaching a particular goal. Just
when you think you can't, take one more step...give it one more try.
Remember, goals like dreams are not achieved overnight. If you're
willing to make the effort, those small, single steps will move you
inch by inch toward achieving your goal.

You could take the easy way out- have no goals. "If you aim for
nothing, you'll hit it every time."
I prefer following Albert Einstein's advice. "If you want to live a
happy life, tie it to a goal-not people or things." Here are some
tips that may help you stay the course and make your dream a reality.

• Set a series of smaller goals. Eventually, those smaller
goals build upon themselves and your big goal will be accomplished.

• Look at everyday as a bright new start. New beginnings are
untarnished by anything that happened in the past. Few things
bring more joy and excitement than a fresh new journey, full of
bright new opportunities to achieve the things you desire.

• Don't underestimate your own talents and try not to compare
your talents to others. Focus on what you can do and accept the
talents you have. Fulfillment comes from developing your own
talents, not wishing for someone else's.

• Take responsibility for building your self-esteem. Remind
yourself that you are valuable and worthwhile. High self esteem
adds vitality and enthusiasm, helps you be at your best and keeps
you feeling terrific.

• Stop saying "yes" when you really mean "no".

• Become just as concerned and considerate of your needs,
feelings and desires as you are of others. Being selfish can
sometimes be good.

• Take time to visualize yourself as already having attained
your desired outcome. See and feel your success in advance. It
will give you the strength to make the sacrifices necessary to
achieve your dream.

• Celebrate "little victories" and keep insignificant setbacks
in the proper prospective. It will keep you motivated to forge
ahead.

• Enjoy the freedom of choice. Every day you make hundreds of
choices, consciously and unconsciously. Consider the impact of
today's choices. Make sure your choices will bring you the happiness
and self-fulfillment you desire.

• Eliminate the negative (people) and accentuate the positive
(people) in your life.

Be a winner. Enjoy the challenge of reaching your goal. Never give
up on your dream.


Celestine Green is President of Cactus Rose Chapter and Co-
Newsletter Editor of Sandscripts. Romance: first, last and always
is her theme. An aspiring author of contemporary multicultural
romance, she publishes an e-zine, "The Love Link" and a monthly
romance newsletter, "Sweet Nothings". Visit her website, The Pink
Pages, at http://celestinegreen.com.