Setting Short Term Goals and Long Term Goals

Looking back over the last two years I've set several writing goals and happily achieved them. Several were short term goals while another one was being accepted into the Apprenticeship Program, which was a long term goal. There were times that I felt I wasn't going to be able to complete the task leading to the goals but happily I did.

When I set a goal, should I happen get to the point of feeling like I’m going to fail, a vision always comes to mind; “The Little Engine That Could”. If you are unfamiliar with this, it is a children’s story about a small train engine that takes on the task that larger engine trains have turned down. Thomas, the small engine, has to go up a high mountain and rescue a stranded train and pull it up across the mountain. Throughout the story he repeats over and over “I think I can, I think I can.” As he nears his destination and completion point he repeats, “I thought I could, I thought I could.”

I had a short story here on HubPages a few years ago. After receiving encouragement from so many authors here I decided to take the story and self-publish it through KDP.

I'm happy to say after editing, and having my husband design the book cover, it is now available on Amazon.

It's been a life long dream and long term goal of mine to see this happen. I set my mind to it and achieved it. If I can do you can too.

I found that having a support system such as friends and fellow writers helped me immensely. There were days that I wanted to throw in the towel and say I just can’t do this anymore. When they would hear this I’d be shot down in a second, dusted off and be put back to work through words of kindness, caring and encouragement.

Going back to school to attain that degree, to learn a new trade, start a new career, or to enhance your career for further growth.

Goals for a Healthier Life

Setting up a diet and or exercise plan, whether it is to lose weight or to become a healthier person.

Quitting smoking, drinking or drugs

Seeking help from a medical professional such as a counselor or psychologist

Financial Goals

Whether you are saving for that first car, first home, saving for retirement, for a trip, to get out of debt, or to pay off bills in order to live more comfortably, there are many ways in which you can achieve a financial goal. I know you've heard this over and over again but it really does work … Live Frugally.

For myself I find it fun and rewarding to set a goal and achieve it. There are many reasons why we set goals and in turn different benefits that come from goal setting.

• It feels good to accomplish goals
• Improves self esteem
• Confidence builder
• When you set out to do something, follow through with it, and achieve it, this will and can lead to bigger goals in life. Sometimes you just have to reach for the stars and make your dreams come true.
• Feelings of success come from goal setting and successful people set goals.
• Setting goals whether short term or long term motivates you and gives you purpose and direction in life.

If you have a difficult time setting goals or setting up a goal and following through to achieve it, start out with baby steps, such as a to do list. Push yourself to get it done. Once you've attained this goal, challenge yourself to achieve a larger goal.

Goals take determination, drive direction and desire. Sometimes they come out of need or necessity and other times they’ll come from wanting to help another human being.

No matter which way you look at it goals large or small are good for the body, mind, and soul.