Having a dream is a wonderful thing

Published in the Health & Wellness Section of JSE Magazine April 2015

Having a dream is a wonderful thing! In fact Albert Einstein said that “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions.”

So yes, think big! Dream big and then if you really want to make it happen, plan big too:

Goals are the stepping stones to dream actualisation and they serve to encourage commitment to their achievement.

Briefly, they can be grouped into three broad categories:

A short term goal focuses on the present and serves to motivate you. This usually may take a few days or weeks and leads the medium term goal. This moves one forward towards goal actualisation and may take months to achieve; and the long term goals inspire us to keep focussed.

Of course, goals may change along the way, should one’s course or direction change, e.g. this may often happen if one becomes disillusioned with the type of work, or industry, or environment and your personal growth might too have taken you in a new direction. There is no reason to stick to an old goal if it no longer fits with your world view. Hence while goals are there to guide, motivate and provide the practical steps along the way, they need to be flexible too. Life happens!

Measurement is always a very good idea, and checking in on yourself creates accountability. Get real about this – either you are going to do something about it or not! There is an ancient Chinese saying that goes: “If you keep doing what you are doing, you will keep getting what you get”. So this measurement or reassessment allows one to keep focussed, pro-active and committed to forward movement.

Honouring your commitment to your own individual goals speaks volumes about self respect! And continued goal achievement allows for increased progress, success and joy – and this in itself is a self fulfilling prophecy. Believe!

Ann Werner
Industrial Psychologist & Career Facilitator

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