7 Steps Caregivers Can Take to Hold Onto Their Dreams

When January rolls around, we look with fresh eyes at the new year ahead, thinking about things we want to achieve... dreams we'd love to come to life... goals we want to reach.

Yet, I've heard a number of caregivers say things like, "Oh, I gave up on that dream when I started taking care of my folks" or "I don't have time for my goals anymore, I give everything to caregiving".

A dream is just that-a vision of how life could be different. But a goal, with action steps and strategies that can be implemented, makes a dream come true.

As caregivers, we know that one of the most important philosophies we need to live by is to 'Roll with the punches.' One never knows exactly what a new day might bring and it's crucial that we are open and flexible to the unexpected.

Dreams and goals are important and crucial if you want to live your most vibrant and happiest life while you are helping your parents navigate the challenges of aging.

We've often been advised, "Don't live a life of regrets" or as Wayne Dyer puts it, "Don't die with the music still in you."

I can hear your resistance already... "Come on, Kathleen. How can I pursue my dreams when my parents and my family need me? And I have a job to worry about, a house to take care of, a spouse to keep happy-even a dog to tend to!"

Okay, we recognize we need to adapt when our plates are over-flowing. But we don't need to lay down and give up all hope of ever reaching our dreams!

No matter what life situation you find yourself in, you need to have a bigger vision of how your life can be and what you can achieve to keep you excited about life.

And remember, "A difficult time can be more readily endured if we retain the conviction that our existence holds a purpose, a cause to pursue, a person to love, and a goal to achieve. ~ John Maxwell

It is possible that your biggest vision, consistent with your values this year, is to help your parent stay safe, healthy and happy. If so, you'll break that into actionable goals/strategies to make that happen.

Use 'SMART' goal-setting. Your goals need to be:

S = Specific: Know exactly what you want to accomplish.

Be sure your goals are well defined, clear and unambiguous.

M = Measurable: Have specific criteria for measuring progress toward the accomplishment of each goal. Measure and keep track of your progress.

A = Attainable: Goals must achievable. Goals should pose a challenge and require you to stretch a bit but still be possible to achieve.

R = Realistic: Is your goal realistic and within your reach? Are you willing to commit to your goal? If you truly believe you can reach your goal, it is realistic.

Relevant: Be sure your goals are relevant to your life purpose and your life situation. Are they in line with your beliefs and values?

T = Time Bound and Trackable: Does your goal have a deadline? Can you track your progress?

Goals must have a clearly defined time frame including a starting date and a target date. If you don't have a time limit then there is no urgency to start taking action towards achieving your goals.

An example of a weak goal is: "I want to lose weight"

A SMART goal is: "I'll lose 8 lbs per month by joining Weight Watchers on January 2 and following the plan to reach my target goal of 48 lbs. by June 30.

Okay, so here's how you are going to do it...

Perhaps you have a big dream and you know realistically you can't achieve that dream fully in one year. So, break it into two years and be okay with that.

Don't beat yourself up but DO MOVE FORWARD towards your dream. You will set some achievable goals and take baby steps every day towards reaching them.

So, maybe you've always wanted to write a book or a screenplay, learn a language, take a trip to an exotic location, get your paintings into a local museum...

1. Decide what ONE thing you want to accomplish this year-your biggest priority. Write it down. This is your Vision for 2012.Writing down your vision focuses your thoughts and creates awareness. The more aware you are, the more successful you'll be.

2. Determine what you can realistically accomplish in 6 months. Now you have a manageable vision to work towards. Although you need the bigger picture in mind, you need to break this down into achievable steps.

3. Write your goals and intentions for each month over the next 6 months.

4. Have weekly strategies (overall actions that will take you closer and closer to achieving your goals). Will you join a networking group, seek speaking opportunities, use Social Media to grow a list of fans, take a book writing class, etc.?

5. Create weekly and daily action steps that will bring you to the successful completion of your strategies: Have online and offline daily action steps that you can take or you can delegate to someone else to keep you moving towards your goals. Review these steps each night to be sure you are on track or modify them if something new has come up in life and requires an adjustment.

6. Find an accountability partner. This is a person who will support your new goals. It can be a friend, spouse, partner, colleague, sibling. Be sure it is someone who is supportive of what you're trying to achieve and will be there for you regardless of what else is happening in your life.

7. Keep a gratitude journal. Winston Churchill once said, "The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty."

Be thankful for every opportunity and every difficulty. Focusing on the positives and all we are blessed with, no matter how big or small, helps us feel good which helps us act better.

According to the Law of Attraction, what you focus on comes to you. The more you focus on your blessings, the more blessings will come your way and you'll see that you can achieve ANYTHING you set your mind to.

Reaching your goals and bringing your dreams to reality requires daily efforts. By writing down your goals and breaking them into manageable daily steps, we start to actually see things come together and our dreams materialize before our eyes.

Winston Churchill once said, "The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty."

Now, get out your journal and start writing down those goals!

To learn more about how you can live a healthier, wealthier and more balanced life while caring for aging parents, download my free report:"How to Keep Your Career, Sanity and Happiness Intact While Caring for Aging Parents So You Can Bring Balance and Money into Your Life"

Visit: http://thrivinginthemiddle.com