How to Achieve your Personal Goals (from Steps to Success, Prosperity and Happiness)

Article Title: How to Achieve your Personal Goals (from Steps to Success, Prosperity and Happiness)
Author: Craig Lock
Category (key words): Self Help, Personal Growth, Motivation, Goalsetting, Success, Success Principles, Motivation, Inspiration, Sports Psychology, Sport, Mind, Mind Control, Positive Thinking, Books, Self help books and Positive Psychology (enough there now, craig!)
Web sites: www.lulu.com/craiglock and http://www.creativekiwis.com/books.html#craig

Craig's blog (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) is at
http://en.search.wordpress.com/?q=%22craig+lock%22 and
http://craiglock.wordpress.com

Other Articles are available at:
http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/user/15565 and
http://www.ideamarketers.com/library/profile.cfm?writerid=981
(Personal growth,
self help, writing, internet marketing, spiritual, 'spiritual writings' (how 'airey-fairey'), words of inspiration and money management, how boring now, craig!)

Publishing Guidelines:
We hope that the following new article (an extract from one of Craig's first manuscripts ("rather wacky") titled 'STEPS TO SUCCESS, PROSPERITY AND HAPPINESS' written "many moons ago" may be informative and helpful to your ezine readers, or on your web site. If it helps others "out there" on the pathway to success (and most importantly, happiness), then we're very happy.

"We share what we know, so that we all may grow."

*
HOW TO ACHIEVE YOUR PERSONAL GOALS (FROM 'STEPS TO SUCCESS, PROSPERITY AND HAPPINESS')

"A wish is just a wish, A New Years Resolution is just a resolution.

Goals have deadlines and are stepping stones down the path, the stair-case to your dreams."
- craig

There are a number of important factors that make people successful in achieving their personal goals... and I believe goalsetting is the key ingredient to personal success.
What else determines whether we will achieve our goals? I think the following attributes are critical (and the bold items especially so):

* A strong belief in oneself and in one's ability to succeed

* Good self esteem

* Self confidence

* Self discipline

* A burning desire to achieve your pre-set goals

* A sound strategy with a great deal of thought given to PLANNING (says "totally impulsive he")

* A desire to give back to society and invest in people; ie. to make some contribution to your "little patch" of the world.

"We make a living by what we get...but we make a life by what we give."
- Norman MacEwan

This leads into the next one...

* Having worthy goals which benefit one self and others, ie a "win-win"situation.

* A winning focus and a positive attitude. This is very very very important. Don't repeat words 'dumbo', as I teach in my creative writing course.

* Consistency and commitment (total).

* The ability to avoid distractions, ie. an ability to FOCUS (not swearing at ourselves).

* Affirming oneself daily: that you are a unique being with special talents and that what you are undertaking is worthwhile.

* An ability to take calculated risks.

* An ability to learn from your mistakes and to overcome the fear of making mistakes.

* The ability to handle stress well. Most important with today's lifestyles.

I'm not so "hot" on that one.

* Taking exercise: a healthy body keeps the mind healthy.
Another of my new year resolutions.

N.B:
* Taking time out for relaxation.

* Self motivation

and most important of all,

* Personal integrity and a sense of ethics. Who says millionaires and other successful people lack integrity and 'rip off' gullible people in the street? I for one, definitely don't believe it.
I think quite a few businessmen may be ruthless, but by far the majority of them have high moral codes of behaviour.
But most importantly, they have the "bucks" to improve people's lives in the community...as long as they are not too stingy. So nothing wrong with wealth, if it is used constructively. Money doesn't have to be 'the root of all evil'.
It's the LOVE of money, which is the root of all evil... so money is a means to an end, rather than end in itself. Sounds rude, that!

Your goals should always be in alignment with your principles, your deepest values.

BALANCE:

Remember it is vital to live a balanced life. So look at your goals in all areas of your life:
material, physical, career, psychological and most importantly, spiritual. I'm not really a religious person, but I think it's terribly important to BELIEVE and have FAITH that things will work out in the future for you. That BELIEF (either in yourself or in a Higher Being) will largely determine your attitude...how happy or unhappy your life will be.

Live, love and be happy

Craig Lock ("Information and Inspiration Distributer, Incorrigible Encourager and People-builder")

"Your belief determines your action and your action determines your results, but first you have to believe."
- Mark Victor Hansen

"God, the Source of Life", will never give you a desire, a vision, an individual dream without your having the
ability/potential for it to come to pass."
- craig

"The task ahead of you can always be overcome by the power within you...and the often seemingly difficult or even
"impassible") path ahead of you is never as steep with the great spirit that lies within you.

- craig

"Together, one mind at a time, let's see how many people we can impact, empower, uplift, encourage and perhaps even inspire to reach their fullest potentials.

PS: I love the following quotation...

"The past is history, the future is a mystery, and this moment is
the gift, that is why this moment is called the present."
- anon

"We make a living by what we get...but we make a life by what we give."
- Norman MacEwan