We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called “Opportunity” and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.
Edith Lovejoy Pierce
I bought myself a calendar on Christmas Eve, I didn’t wait until the middle of January when they would be 50% off. I wanted to look at the new year and think of all of the possibilities for 2009. 2008 was a tough year, as a small business we have definitely experienced the economic downtown, but we will adjust and make changes and hopefully get through another year. But 2008 was also a great year I am close to finishing my second semester at Goddard, met wonderful new supportive friends, traveled more in 2008 than ever in my life, visited with family who I haven’t seen in years, got poetry and a short story published, and learned a lot more about what I want to accomplish as a writer, a poet and a creative person.
It is very easy to get discouraged when the year didn’t turn out exactly as you planned but that’s why I always love New Year’s Day. Possibilities, opportunities, the unknown, the power everyone has to change their life, here’s hoping that 2009 is the year you achieve your goals!
In Barbara Sher’s book Wishcraft How to Get What You Really Want Barbara writes that “your true goal, or target, has to be a concrete action or event, not only so you’ll know for sure when you get there, but so that you can make that date with success in advance!”
Today, instead of making New Year’s resolutions that your enthusiasm might wane for by January 30th what goals can you set with dates? Plan for success this year in advance…Now get back to work!
Lovingly,
The Writing Nag
Great blog, writing nag. And thanks for mentioning Wishcraft. 2009 will be its 30th anniversary, if you can believe that. (I can’t.)
I’ve found that setting a date changes everything, but be prepared: setting a date can make your goal so real that you get scared. Never underestimate fear as a deterrent to action. It’s a bear.
It’s like the difference between saying ‘Marry me,’ and saying ‘Marry me on Mar 5.’
The first one just means ‘I love you.’ Yummy.
The second one will scare you out of your wits. Be prepared for Resistance to rear its head, on one form or another.
One way to avoid too much fear is to lower the danger level. Maybe make the goal very small at first, and the date closer. Then do it again. Then see if you can get away with setting a date for completing a chapter, or whatever might awaken your inner ambulance again.
Good luck and keep up the good work,
Your fellow writer,
Barbara Sher
http://writeyourownsuccessstory.com/
Barbara,
Thanks so much for your comments and your advice! Wishcraft has been my faithful “go to book” for goal setting and one of the main reasons I’m back in school right now!
Omigosh, how absolutely wonderful that Wishcraft is still being cited. I carried that book like a bible when it first came out thirty years ago. My dream is for my book to endure that long!
And I love Barbara’s comment. For many of us that’s write on. The rest can keep the traditional spelling.