How often do you listen to your intuition? Can you even recognize that inner voice? Women usually heed to their intuition much more than men do. Why? Most men seem to think of intuition in different terms than women, viewing it as emotion-based, rather than intellectual.

Your intuition speaks truth.

Rather than being emotionally-based, your intuition actually comes from a much deeper place. It speaks honest truth to you, when you listen. Some have argued that intuition the conscious being led by a Higher power. If this is so, then your intuition is not based on your own emotionally charged decisions, but rather a voice of truth.

Ignoring your intuition will not make it disappear.

Have you ever had one of those moments when you waffled with a certain decision because for “whatever” reason, you felt your heart pulling you towards one decision, when you wanted to choose something different? Your intuition was trying to guide you. Then, when you went against that gentle nudge you felt, you went with what you wanted instead, only to eventually discover that little inner voice was right after all. Ignoring your intuition will not make it magically go away.

Your intuition is the ultimate personal guide.

Some of the most irrational and uncontrolled people I’ve ever known are that way because they refuse to pay attention to their intuition. Because they can’t rationalize that inner voice, they think they have a better plan for their life and way of living. Their decisions are based on plotting and futuristic thinking, and often fail. Your intuition is best way to ensure you are making solid decisions.

Your thoughts create your reality.

Whether or not you even realize it, you have created your reality up to this point with your thoughts. If you have a good life that you love, it is because you aimed your thoughts at creating such a reality. If you are miserable with where you are in life, then it’s most likely because your thought patterns were negative and detrimental to yourself. If you tell yourself you are unhappy, you will be unhappy. It’s that simple.

Change your thoughts to change your life.

If you don’t like your career, why haven’t you changed it yet? For most people, fear is a driving factor. When you become afraid of changing something in your life, the grip of fear will hold you right where you are, even though you are miserable. The only way you can change your life, starting right now, is to change the way you think.

Positive thoughts lead to a more pleasing outcome.

Beginning today, make a conscious choice to change the way you think. It won’t be easy, but you can do it. If you are pessimistic by nature, it will be a bit more challenging for you, simply because you are used to seeing the proverbial glass as half-empty. To get started, you might need to write down some positive affirmations, which will help create a mental shift for you.

Start looking for good things.

The law of attraction isn’t difficult to understand or use. What it boils down to is putting your mind in the right place, so that your thinking can change and you can start to believe and look for good things to happen in your life. Until you can do this, you probably won’t see many, if any, results. You can’t attract $100,000 if you don’t believe it is yours already. You won’t attract your dream career if you can’t envision yourself in that position. Dream and believe that anything is possible.

First, dream a little dream. Goals come from the dreams that are deep within your heart and mind. What dreams do you have for yourself? Can you imagine yourself in the future? What do you see? Dreams are at the core of every goal.

Next, be precise. When you set a goal, you want to be as specific as possible. Don’t make generalized plans. Drill down deep so your goal will be clear and targeted. When you do this, there will be absolutely no questions about what you want or how to get it.

Third, give yourself a deadline. A goal with no deadline is like driving a car without a steering wheel. You’ll never get where you want to go. When setting your deadline, make sure you give yourself enough time to complete your goal, but not so much time that you actually lose sight of your goal.

Finally, track your progress. One of the second biggest reasons why so many people give up on their goals is because they don’t see their own progress. Create a “ladder” that you can use to keep track of where you’re going, as well as how far you’ve come. You’ll be surprised at how motivating this can be.

Short-term goals are easily attainable because they can often be completed in as little as a few hours or a couple of weeks. They are “right now” goals. Here are some tips for setting your short-term goals:

Set a time frame. Before you start setting goals, make sure you define a timeline. How long will it take you to reach your goal? Days? Hours? Weeks? Have a specific time frame in which you can accomplish your goal.

Be realistic. Don’t attempt to do more than you realistically can within a specific amount of time. You’ll only end up burned out and stressed out.

Treat yourself. There’s nothing better for encouragement than planning a special treat for yourself when the job’s complete. Give yourself a “carrot” to dangle in front of your nose until you’ve met your goal: a new suit, a day at the spa, a walk in the park.

Take baby steps. The easiest and quickest way to reach a short-term goal is to break it down into smaller, doable tasks. Once you’ve created your ultimate goal, break it down into baby steps. This will make it simpler and much more fun for you to work towards your goal.

Short-term goals are quick and easy, so the most important thing to remember is to not make yours complicated. Keep it simple and easy and you’ll arrive at your goal post in no time at all.

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A long-term goal is one that can be reached over a period of time. Many long-term goals are measured in years (some are even measured in decades!). An example of a long-term goal would be retirement planning. More and younger couples are planning their retirements at much younger ages now. Such planning ahead can be referred to as long-term planning.

Why are long-term goals important?

Many people rarely take the time to set or plan long-term goals. Most don’t see the need for it. Still others think that they have all the time in the world, so long-term planning seems unimportant and useless.

Long-term goals are important because they enable you to map out a plan for your life. College is another good example of long-term goals. You set yourself on a course of action that will require time and dedication of several years to reach completion.

Why do long-term goals seem so scary?

If you ask those who don’t plan long-term the reason why, chances are the underlying factor is fear. This fear stems from several sources, the main two being fear of success and fear of failure.

The fear of success comes mostly from not knowing what will happen when you finally reach your long-term goal. The vagueness of not knowing what to do once you’ve spent so much time going after a long-term goal can be discouraging and fearful. What happens when you come to the end of the line? Where will you go from there?

The fear of failure is most often what stops people from planning long-term. You may feel insecure about your goal, or don’t know how you’ll reach it. In this case, you need to do more planning.

Long-term goals require more thought and effort than short-term goals. However, the benefits far outweigh any doubts or fear you have. Why not take the plunge anyway? Start planning for your future today.

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Goal Setting Is All About Timing

By Wendy Betterini

Is there anything more maddening than working hard on a goal and running into constant obstacles that keep us from getting where we want to be? The past couple of weeks have been exactly like that for me. I have some big projects I’m working on, and every time I tried to progress to the next point, something would happen. My computer problems were the biggest part of it, but also other little obstacles kept me from getting from point A to point B.

I kept trying to find a way around the obstacles, or through them, but then another obstacle would pop up! I was ready to tear my hair out in frustration. Finally I started to get the feeling that the universe was trying to tell me something. Even though I wanted to move this project along, the universe was saying, “Wait, wait, not yet.” I still don’t know why, but I’ve lived long enough on this earth to know that situations have a way of working out in exactly the right way, at exactly the right time. Some things just can’t be rushed.

Now, here is the important turning point. Does that mean we have to quit? Give up? Abandon something that means so much to us? No! Just because the timing isn’t right in this moment doesn’t mean it will never happen. We don’t have to give up altogether. We just need to release our expectations of the outcome. We need to stop trying to force things to happen when we think they should happen. In the meantime, we can still keep working toward our goals, keep planning and preparing for that moment when the timing is right. And when that moment arrives, everything will flow so smoothly and effortlessly we will be amazed.

I can almost hear you groaning, “But I want it right NOW! I don’t want to wait.” Why? Examine this desire within yourself. What are you expecting this situation to provide you with? Will you still be okay if it doesn’t arrive quite yet? What if you had a guarantee that it would arrive within the next six months, would you be able to wait it out? I think you would. Sometimes we have the tendency to attach ourselves to a particular outcome, and once we get attached to that idea, we have a hard time letting go of it.

Release your fear, worry and frustration. Embrace the present moment with joy and thanksgiving. Do what you can and let the rest go. In the meantime, know that the universe has something wonderful planned for you, and it will arrive at exactly the right time.

About the Author:
Wendy Betterini is a freelance writer who strives to motivate, uplift, and inspire you to make your dreams a reality. Visit her website, http://www.WingsForTheHeart.com for more information about goal setting and developing a success mind-set.

Source: www.isnare.com

January 1st always brings out resolutions. Do you, like most people, make New Year’s Resolutions, but rarely keep them? Are you then left feeling discouraged, like you’re a failure because your good intentions flopped? If you’re tired of setting stinky goals that don’t work for you, try these smart goal setting tips.

Smart Goal Setting Tip => Be realistic. Set a goal that you know you can reach. If you are currently earning $30,000 per year, it probably wouldn’t be very realistic to set a goal to earn $200,000 this year. Setting realistic goals means setting yourself up for success.

Smart Goal Setting Tip => Be kind to yourself. Let’s be real here. You will have setbacks at some point. Life happens. So when you don’t reach one of your goals, or fall behind in your timeline, be kind to yourself. There’s no point in beating yourself up over it. Get up, dust yourself off, and try again.

Smart Goal Setting Tip => Be firm. Nobody’s going to stand over your shoulder with a cattle prod, poking you to keep moving forward. You are your own task master. When you start to procrastinate, remind yourself that you are responsible for making the most of your time and energy.

Smart Goal Setting Tip => Be consistent. The only way anyone ever accomplishes what they set out after is through consistency. As I stated earlier, you will no doubt have a few setbacks along the way. This is normal. However, you must remain consistent in your actions. A daily routine creates good habits that, over a period of time, are key to reaching your desired end result.

About the author:
Hope Wilbanks is an inspirational author who writes to motivate, inspire and encourage women. Her first non-fiction book, The Self-Empowered Woman will be published early 2007.

Set & Get Your Goals!!

One of the hottest topics lately seems to be Goal setting & Goal Getting. Setting good, clear goals is a powerful process for both your personal and professional well-being. By setting goals on a routine basis YOU decide what you want to achieve and then move step-by-step towards achieving these goals.

I always encourage women to make an effort to spend time setting sharp and clearly defined goals. One of the beautifully empowering things about goal setting is that you can measure and take pride in the achievement you make as you get closer to your goals. By setting goals, you will also raise your self confidence as you recognize your ability and competence in achieving the goals that you have set.

The process of setting goals allows you to choose where you want to go in life. By knowing precisely what you want to achieve, you know what you have to concentrate on to do it.

Remember, your goals are the road maps that guide you and show you what is possible for your life.

Here are a few action steps for you to take into consideration when working on setting and pursuing your goals:

==> Make sure you set goals that you can realistically reach. Striving to be perfect is not a realistic goal. Striving to eat healthier, exercise more..etc. is a realistic goal.

==> Break your big goals up into bite-sized chunks. If your ultimate goal is to launch a new website before September, break the goal down. Work 1st on asking for others to give you the opinions on possible webmasters, make a list of what you want your site to look like, contact certain webmasters, ask for price quotes etc. They key is to take small, thought-through steps to reach that ultimate goal.

==> Set a specific time-frame to achieve your goals.

==> Write your goals down and force yourself to be very specific about them. You can then refer back to your goals list and you can see how you are measuring up. It is an empowering feeling to set goals and achieve them.

==> Celebrate! When you achieve a goal or overcome a hurdle that brings you closer to that goal, CELEBRATE you and your accomplishment!

You can accomplish just about anything you ask of yourself. Make your goals specific and clear. When you know exactly what you intend to do, you’re well on your way to getting it done.

About the author:
Aurelia Williams is a certified Personal Life Coach, author of Journey to Joy , and owner of Real Life Coaching . Are you looking to reach a goal? You can contact Aurelia by visiting Real Life Coaching and request a free initial Goal-Getting session!

Article Source: http://www.ladypens.com

So, think to yourself. What is on your wish list? Is it starting your own business, have a monthly date night with your significant other, have some quality time to yourself? Also ask yourself, Have I kept this wish list to myself? Please tell me that you are not waiting for your friends, loved ones, coworker or those you network with to read your mind and then hand deliver what you are secretly wishing for.

At times we may keep our mouths closed and not ask for what we want out of fear of rejection or fear of seeming pushy or needy. For most women, just the thought of asking other for help or for a favor is enough to keep their mouths shut and their dreams far a way!

In order to ask for and go after what you want, it is important to get clear about what you want and be able to describe it in detail.. Once you know what you want, be totally willing to ask for it whenever you get the chance. This holds true in your business and personal relationships.

It is important to learn that is okay for someone to say “No”. It is also important to learn that it is ok for any given situation to not turn out the way you hoped it to go. Failure and/or rejections do not have to be the final word, actually it can be the opening for further negotiation. Take time to reflect on what happened. Were you specific about what you wanted? Did you approach the correct person, did you communicate yourself clearly? And most importantly, ‘How can your refine your request for the next time you ask it?

Next, make list of the people who come to mind when you think of what you want. For instance, if you want to start your own Virtual Assistance business, why not search online for forums or websites that specialize in that area. If you find such a forum, acquaint yourself with the members and simply introduce yourself and ask for advice, guidance and help. The only way people can help you is if you let them know that you need help.

You will be amazed at how many people truly enjoy lending a hand to others, and just think, the more you grown and learn, the more hands you can to lend a helping hand to others as well.

About the author:
Aurelia Williams is the author of Journey To Joy . She is also a certified Personal Life Coach and owner of Real Life Coaching . If you are ready to prepare your roadmap for your achievement and success, and be held accountable to your goals, look at our Goal Setting and Getting Package and reguest your free consultation.

Article Source: http://www.ladypens.com

Beginnings are a beautiful thing. Beginnings symbolize hope and a fresh start. Beginnings represent hope and hold promise of an exciting future.

Beginnings are scary for some people, though. Beginnings are frightening when you don’t have a plan. A new beginning can bring anxiety and even depression for those who don’t know what they want.

The beginning of a new year brings about all sorts of resolutions. People resolve to live healthier lives, create new, better habits, and try something new. All too often though these plans of new beginnings fail. Why? Quite simply because they are lofty dreams, with no solid plan to follow.

Someone wise once said, “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.” You truly can’t begin without having a solid plan of action in place. You’d never set out on a road trip to lands unknown without a road map. So why, then, would you attempt a new beginning without having a goal in mind?

As you look ahead at this new year, create a better beginning. Use these action steps to create your plan of action for 2007:

1. Decide where you want to be at the end of this year.

2. Write down your business, personal, health, family, etc. goals. Remember to be specific when writing your goals. How much money do you want to earn this year? Where would you like to take your family on vacation this summer?

3. Write your action steps, based on each goal.

4. Post your action steps where you will see them each day.

Happy Beginnings!