It took me a long time to realize that emphasizing numbers or time frames on goals can often be more harmful than helpful. Think of the last time you said to yourself you wanted to achieve ____________by ________________, and when you didn’t you gave up or were really hard on yourself. So often growth or learning that could have occurred from an experience nearly disappears when certain numbers or expectations are not achieved. I’ve concluded we’re sometimes missing the big picture.

Are you willing to embrace a plan you know you can control? So much of what happens to us is out of our control yet we’re so quick to hold ourselves responsible and beat ourselves up when things don’t go “as planned”. Should we be prepared? Absolutely!! Should we be proactive? Most definitely!! Being proactive and recognizing that plans and circumstances change is simply just a part of life. This may mean that our goals need to shift, but the focus can remain the same.

This acronym helps puts things into perspective. I invite you to look at what you accomplished this past year and what you’d like to accomplish in the upcoming year and consider where things might be better than what you thought.

D: Dream. Throughout my career in the helping profession, I have learned in various models of treatment, or any process of change, it always starts in our minds. So often we let go of our dreams and settle for what’s there, what’s easy, or what’s good enough. Instead, envision the life you want and start living it in your mind. Imagine what it would feel like to have those dreams become your reality. Dream big. Amazing things are possible with great ideas. Do this especially on down days to remind yourself what it is you’re working towards in order to stay motivated. Just remember no dream is too big, and no dream is too small. Even the small dreams we have for our lives when achieved can make a HUGE impact.

A: Act. An essential piece to being successful or making change is action. If you do nothing about your dreams and choose to keep them in your mind, there is no possibility of them ever coming true. Again, it’s not about shooting for a certain outcome in particular, it’s about always moving in the direction of your dreams and being open to new opportunities as they present themselves. It’s essential to act everyday, no matter how big or small, with a clear intention. This is sure to get you closer to where you’re meant to be.

R: Rejoice. Do this from the depths of your soul. I specifically chose this word to serve as a reminder of at what level we should be grateful. Think about it, do you just want to be mildly grateful or do you want to be someone who rejoices and appreciates the wonderful things in their life? Most of us want that level of excitement or appreciation, but don’t know how to find it. It starts with rejoicing. Be excited about your life.

E: Experience. Lastly, experience life. Don’t be a “someday I’ll” or “one day I’ll” person. Commit to everyday from here on out being excited about what you have now and taking advantage of opportunities. Take time to be mindful in every moment. Don’t move through life on autopilot. Breathe it in, soak it up, relish in it now. Whether you like it or not, what we have and what we know for sure is what we have right now. Don’t get too stuck in the past or the future and miss out on NOW.

Trust me, as a recovering perfectionist, I’ve struggled with living in the moment. This past year, I did many things imperfectly and have many more results than I would have had I have waited!!

If you’re ready for real success, I invite you to DARE with us in 2012 DIVAS with DRIVE Kickstart group.

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