salixj | Goal For It! Using your journal to set goals.

If you have a particular long-term goal that you wish to reach, regardless of whether or not it is tied to a specific time, use your journal's second page to track your progress.

Keep in mind the format of the journal which I explained in my earliest posts. You may want to review the first few pages.

Your first page should look something like this.

Date: Night Report: (what your night was like, just a synopsis, nightmare, slept well etc if you have more to say that should go on subsequent pages of your journal).

Focus (what is most important to think about that day).

7 acts (seven acts that you want to accomplish to make the day great. These should be added the night before or that morning. Note, these are not tasks, though may include tasks. They are seven acts. Eating chocolate can be one. Watching a television program. Certainly, washing dishes or talking to your boss can be one: as well).

Learned: (we learn something every day. What did you learn today? Leave a space for it).

Gifts: (These include the gift of a challenge, and at least one should be a gift of a challenge. For example, a challenge might be calling someone you have avoided calling. Three of the gifts should be presents, things we want to receive. Challenges help us grow, hence they are called gifts.)

Beauty: (something you saw, heard, felt etc, that inspired a sense of beauty in you)

Goodnight thoughts: (Wishes you take to bed with you!)

I know, long interlude there!

Goal setting goes on the second page of your journal. When setting your goal, create a table with the goal listed at top with the date to achieve, and then mini-goals below. If the mini-goals are date related, add the dates you wish to complete them beside them. In a box to the side of your goals write the reason for this goal and the reason for the timeline. Make certain that both the goal and the timeline is reasonable. For example, if you wish to lose weight make certain your goal weight is healthy, and keep in mind that a healthy weight-loss is about 1-2 lbs a week.

Copy the block with the intended goal and daily/weekly/monthly goal on the second page daily. Just those two. Check off and write the time you achieved the goal. Leave space beside it for a comment on if and how you reached the daily goal and your feelings about it. If the goal is weekly, bi-weekly or monthly etc, then just copy the box till it reaches the date, and make your comments then.

If the goal is open ended, just recorded your feelings when appropriate.

If you didn't reach your goal it is time to reevaluate. Is the daily goal set to high? Did other things get in the way? Have you lost your focus or emotional energy? Prod yourself into discovery what the issue is and how to correct it.

If it was very easy to reach the goal then perhaps you need to raise the goalpost a bit. Go through the same process of evaluation.

Reach for a balance.

And when you reach your goal, shout! At least in your journal.