Goal Setting Part 1

"Don't listen to people who tell you what to do.  Listen to people who encourage you to do what you know in your heart is right."

- Zig Ziglar

 (1926-2012) Author

Allow me to be really honest with you.  Nothing can get me more upset and angry than people who tell other people what they are to do with their life.  As a Life Coach, I talk to many people who wish to know what their purpose is in life.  One of the first things I tell them is that I will help them find that purpose, but I will not tell them what it is.  Why?  Because I firmly believe that our purpose, dream or life goals are between us and God - no one else.

                The worst offenders of this practice are people who will love and care for you.  They do not want to see you hurt or fail.  To "protect" you they will tell you what they believe is safe, sensible, and sure.  The problem is, life is not a safe, sensible or sure thing.  Dreams are risky.  Our purpose will always be greater than our ability to achieve it, therefore it can look impractical and dangerous.

                Look in your heart and you will find what your dream is.  What is it that you have always wanted to do?  Many people have carried the dream for years thinking that it just could never be.  Fear, advice from others and our social thinking that all risk is bad, have kept them from launching out to get what they really want in life.

                Here is a fact you must hold on to.  If you dream is possible for you to achieve; if it is something that has little risk involved, it is just too small.  Our dreams are meant to be big.  The bigger the better.  Could you fail?  Yes.  Could you be taking a risk that could end up hurting you and losing everything?  I hope so.  Dreaming is not for the faint of heart.  It is for those seeking adventure and excitement in life.  It is for those who will not allow a few setbacks steal their passion.  It is for the successful.

                When you allow others, no matter who they may be, to define your dream you end up living their dream, not yours.  A life that is lived doing what others believe is the best for you is a life of slavery.  But here is the catch, no one can take your dream from you, you must give it away.

                Decide today to live your dream.  No matter how big or risky it may seem.  It will take hard work, dedication and passion, but it is yours.  Give it all you have, never give up and you will achieve your dream - YOUR dream.  Then you will see that there are more dreams, bigger dreams, from where that came from.  Go for them all!

To read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business or group, visit our website at http://www.growthcenter.net or www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2014 John Patrick Hickey