Take a Risk! Jumpstart your goals for 2011!

     Are you one of many people who allow failure and rejection to shape your attitude and you then give up or limit your goals accordingly?  Establishing a goal is in essence, taking a risk, therefore setting yourself up for possible failure!  You cannot get ahead with any goals you set – whether they are personal and health related or career and professional related without taking an element of risk.  What is the difference then between those who continually fail and then finally give up and those who are successful?  You must accept that failure is sometimes inevitable; you must have faith in yourself  that you can achieve your goal and you must view the failure as another stepping stone to your success. 

     Think about your own life experiences and take some time to contemplate and reflect on your vulnerability to rejection and failure.  Make a list of the times you failed in achieving a personal goal.  Make another list of the times you failed in achieving a professional goal.  And make a final list of times you faced rejection. Are there common themes?  Do you know why you failed? Did you reflect on the experience or feedback and learn from it or did you turn away from your goal out of fear of more rejection?  Use your reflections to build a foundation for your next steps to reach your goal.  Know that getting ahead, reaching a goal and experiencing success can be fraught with failure and rejection and in spite of the difficulty, you must believe in yourself, your purpose, your goals and your eventual success in reaching them. As Gail Sheehy remarked:   “To be tested is good. The challenged life may be the best therapist!”