What is it you want in  your life?  Do you have a special goal or dream but aren’t sure how to achieve it?  Do you know what steps to take to have things turn out the way you want?  Perhaps you feel a lot of confusion about what you want to do with your life and where to focus your time and energy.  Here, we’re going to encourage you to not get overwhelmed, and to not give up.  Most of the good things that happen in life aren’t so much about luck or being in the right place at the right time, but because of hard work, motivation and planning.

One of the things that makes it difficult for you to set goals is the confusion you may feel about what is important in your life.  For some people, a way to sort out their thoughts is to sit down and write out a list of what is important, and what they want to accomplish.  Make time to look through your list and analyze your thoughts.  Some of the things you may want for yourself could seem like an unrealistic dream.  Have you ever thought of exploring these dreams and looking at them from a different perspective?  Setting goals and planning sometimes sounds really hard, but we actually do it all the time. 

Whether your goal is a small one or a great big one, a long term one or a short term one, remember that you have a much better chance of achieving what you want if you break your goal down into simple steps.  For example, imagine hearing about a concert you really want to go to.  What are the first things you’d do?  Find out when and where it is, where to get tickets, how much they cost, come up with the money, ask your parents if you can go, etc.  Taking each step, one at a time, and sorting out all the details gets you to the concert.  This is only one example of lots of things that you have planned and carried out in your life. 

What about a bigger, long term goal?  Let’s say you want to continue your education after high school.  What kind of career are you interested in?  If you’re able to narrow it down, you can even begin taking helpful classes while you’re still in high school.   Where are the best schools or training centers located?  How much does it cost?  What kind of scholarships are you eligible for?  Where will you live? 

The list can seem endless, and sometimes it seems too difficult or too much work to be worth it.  Let us remind you that before you can make any final decisions, do make an effort to talk to people who have already completed a similar program, or are working in the career of your interest.  What suggestions do they have?  How about talking with your guidance counselor at school?  Your counselor can give you some of the answers to your questions or they can refer you to someone with answers.  Also talk to your parents, teachers, friends, relatives, etc. so you can get as much information as possible. 

Don’t let all of the details overwhelm you and get you down.  Sometimes, in order to get more of what you want in life, it is necessary to do things that may seem intimidating, uncomfortable, or even a little scary.  Reach beyond what you thought you could.  Stretching yourself to your fullest may involve giving up something else—for example, if you are to participate in some kind of music contest or sports event on Saturday morning, you may have to give up a Friday night date or party.  Focus on the eventual positive outcome rather than the not as fun parts beforehand.   Face setbacks with a positive attitude and try to do your best. 

We hope that this information has gotten you motivated to work on your goal planning.  Remember that planning is very important, and get into the habit of breaking those goals down into simple or easily understood tasks so you will be able to attain them.  If something is important to you, give it your all to continually challenge yourself and move closer to your goal.  Good luck!