Goal Setting

Values explain why you want to accomplish certain things in life. Long rage goals describe what you want to accomplish. Intermediate goals and daily goals show how to do it. When you set goals make sure they are SMART goals. Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic and Timely.
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An unwritten goal is merely a wish. Writing goals force you to be specific. If a goal is not specific, you will have a hard time knowing whether or not you have reached it. You only improve what you MEASURE. If you set a goal that cannot be easily measured, such as “be more honest”, chances are you won’t make much improvement.

Goals should always focus on ACTIONS rather than personal qualities. Instead of having the goal “be kinder to my family”, write about specific actions. “I will not raise my voice with family members.” Or “I will spend half an hour playing ball with my son twice a week”. Specific examples of action oriented goals.

Goals must be REALISTIC. It is good to aim high, but if we aim too high, we can get discouraged and the goal-setting process can become just another fruitless activity. “I will make $1 million this year” is a nice goal, but it is not very realistic for most of us. But then, neither is “I will make $5,000 this year”. Goals that are easily reached are just as useless as those that are too far beyond our reach.
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Goals must also be TIMELY. Do not set a goal for which you honestly do not have time right now. Do not give yourself so much time that the goal becomes meaningless. “I will obtain my law degree by December forty years from now" is a specific, measurable, action-oriented, and realistic but is not very realistic if you are already 45 years old.

An example of a SMART goal: "By one year from today, I will have completed a college-level course in French at the local TAFE."