It's that time of year when everyone sets goals for the New Year but few people do it right. How do you do it right? There are some crucial steps to setting and achieving goals that will ensure success-

1. Start small. January 1st comes and everyone sits down to write a ridiculously long list of goals that is so overwhelming that not even one is achieved. The fact is we are imperfect human beings. To help improve ourselves we must begin with a few may be one or two goals at a time.
2. Connect the goal to a life principle. Instead of making the goal to loose weight transform that goal to have a healthy heart or increase energy levels. By transforming the goal into a principle that applies to happiness gained in life it is easier to recognize the improvements and continue with the change.
3. Write the goals down. Writing your goals down is the first action toward achieving them. Too often people mentally write down goals but without the actual action you are avoiding admitting that you want or need to change in order to improve. A journal is a great tool when setting and achieving goals. It can be gratifying and encouraging to look back on previous goals that you set and achieved.
4. Make sub-goals. If your goal is to improve posture a sub-goal might be to sign up for a yoga class or buy a better office chair that supports posture. Sub-goals are a great way to break up a huge goal; they make it more tangible and achievable.
5. Tell people. Often goals are a secret affair because sharing a goal with another person makes you vulnerable as you are admitting that you need improvement but without sharing your goal you are not responsible to anyone and are more likely to fail. Share your goals with a loved one, a friend, a personal trainer, a health practitioner or a life coach.
6. Follow through. Constantly review your progress or lack of. Determine what is working and what needs to change, what you are achieving and what you are not. Once you understand your progression you will have a better understand how you need to alter your sub-goals to achieve your main goal. Perhaps set aside the same time every day or every few days to review your progress.
7. Acknowledge your transformation. Use your journal to record your progression. Perhaps your goal is to reduce stress and a sub-goal was to spend 10 minutes a day meditating. Record in your journal how you feel when you remembered to meditate and when you forgot, this will help you see how helpful meditation is or is not in helping you reduce stress.
8. Reward yourself. As you achieve your goals find ways to reward yourself whether it is buying that new dress or going out to the movies. But remember that this reward is just an added reward to the feelings of satisfaction and achievement as you improve yourself.
9. Share your success story. When you achieve your goals share how you did it with friends and family. Your success might be the perfect antidote to help propel someone else forward in making and achieving goals that will change their lives.
10. Start over. Once you have achieved your goals begin the journey once again and watch your life transform.