Are You Ready to Make a Change in Your Life?

by Petra Beumer, Life Coach

Do you want to set a new goal or re-assess old ones? Ask yourself what you want to let go of and what you would like to add to your life. Have you been putting off exercising, eating more veggies, spending more time with friends, or taking that art class at City College?

To set new goals, you might find it helpful to use the following categories:

• Health & Fitness
• Family & Friends
• Significant other/Romance
• Time Management & Organization
• Career
• Personal Finance (“Financial Health”)
• Personal Growth
• Joy/Fun
• Spirituality

You will find it interesting to rate each area on a scale from 1-10 (10 being you can’t imagine it being any better). This will give you clarity as to which area of your life needs attention.

Drop the “I should” or “I wish I had…”, and write down action steps which will lead you to your desired goal.

Choose a quiet time and place; write and rewrite your goals daily. It makes a significant difference when you focus your attention consciously on a desired outcome. Set deadlines, for example: “I commit to making an appointment with a financial consultant by the end of the month.” Or “I will take my partner on a special date within the next two weeks.” Be positive and optimistic. Talk to yourself in a supportive manner: “I enjoy taking good care of myself.”;  “I let go of the need to be self-critical.” “I choose to take action!”

Use visualization techniques and paint your ideal circumstances in bright colors. See yourself in the gym, working out, being at your healthy weight and feeling great about yourself. Whatever your goal may be, allow yourself to daydream about it, write about it in your journal and know that it can come true.

 (c) 2006, Petra Beumer