<strong>Setting Attainable Goals</strong>

<span style="color: #000000;">We all have goals that we want to reach but when they are too broad, they can be overwhelming.</span>

<span style="color: #000000;">Feeling overwhelmed can cause you to sprint away from your goal rather than pursue it. </span>

<span style="color: #000000;">People use either "avoid" or "approach" techniques in dealing with their goals. Avoidance tactics come from the desire to escape unpleasant thoughts, feelings, and even physical reactions one might have as a result of having what feels like an insurmountable goal.</span>

<span style="color: #000000;">....and who wants to have an insurmountable goal? no one, that's who.</span>

<strong><span style="color: #000000;">How to Set Attainable Goals</span></strong>

<span style="color: #000000;">Here are a few steps that you can take to start making attainable, realistic goals:</span>

<span style="color: #000000;"><span style="color: #000000;">1) Define your goal</span></span>

<span style="color: #000000;">If you make too big of a goal, it's too broad and general. </span>

<span style="color: #000000;">Here's are examples: </span>

<span style="color: #000000;">"I'm going to lose weight." </span>

<span style="color: #000000;">"I'm going to start exercising?</span>

<span style="color: #000000;">"I'm going to get organized."</span>

<span style="color: #000000;">What the heck does that mean? How do you understand that statement? Where does your brain go with that?</span>

<span style="color: #000000;">When you make a goal, define and operationalize it. Make it very specific and measurable. </span>

<span style="color: #000000;">Here are some examples:</span>

<span style="color: #000000;">"I'm am eating eating salad for lunch today."</span>

<span style="color: #000000;">"I am exercising for 20 minutes on the treadmill today."</span>

<span style="color: #000000;">"I am cleaning up the pile of papers on my desk today."</span>

<span style="color: #000000;">2) Stay on today</span>

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<span style="color: #000000;">3) Keep it simple </span>

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<span style="color: #000000;">4) Have a party</span>

<span style="color: #000000;">[author] [author_image timthumb='on']http://dianazilly.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/dianazilly.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]by Diana Zilly, MS, MA, LCPC, NBCFCH.  Diana is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Fellow in Clinical Hypnotherapy, and Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Joliet Junior College. [/author_info] [/author]</span>