12 Secrets of Successful Families - 12. Goals

WHAT IT MEANS 

A goal is more than just dream-something you wish would happen. Real goals involve planning, flexibility, and good old-fashioned hard work.

Goals can be short-range (taking days or weeks to accomplish), medium-range (months), and long-range (a year or more).  Long-range goals can be reached through a series of intermediate goals. 

WHY IT MATTERS

Reaching goals can boost your confidence, strengthen your friendships, and increase your happiness. 

Self-confidence:  When you set small goals and reach them, you gain the confidence to take on bigger ones.  You also feel more confident when facing day-to-day challenges-such as standing up to peer pressure. 

Friendships:   People enjoy being around those who are reasonably goal-oriented-that is, those who know what they want and are willing to work for it.  Moreover, one of the best ways to strengthen a  friendship is to work with another person towards a common goal.

Happiness:    When yo set and reach goals, you feel a sense of accomplishment.

"I love having goals.  They keep me occupied and give me something to keep reaching for. And when you reach a goal, it feels great to look back and say, "Wow, I really did it!  I accomplished what I set out to do.'" -Christopher.

BIBLE PRINCIPLE:  "If you wait until the wind and the weather are just right, you will never plant anything and never harvest anything." -ECCLESIASTES 11:4, Today's English Version.

Next time: 12 Secrets of Successful Families - Conclusion of 12. Goals

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