Everyone, at some point of his or her life, has dreamed of being somebody special, somebody big. And how many times have we dreamed of being rich, or successful, or happy with our relationships? Often, we dream big dreams and have great aspirations. Unfortunately, our dreams remain just that – dreams. And our aspirations easily collect dust in our attic.

This is a sad turn of events in our life. Instead of experiencing exciting adventures in self actualization, we get caught up in living from paycheck to paycheck, fulfilling the dreams of other people.

But you know what? Life could be so much better, if only we learned to aim higher.

The most common problem to setting goals is the word impossible. Most people get hung up thinking I can’t do this. It’s too hard. It’s impossible. No one can do this. However, if everyone thought that, there would be no inventions, no innovations, and no breakthroughs in human accomplishment.

On the other hand, some people suffer from dreaming totally outrageous dreams and not acting on them. The result? Broken dreams, and tattered aspirations.

If you limit yourself with self-doubt, and self-limiting assumptions, you will never be able to break past what you deem impossible. If you reach too far out into the sky without taking actions and working towards your goals, you will find yourself clinging on to the impossible dreams.

Try this exercise. Take a piece of paper, divide it into three columns and write down some goals in your life. Under one column, list down things ‘you know you can do’. Under another column, write the things ‘you might be able to do.’ And under one more, list the things that are ‘impossible for you to do.’

Now look at all the columns every day and strive to accomplish the goals that are under things ‘you know you can do’. Check them when you are able to accomplish them. As you slowly are able to check all of your goals under that heading, try accomplishing the goals under the other column - the one that reads ‘you might be able to do.’

As of the items you wrote under things I could do are accomplished, you can move the goals that are under things that are ‘impossible for you to do’ to the list of things ‘you might be able to do.’  As you iterate through this process, you will find out that the goals you thought were impossible become easier to accomplish. And the impossible begin to seem possible after all.

You see, the technique here is not to limit your imagination. It is to aim high, and start working towards that goal little by little. However, it also is unwise to set a goal that is truly unrealistic. Those who just dream towards a goal without working hard end up disappointed and disillusioned.

On the other hand, if you told someone a hundred years ago that it was possible for man to be on the moon, they would laugh at you. If you had told them that you could send mail from here to the other side of the world in a few seconds, they would say you were out of your mind. But, through sheer desire and perseverance, these impossible dreams are now realities.

Thomas Edison once said that genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Nothing could be truer. For one to accomplish his or her dreams, there has to be strong belief, actions and discipline. But take note that 1% has to be a think-big dream, and not some easily accomplished one.

So dream on, friend! Don’t get caught up with your perceived limitations. Think big and work hard to attain those dreams. As you step up the ladder of progress, you will just find out that the impossible has just become a little bit more possible.

achieving goals, how to set goals

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There are many benefits to having a mentor, the most valuable ones is perhaps saving time in going through trials and errors. Whatever the problems you’re facing, your mentor will likely have been there before. He can give you advice based on his experience, you’re benefiting from his wisdom, learning and avoiding the mistakes he had made in the past.

Furthermore, when you’re faced with a challenging situation, your mentor can give you his opinion that you can use as a measuring stick. Your mentor can also help to boost your confidence. Having a mentor is particular important in an organization as it can help guide you to attain the roles that will enable you to rise to higher levels as you progress in your career.

How Do You Choose A Mentor?

A mentor can be someone who works in the same company with you but it’s preferable if you can find a mentor from another company who is also in a similar career as you. Ideally, your mentor has been successful in this career, he is your idea of success or someone whose type of job you aspire to have one day.

Many companies are now implementing the mentoring programs. If your existing company has such program, you should approach your HR manager to get involved in the program. If your company doesn’t have a mentoring program, don’t be afraid to request or suggest that such a program be started.  Once you have found a mentor, start building a good relationship with him. You need to be open to learning. have a good understanding of your own limitations and have a strong desire for success. Discuss your expectations and desires openly with your mentor.

If your company is unable to help, don’t despair. Finding a mentor on your own can broaden your network and maximise your chances of finding the best mentor. Sometimes finding a mentor is as simple as making a bond with your senior colleagues at work or from your industry contacts. Finding a mentor is not difficult, just try to network more often.

You could also search for professional mentoring programs in your city, industry or profession. You might find a professional organization related to your industry or profession that could point you in the right direction of a suitable mentoring program.  Regardless of how you find your mentor, the benefits are invaluable. You have someone who is experienced to help you through tough times in both your career and self-improvement journey.

benefits of having a mentor