The major reason for setting any goal is for what it makes of you to accomplish it. It’s not getting a black belt that makes a difference – it’s becoming one.

What it makes of you will always be the far greater value than what you get. That is why goals are so powerful – they are part of the fabric that makes up our lives. And goal-setting is where we create our goals.

Having a goal is powerful, partly because it provides focus. It gives us the ability to hone in on the exact actions we need to perform to achieve everything we desire in life. Goals are GREAT because they cause us to stretch and grow in ways that we never have before. In order to reach our goals we must become better. We must change and grow.

Also, goals provide long-term vision in our lives. We need powerful, long-range vision to help us get past short-term obstacles. Life is designed in such a way that we get to look long-term and live short-term. We don’t have to be OK with how things are right now; we can imagine a time in the future when we are different because of the decisions and choices we are making in the present.

We can dream for the future and live in the present.

Goals aren’t what you already have or what you have done, but what you want. Have you ever really sat down and thought through your life values and decided what you really want? Have you ever taken the time to truly reflect? They may live right on the surface, or they may be buried deep from years of others telling you they were foolish, but they are there.

Next, allow those you trust to hold you accountable. This is where a good teacher or trusted advisor comes in. They hold your feet to the fire so that you remember why you first began the journey. When you most want to quit, they are there. And accountability puts some teeth into the process. If a goal is set and only one person knows it, can there be support? Many times, no. It’s not impossible to do it on your own, but it is much harder.

So take the time to put these pieces together. You’ll be putting yourself in a position of power that will catapult you toward a richer, deeper, more connected life.