Focus on Your Goals

“Keep your mind on the great and splendid things you would like to do, and then, as the days go gliding by, you will find yourself unconsciously seizing upon the opportunities that are required for the fulfillment of your desire.”

I have had this quote from Elbert Hubbard on the bulletin board above my desk ever since I went back to school to earn my doctorate in the early 1990’s.  It doesn’t mean that what you desire will just come to you without effort.   It means that if you focus on your goals, you will make decisions and look for opportunities that will help you achieve them. 

One problem many college students encounter is that there are so many distractions and other things to do that their goal (good semester grades, graduation, fulfilling career) gets lost and forgotten.   Even though it may be a very long-term goal, you have to do things every day to achieve it.  But it is hard to pass up an immediate pleasure to work toward something that you will not enjoy for months or even years.  

One thing you can do is what I did – post motivational sayings where you will see them every day.  You could write your goal on an index card and tape it to your mirror so you will see it every morning. The more you make working toward your goal a priority, the more you will want to plan your day around achieving that goal and will want to do the things that will get you there.

Next week look for information about the characteristics of an effective goal and the power of setting and achieving goals.   Have a successful week!

First Semester Success, Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at wordassociation.com, amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.