I'm going to pay off my credit card this year!

I'm going to lose that weight this year once and for all!

I'm going to get that promotion this year!

I'm going to have that holiday I've been promising myself for the last three years this year...

How often do you tell yourself that you're going to do this, that and the other? Often we see birthdays and New Year as a chance to make a new start, to achieve goals which we think are important to us, but all too often, we don't achieve them. Goals we have change through life as our circumstances change, because we never know what life is going to through at us. The elements required to achieve what we want (i.e. a goal) don't change: commitment to see it through to the end; focusing on it; a belief we can do it; the determination to overcome any fears or barriers; and our supporters behind us to help us through the more difficult stages when we might otherwise feel like giving up.

Let's evaluate your approach to achieving what you want.

In any area of your life think about the last three goals you set yourself and didn't achieve; and the last three goals you set yourself and did achieve. Now evaluate those goals to study your attitude to achieving what you want.

• What was the difference between them?
• How did you feel about the ones you didn't achieve and the ones you did?
• How different did you feel about them at the start, and at the finish?
• How differently did you approach them?
• How important was each goal to you on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the highest).

Listen to the factors which took you to achieve your goals. What was it that made sure they got your 100% commitment? You'll probably find that the goals which were most important to you scored the highest; the others were low.

Now I want to you look back to your goals. How would it be if you deliberately set out to achieve those goals in less time with a minimum of stress to yourself? If you practice setting goals, sooner or later it becomes second nature and you become more focused. You should be aware too, of what might stop you achieving the goals you set yourself. Any of the following might apply:

• Lack of confidence
• Lack of time
• Lack of money
• Fear of change, making the change
• Lack of commitment - they weren't as important to you as you thought
• Strong belief that "I can't do anything else, I've done this for so long."
• Lack of a goal so they don't know where they're going
• Lack of focus
• The 'what if' voice in your head which focuses on the possible things which could go wrong. Where's the positive voice?