Setting Goals

By:  Donna Martin

Goal setting is an important skill to teach our children.  As the New Year begins set a time to sit down with your children and talk about goals for the coming year.  They can be as simple as putting away toys every day or as difficult as writing essays for college scholarships.  Help your child write personal goals, and write goals as a family.

 It is a good idea to divide your goals into categories such as family, spiritual, traveling, health, physical, educational, etc.  If the goal is something that you will need to work on over a period of time, then set a date for when you want to have it completed. 

Goal setting gives your life purpose and a sense of accomplishment.  Research has shown that if you write down your goals you are more likely to attain them.   So encourage your children to write down their goals and keep them in a place where they will be seen.  Do the same for your family goals.  Encourage each other and help each other attain the goals they have set.  Celebrate when a goal is completed. 

You are never too old to set goals.  Live this year with purpose and see what you can accomplish.

The Martins are available to present “Happy Together” Marriage Enrichment Events for churches and organizations.  To schedule an event call Michael at 940-735-1515. They are certified “Prepare/Enrich” Facilitators and are available to work with couples on an individual basis using the “Prepare/Enrich Assessment.”  They publish a weekly “Happy Together” Blog about family and marriage issues.  You can order copies of their new books Dancing With Death and 366 Tidbits We Have Learned in 14,610 Days of Marriage, read, and subscribe to their “Happy Together” Blog by logging onto the Martin’s website at www.happytogethermarriages.com.