5. Floating Goals - These goals are floating around in your head, usually masquerading as a wish list. I call these floating goals, because they're not rooted in reality. Writing down goals (and strategies and actions) takes them out of *wishing* category to "real" category. It's no longer just a pipe dream in your head. It's a goal, with a strategy, and actions associated with it. You know what you want, and you know how to get it. If it's written down, you simply filter all decision (big and small) through your goals.does it contribute to my goal, or contaminate it? Example: You have a goal to write a best selling romance novel, with a strategy of writing one chapter each week for 36 weeks, and your action is to spend 1 hour per day towards each chapter. If you don't schedule - AND PROTECT - that 1 hour each day, it's more than likely that you'll get to end of each week wondering why you didn't get more done.

6. Blind Goals -- No matter how nicely laid out goals, strategies, and actions are.if you don't SEE them and review them, and let them become part of who and what you are and do, on a daily basis, you'll lose track of them. The job, errands, latest TV show, worrying about money, worrying about kids, worrying about economy will all crowd out your time, thoughts, and energy. They may remain in back of your mind, but you won't gear your life towards them. Post them on 'fridge, in car, on back door, on bathroom mirror.anywhere that you'll see them regularly.

You can keep a record of anything new that you learned. -This helps to show you that you are, in fact, learning something new every day, which gives your self-confidence a boost.

It’s also good to look back over previous journals and see how you’ve developed as a person and to reminisce. This way you can see how all hard work you put into improving your life, is paying off.

Journaling allows you to write down what you’re grateful for, which gives you a profound sense of humility and gratitude in amongst all thoughts of ‘lack’.

Here’s how I get most benefit out of journaling:

I got myself a ‘day per page’ journal and made a deal with myself that I would write in it every night, before going to sleep.

I write down everything that happened during day.

The good and bad (be careful to use positive language and always give a good side to a bad event). How you handled situations, things you learned, people you met, gifts you received (a hug from a friend or your daughter waving goodbye as you go to work)

Writing everything out helps clarify a situation, put things into perspective, clears negative and affirms positive.

At bottom of page I summarize new things I’ve learned and things that happened today that I’m grateful for.

I’ve found this to be a wonderful way to remind myself of all good things that happen to me every day. In a world where we habitually tend to think negatively, a journal can be our own little ray of sunshine.