“I’d rather attempt to do something great and fail than to attempt to do nothing and succeed.” – Dr. Robert H. Schuller

I have always enjoyed that quote by Dr. Schuller. Another quote of his that I really enjoy is “What great thing would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?” That’s a great question, isn’t it? What great dreams would you pursue if you knew it was impossible to fail? What lifetime goals would you put on your plate and go after with all your heart if you knew that eventually you would succeed?

When we start out in this world we all have dreams about what we want to achieve. As children, some set their sights on being an astronaut, some as mechanics and others as doctors. We all have dreams but, as we grow older, we sometimes lose sight of them.

Maybe you’ve lost sight of your dreams. Maybe your dreams no longer seem achievable. But even though you’ve lost sight of your dreams, others are achieving theirs. Many times they are similar to yours! If your dreams are possible for others, then you too can achieve them! With the right goal setting strategies your current position in life can be the launching pad to the destiny you’ve always dreamed about.

Keep in mind that bigger dreams take longer to achieve. But if you focus on the small steps, what you can do today, and take consistent action, you can achieve whatever your heart desires. The key to a life of success and fulfillment is to have goal setting strategies designed to assist you in chasing your dreams, beginning today. You must start your journey now, especially if your lifetime goals are big, and I hope they are!

The necessity of a positive mental attitude

Much of the battle for your dreams and goals is fought in your subconscious mind. That’s why it’s so important to believe in yourself and your abilities. Before you even start making progress towards your dreams, know that success is yours for the taking- if you believe in yourself and take action.

Over the years you have probably have told yourself a lot of reasons for not believing in yourself. You may have convinced yourself that you lack the intelligence, resources, or capability. But that’s because you’ve been using your subconscious mind incorrectly, training it to put you and your capabilities down. But if you have a big dream in your heart, then you can use the power of your subconscious mind achieve it! It’s just as easy to convince yourself that you have the intelligence, resources, or capability. Simply replace self-defeating self-talk with empowering positive statements that fire you up and get you moving in the direction of your goals!

If you really want to reach your lifetime goals, start by questioning and attacking your doubts. Are these things that you have been telling yourself for so long really true? Are they logical? Most of your self doubts are simply exaggerations that you have habitually lodged in your subconscious mind. They are baseless fears of things that happened long ago or imaginings that may never happen.  Use your positive visualization to replace those fears with empowering thoughts that boost your confidence. As you move toward your lifetime goals, instead of focusing on the big picture, focus on the small steps that will get you to your dream.

Make a list all the skills and positive qualities you possess. If you’re having a hard time thinking of any, ask your friends and family. Others often have a better perspective on your strengths than you do.

Instead of focusing on the negative start focusing on the positive that comes into your life. Instead of thinking about negative comments people tell you, think about the compliments you received and write them down. Then review them often. This will combat the fear and anxiety that falsely leads you to believe that you aren’t good enough.

Next, make a list the things you want most in life. What are your financial and career goals? What would you like your relationships to be like? What are your core values? Maybe it’s been a while since you’ve thought about these things. If so, allow yourself to explore the dreams and goals that you’ve buried beneath your fear and inaction. Dust off those dreams and start taking action to make them a reality today.

How to conquer your fears

Going after your dreams can be scary. I can guarantee you that once you’ve decided to go after your dreams you’re going to have to deal with some form of fear. This is because risks can be scary. But the people that take risks tend to be happier in life in the long run. Choose to step out of your comfort zone to chase after the destiny you deserve.

This isn’t saying to ignore fear. When you feel fear, listen to what your mind is saying. Ask yourself the reason you are afraid. Once you figure that out, determine if your fear is of something real or imagined. While some fear is healthy, much of it is caused by irrational exaggerations of reality. If it is a real fear, does it serve you, or hold you back? No matter what it is determine to make your fears work for you. All people feel fear but those people who achieve great things feel fear and choose to turn that fear into a motivator to push them forward.

Make action a habit

Of all things that can hold you back, its inaction. That’s the primary reason most people fall short of their dreams. They just don’t do the work needed to make their goals a reality. Determine from this day on that you’ll use your positive mental attitude to face your fears head on and take consistent action. When you take consistent action you’ll be training your subconscious mind the habits of success. Then you will be able to achieve the success you deserve. But if you fail to take action, your fears win.

It’s up to you. Do you want to really achieve your lifetime goals? Do you want to live the life of your dreams? Then use your positive mental attitude to train your subconscious mind to take the action you need to do to succeed. By taking one small action today you will be creating unstoppable momentum. Then you can ride that momentum to the destiny you desire – and deserve!

Wil Dieck is the founder of Total Mind Therapy. Come back to this blog often for more positive thinking tips.