I embrace something called The Law of Probabilities, which says the more things you try, the more likely one of them will work. The more questions you will ask the more likely one of them will answer your question. ~ Uldis Liepins.

When the past controls the present, the future is a rerun. ~ Author unknown.

The road that leads to great success is usually paved with a ton of mistakes, so get over it and on with it. If you don’t like leading, you can always follow. ~ Warren Buffet

Establishing Dreams and Goals by Jim Rohn

One of the amazing things we have been given as humans is the unquenchable desire to have dreams of a better life, and the ability to establish goals to live out those dreams. Think of it: We can look deep within our hearts and dream of a better situation for ourselves and our families; dream of better financial lives and better emotional or physical lives; certainly dream of better spiritual lives. But what makes this even more powerful is that we have also been given the ability to not only dream but to pursue those dreams and not only to pursue them, but the cognitive ability to actually lay out a plan and strategies (setting goals) to achieve those dreams. Powerful!

What are your dreams and goals? This isn’t what you already have or what you have done, but what you want. Have you ever really sat down and thought through your life values and decided what you really want? Have you ever taken the time to truly reflect, to listen quietly to your heart, to see what dreams live within you? Your dreams are there. Everyone has them. They may live right on the surface, or they may be buried deep from years of others telling you they were foolish, but they are there.

So how do we know what our dreams are? This is an interesting process and it relates primarily to the art of listening. This is not listening to others; it is listening to yourself. If we listen to others, we hear their plans and dreams (and many will try to put their plans and dreams on us). If we listen to others, we can never be fulfilled. We will only chase elusive dreams that are not rooted deep within us. No, we must listen to our own hearts.

Let’s take a look at some practical steps/thoughts on hearing from our hearts on what our dreams are:

Take time to be quiet. This is something that we don’t do enough in this busy world of ours. We rush, rush, rush, and we are constantly listening to noise all around us. The human heart was meant for times of quiet, to peer deep within. It is when we do this that our hearts are set free to soar and take flight on the wings of our own dreams! Schedule some quiet “dream time” this week. No other people. No cell phone. No computer. Just you, a pad, a pen, and your thoughts.

Think about what really thrills you. When you are quiet, think about those things that really get your blood moving. What would you LOVE to do, either for fun or for a living? What would you love to accomplish? What would you try if you were guaranteed to succeed? What big thoughts move your heart into a state of excitement and joy? When you answer these questions you will feel great and you will be in the “dream zone.” It is only when we get to this point that we experience what our dreams are!

Write down all of your dreams as you have them. Don’t think of any as too outlandish or foolish. Remember, you’re dreaming! Let the thoughts fly and take careful record.

Now, prioritize those dreams. Which are most important? Which are most feasible? Which would you love to do the most? Put them in the order in which you will actually try to attain them. Remember, we are always moving toward action, not just dreaming.

Here is the big picture: Life is too short to not pursue your dreams. Someday your life will near its end and all you will be able to do is look backward. You can reflect with joy or regret. Those who dream, who set goals and act on them to live out their dreams, are those who live lives of joy and have a sense of peace when they near the end of their lives. They have finished well, for themselves and for their families.

Remember: These are the dreams and goals that are born out of your heart and mind. These are the goals that are unique to you and come from who you were created to be and gifted to become. Your specific goals are what you want to attain because they are what will make your life joyful and bring your family’s life into congruence with what you want it to be.

People giving you a hard time along the way to your goal is a rule not an exception. Always work hard. Don’t expect the world to just give whatever it is you want to you. If you really believe in something then fight for it, and don’t let anyone tell you anything different. ~ Damon Dash

The trouble with many plans is that they are based on the way things are now. To be successful, your personal plan must focus on what you want, not what you have. ~ Nido Qubein

The difference between great people and everyone else is that great people create their lives actively, while everyone else is created by their lives, passively waiting to see where life takes them next. The difference between the two is the difference between living fully and just existing. ~ Michael E. Gerber

Where will you be in five years? Develop a plan, and then activate that plan to put yourself where you want to be in five years. Be sure to update your five-year plan at least annually in order to stay ahead of the game. ~ Tom Hopkins

When schemes are laid in advance, it is surprising how often the circumstances will fit in with them. ~ Sir William Osler

Never begin the day until it is finished on paper. ~ Jim Rohn

Never begin the day until it is finished on paper. ~ Jim Rohn

The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital. ~ Joe Paterno

Plan your work and work your plan. Decide in advance exactly how you are going to get from where you are to where you want to go. ~ Brian Tracy

I can give you a six-word formula for success: Think things through; then follow through. ~ Captain Edward V. Rickenbacker

Expect the best, plan for the worst, and prepare to be surprised. ~ Denis Waitley

Discipline is doing within, while you do without. ~ Denis Waitley

Self-respect is the root of discipline: The sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself. ~ Abraham Joshua Heschel

Success comes when people turn what they’ve learned into the daily habits that breed success. ~ Tony Jeary

I’ve never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn’t appreciate the grind, the discipline…. I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour—this greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear—is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle, victorious. ~ Vince Lombardi

Discipline is the refining fire by which talent becomes ability. ~ Roy L. Smith

You can’t have the fruits without the roots. It’s the principle of sequencing: Private Victories precede Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation of good relationships with others. ~ Stephen Covey

Without discipline, there is no life at all. ~ Katharine Hepburn

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. ~ Jim Rohn

Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work. ~ Stephen King

Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work. ~ Stephen King

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The most important quality in the development of human character is, and always has been, self-discipline. ~ Brian Tracy

The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it. ~ General H. Norman Schwarzkopf

If you’re not willing to accept your own discipline, you’re not going to accomplish 2 percent of what you could—and you’re going to miss out on 98 percent of the good things you could have. ~ Tom Hopkins

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. ~ Jim Ryun

You have a very powerful mind that can make anything happen as long as you keep yourself centered. ~ Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. ~ Confucius

The future depends on what we do in the present. ~ Mahatma Gandhi Eleanor

When you nourish your body with pure energy, you transform from the inside out. ~ Bill Phillips

I Will! I will get through this ... I will put this behind me ... I will move forward stronger ... I Will! ~ Camille Peltier-Robson

GO BEARS!

Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another. ~ Walter Elliott

Never, never, never quit. ~ Winston Churchill