You may have the best intentions, but if you do not know how to deal with setbacks, you will be unsuccessful at achieving your goal.

In yesterday's post, I mentioned the three stages to goal setting: planning, implementation, and maintenance.  Many people have a goal; one way of achieving that goal is to devise a great plan.  However, people often fail to take into consideration the obstacles that they may encounter in the process.

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal" - Henry Ford

When I was a child, I was interviewed for the local television news.  I was asked on air: "What my favourite activity was to do with my mom."  I responded: "Cleaning my room."One of my personal goals for the coming year and beyond is to keep my bedroom clean.  Perhaps "clean" is not the right word - I would prefer if it was tidy and organized.  My New Year's resolution was to clear out the clutter.  I know that is a general goal which needs to be made into a SMART goal. Therefore, I am breaking down my room into several ways I can tidy up my bedroom.   I learned these from one of my best friends when she came to visit for my birthday; one of the gifts she gave me was to help organize my bedroom.  She is the queen of organization, and we spent the day after my birthday planning, shopping, and organizing my room. Six of my biggest organizational weaknesses are:

Happy New Year!!!! Welcome to 2012

I hope you all had a wonderful time of renewal, celebrating with your family and friends.

For my part, I had a really great time but must confess that the holidays went by far too quickly.  It is a week-and-a-half of hanging out with family and friends and eating way too much.  It is hard to see everyone, and I missed seeing some close friends this holiday.  However, I had a lot of fun over the holidays and made plans for the new year.

I love reading magazines and thought, “Why not create my own version of a magazine?”   It will be kind of like my own version of a book club with ideas to make you think. Written responses and feedback are encouraged; if you feel inspired to write, share with the rest of us.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I hope you all have had a wonderful holiday with your friends and family.

I have had a great one and ate way too much. I'm now recovering from a turkey coma.   The best gift that I got was the Presence of my family and friends. My saying is, "Presence is the BEST Present."

Take chances and meet new people, you never know the amazing connections you will form.  I truly believe that these connections form not only because you were at the right place at the right time, but because you take ACTION!

I was presented with an opportunity and if I hadn't taken action, look at the inspiring people I would have missed out on connecting with.

Let me share my inspiring story with you.  I consider myself lucky to have connected with these two women! I hope to meet them someday.

"Never, ever, give up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I know you have probably heard this quote many times in your life. I have and I've  promised myself that I wouldn’t give up on my dream.  However, I just realized that I almost did, and I am so happy that I did not.

When I finished graduate school, two of my goals were: to keep blogging and to help reduce bullying in sport.  In both avenues, I almost gave up.

When it came to reducing bullying in sport, I saw the need through personal experiences - teams I have been on and the academic work I have done.  I had this idea to bring awareness to bullying in sport, and I wanted others to get on board.

I remember thinking this when I watched the University men’s soccer teams play in the national championships in Victoria, BC, recently.

Picture this: it is the semi-finals round of a major national sports tournament.  There are two teams in this round of the competition.  Both teams have worked really hard to get here. Both have practised hard and won their important games.  The players have most likely been playing for many years and have practiced daily.  Each team has also grown really tight as a unit.  But, watching the teams recently, I was reminded that it doesn’t matter how well you have played in the past or how much you practice; in the semi-finals, it is about this moment. Each player must be totally “present” in the game.

I went to watch this Improv music class at the beginning of the week with a friend of mine.  A new friend was teaching the class, so he invited us to attend.  The class had five students, who each played different instruments in this fourth-year class.

I was expecting to be blown away by their music and they did really well. The thing is, I wasn’t blown away by their performances.  All the students were amazing musicians but they weren’t excellent.  My definition of an excellent performer is someone who has the abilities but also has the mental drive to shine and take risks.  It felt they were staying in the safe zone and not taking any risks.

One of the students even said they were insecure.

I know we all have busy lives, but we can take two minutes out of our day and remember the Veterans.

This is very dear to my heart as one of my grandfathers was a Captain in World War Two and one of my grandmothers was a nurse in the same war.  Also, members of my extended family have served either away or on the home front in past wars.  I also have friends who are currently serving.

Please show respect for Veterans by wearing a poppy throughout the week and thanking them for sacrificing their lives for us.   I ask you to think of the Veterans and their families and friends during the two minutes of silence.

"Do not let yourself be surrounded by people who will peck you to death like a duck" - Maya Angelou

I heard Oprah say this quote on her Lifeclass last week, and the message hit me hard.

When I heard the phrase, "peck you to death like a duck", I was brought back to my childhood and a situation I had witnessed at our local petting zoo.  I remember going into the barn and seeing four birds (I forget what kind they were) in a pen.

I have many different responsibilities in my life, which occupy a lot of my time.  I'm usually GO GO GO ( i.e., constantly busy).  However, I need to be reminded that it is good and well-needed for everyone's mental and physical health to stop and relax sometimes. There has to be a balance.

Taking a break, being disconnected, and listening has inspired me and allowed me to generate a whole bunch of new ideas that I may not have thought of, if I wasn't forced to take a break.

So I am actually very happy that my computer decided not to charge.  I encourage you all to stop, relax, and listen more in your life.  It really pays off and is good for your health.