Setting Acheivable Goals Leads to Increased Self-Esteem A surefire way to increase your self-esteem is to establish goals based on what you can realistically achieve. Working through these goals step by step will enable you to develop your potential. Developing your potential leads to higher self-esteem. It is almost impossible to achieve anything without a set goal or set goals. Having goals is what separates those that do and those that only wish they had. Goals can be large or incremental leading to the accomplishment of a larger goal. When your self-esteem is down, it is critical to set some intermediate reachable goals. For example, a golfer, who had never shot below 100, would want to set an intermediate goal of breaking par the next time she golfs. But, she may set an intermediate goal of shooting par on 2 holes per side. This is an achievable goal for her and when reached will lead to more self-confidence. Goals should be short term and long term. It is often impossible to meet a long term goal without first using a series of short term goals. The initial short term goals should be one you can reasonably be sure you can reach. Later short term goals are ones which will build on the success of the initial goals. Keep adding short term goals until you achieve your long term goal. For many of us goals are easily made and easily broken. Whether it's to lose weight, save money, or adopt a healthier lifestyle, sometimes goals can be hard to keep. But, working toward these and other goals can improve your life. Setting realistic goals year round can lead to a healthier lifestyle, improved self-esteem, and increased confidence. Children also can benefit from learning how to set and reach goals. It helps them learn how to manage their time and make good decisions—skills that can have a lasting and positive impact on their future. The following tips can help you and your children successfully set and achieve your goals: Be specific. When thinking about your goal, be as exact as possible. People who set specific goals are more likely to succeed. For example, instead of saying that you want to save money, set a specific goal to save $20 (or whatever your goal amount is) per week. Put it in writing. Write down exactly what you want to achieve and post it in a place where you will see it every day. This will help remind you what you're working toward. When you write, use positive terms. For example, instead of writing, "I will stop eating junk food" re-word your goal in more positive terms: "I will make healthy food choices." Set realistic goals. When you think about setting goals, make sure that they are within your reach. Be mindful of your finances, schedule, and other personal affairs. Many people forget to think about these important factors and, as a result, they set unrealistic goals for themselves. Develop an action plan. Create a timeline with steps toward your goal. Set deadlines for each step and cross them off as you go. Sometimes just crossing things off and watching your list get smaller can give you a sense of accomplishment and help you to keep going. Believe in yourself. Stay positive about your progress. Share your goal with a friend and ask him to help keep your spirits up. Be flexible. Keep in mind that setbacks can happen. Don't get discouraged and give up. Your hard work will pay off! Reward yourself. Acknowledge your achievements, even the small ones. Reaching a goal takes hard work and you should be proud of your efforts.

Self Esteem Tip Do things that make use of your own special talents and abilities. For instance, if you are good with your hands, then make things for yourself, family, and friends. If you like animals, consider having a pet or at least playing with friends' pets.