A Single Mom's Roadmap for Personal Development

  Everyone wants to progress and attain a certain level of personal success. While stating your goals is a great start, there are supplementary characteristics that help you actually achieve those goals. One of the primary traits is that of determination. Being a determined single mom involves setting a goal and stopping at nothing to achieve it. It’s the motivating force between stating something and taking persistent action. Sure, obstacles may get in the way. However, determined individuals don’t let those small excuses prevent them from reaching their dreams. Determination is the blueprint for success. Without it, reaching your goals may be virtually impossible. Because this characteristic plays such a vital role in reaching new heights, it’s important to learn why it impacts success and how to cultivate it. A single mom’s journey comes with personal challenges. Some may come in the form of discouragement from outsiders while others could be circumstantial. The question is, do ...

It’s common to hear people talk about setting intentions and defining goals, but what’s the difference between them? When it comes to achieving personal and professional success, having a clear understanding of both is important. Understanding how they differ can help you focus your efforts and move closer to accomplishing your desired outcome. Let’s explore the differences between setting intentions and defining goals. Setting Intentions Setting an intention is a way to focus on what you want to achieve at any given moment. When setting an intention, it's important to choose something that resonates with who you are and what you want to create in life. An intention should be worded positively as if it has already been achieved. For example, instead of saying “I don’t want to be stressed out anymore," you might say “I am relaxed and at peace." Defining Goals Unlike intentions, which focus on being present in the moment, goals are future-oriented. Goals require action in ...

To think strategically means to see and to be able to understand the bigger picture of where you need to go. Then you need to take action to achieve the associated goals.  Strategic thinkers often ask themselves key questions like: Where am I now? Where do I want to be? How will I get there?  Strategic thinking is a powerful tool in leadership.  When applied it gives awareness and understanding needed for long-term success. Strategic thinking is also a powerful tool to use in your personal life for creating the path you want to take and build the life you want to live.  Strategic Thinking Is not only about decision making. It’s about spending time thinking, listening, and observing. It’s not about gut feelings alone. Strategic thinkers and leaders are methodical, driven by data to help them make informed decisions. They use observation of trends, asking the right questions and seeking context.  It is not instant gratification of short-term gains. Strategic think...

Rather than misusing time and struggling to reach your goals, it’s best to develop a strategy that will help you move quickly from one task to another.  Many of us set goals and have intentions of completing them - only to have them fall through mid-flight. This may be because enthusiasm for the project fails or you’ve come to a standstill for some other reason.  One strategy that will keep you moving from one goal to the next, is to be persistent. You have to refuse to give up  even when life becomes a bit difficult or you find yourself bored with the process. Another good strategy for achieving goals faster, is to never limit yourself or what you’re capable of achieving. When you tell yourself that you can’t accomplish something, you have to get rid of the negative thoughts. Negative thoughts have killed many good ideas and intentions. Do what it takes to keep yourself motivated and moving forward, by spending more time developing a strategy that will guarantee success....

It’s only natural for your original plans to evolve into different designs over time because the knowledge and insight you gain will help you improve your plans. A s your plans take on different characteristics, your thinking will also have to adjust to those new changes. You may need to add or take away certain portions of reaching your goals so they can move along more naturally. Insight to what you’re trying to accomplish is everything when it comes to meeting your goals. You can’t get insight without knowledge and action. A transformation occurs in both you and your goals as you move along and powerful changes take place. Rather than fight changes that come your way, accept them for what they are and move on. If you resist, you won’t be able to recognize the opportunities that change can bring. Some changes aren’t good for meeting our goals and they become obstacles that we need to overcome, but even those changes are for the good because you learn from that experience. Don’t be so...