TO DO Lists - Positive Goal Reinforcements

I recently read a tweet that said If you're not finishing your "To Do" list, you're basically doing something wrong. I wholeheartedly...disagree. A few years ago I sat down and created a To Do list for everything I thought I wanted to accomplish in the next 18 mos. It was a substantial list I must say, with more than 50 items. I pinned it to my bulletin board and at least glanced at it a few times a week. A few weeks into it I noticed I had crossed off a few items. Yay me! What I saw was what I had accomplished, not what I hadn't. Two years later, after I had long put the list away and gone on with something else in my life, I found it again. No, I hadn't lost 45 lbs (#5 on the list) and I hadn't climbed Mt. Whitney (#22), but I had paid off my car, put $2500 in my savings account, gotten my passport and spent 10 days in Scotland and Ireland without charging anything to a credit card. Finally tally: I had put a line through 65% of my list. I couldn't help but smile...and wonder, how much would I have accomplished if I had never made a list at all?

Maybe now is a good time to start a new list...

Getting a Handle on Life in 2010

I am not one for New Year's resolutions, but I am definitely in favor of taking stock of where you're at vs. where you want to be, and then creating a plan or list of goals for the things you'd like to change.  Maybe you're like me and bypass the whole January 1st ritual of posting a new list of resolutions on the fridge or dresser mirror. Maybe, you too will consider February (or whatever month you decide) to be the start of a "new" you... a more focused, disciplined, goal-oriented, inspired YOU. And then, maybe you'll also consider using those same tools to help your family and friends create their own lists of goals and aspirations.

Obviously, how we deal with the economic challenges is a big part of our goals, discipline and inspiration.  Stress over the loss of job or decrease in income, rising mortgages or costs or living, and the stress on our relationships that are intertwined with money matters, are on the rise.  This is a good time to take stock of your budget, your spending habits, your lifestyle (not to mention taking an honest look at how your home, lifestyle and relationships may have suffered in the last year or so.)

Once you've taken stock, now it's time to get down to business and create some attainable goals.  Here's a few articles and resources to help you get started:

How to Downsize Your Lifestyle - Less is more, especially now.

How to Get Cash for Your Unwanted Stuff  - whether you are in need of quick cash, or you've realized you definitely have way too much, there's definitely a few ideas to help you clear some stuff out.

Be sure to get your free copy of financial expert Alan Haft's book The 10 Most Common Mistakes People Make with Their Money...and How to Avoid Them -- it's available on his blog "The Haft Report" along with a lot of other smart and savvy money tips!

Check out LiveStrong.com's  Dare to Change Your Life articles and resources.

And remember, even hitting 60-70% of your goals and aspirations looks a whole lot better than 100% of  nothing!