Psychology

» Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen - are you working towards your dream?

It's so easy to give up, it's much easier to watch tv, surf the net, or get involved with other parts of life - and give up what you've dreamed of doing.

Are your goals the same as your dreams? Are you working towards achieving them?

» pink101 - are you working towards your dream?

In response to are you working towards your dream? posted by LauriePK:
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I remember when I was quite young and hearing about such things as "a five year plan" that was about some governmental policy.
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My family was firmly entrenched in Christian Fundamentalism which had only shortly before my birth come on society's plate. Fundamentalism as you might know is correlative to the concept of Dispensationalism which is all about the way God relates with humanity. And, these twin concepts were advocating that the signs of prophesy were quickly unfolding and the end times were upon us. So, "five year plans" were portrayed as man's futile attempt to have anything to do with our destiny. In simple terms, that meant that goals were unimportant as God's plans were what truly counts.
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It took many years for me to overcome the devastation those teachings had on my life. I was sore put to deny that I could influence the outcome of my life. When, as a child, I talked about wanting to go on to college after high school to gain a higher education, I was discouraged and told to talk to the board of directors at our church and they would give me a free scholarship to Bible college if I would dedicate my purposes to serve the Lord.
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Among the most important things a youngster can be taught about their future is to learn how to develop LONG TERM GOALS. The purpose of such is that all decisions the child makes will be relative to those goals. It is such a simple method for success. And, it is devastated by any religionism that teaches whatever humans do is plain futility.
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We need to raise ourselves about the devastation that religionism works on civilization!
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-- posted by pink101

» Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen - are you working towards your dream?

In response to are you working towards your dream? posted by pink101:

Long term goals for a youngster can be difficult -- everything seems so far away! Remember when Christmas took FOREVER to arrive?
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Even for me at 36, it feels like next summer is so far away. And yet time goes so fast!
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That's why it's important to set goals, and work towards them using failure as guidance - because time races by....

» pink101 - Long Term & Short Term Goals

In response to are you working towards your dream? posted by LauriePK:
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I guess I'm pointing at the value of long term goals over those of a short term.
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It may be difficult for a child to set long term goals; but, I doubt it.
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In grade school, the child is exposed to the fireman, the doctor, the police officer, etc., as models of character and what one might be when they grow to adulthood. By default, the child is given seeds that help they grow to become one or the other. Girls were taught to bake and cook and clean house; boys were taught wood working and shop, etc.
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What is the outcome, instead, if we were to focus on the idea of setting a five year plan--for example--as follows:
1. Welcome to the First Grade.
2. You are going to learn how to do many things here and it is going to be a lot of fun.
3. One of the things you are going to learn is how to be good at learning.
4. In five years, you will be in the Sixth Grade.
5. Let's talk about what a good student you can be when you are a Sixth Grader.
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Of course, that's an overly simple way of putting it. The curriculum would be organized to bring the child in on the process of learning as an consciously active partner. Specifically, it would help the child think in terms of how good they can be at achievement.
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I know, that a well developed Five Year Plan shared by a young man and a young woman as they set out in life as a newly married couple guides them to make decisions about every subset of goals involoved in their day to day experiences. Nothing is more important in this context than setting goals. All day to day goals will be influenced by the Five Year Plan--well thought out and written in black and white with illustrations if possible. The human who works toward long term goals can achieve what otherwise might seem to be impossible objectives. This is an excellent subject for open discussion. The results can change one's life. Turning your dreams into long term goals. What a great cocnept, LPK. It is especially significant in today's hectic situation.
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We should all consider it.
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:)
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-- posted by pink101

» Migisi - Long Term & Short Term Goals

In response to Long Term & Short Term Goals posted by pink101:

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Frankly, Pink, with all my dreaming, I'm lucky to achieve my ~daily~ goals. (wink)
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I wish I was that first grader. I'd be able to realize my dream in one playful afternoon - simply by imagining that it's happened. I could put on ballet shoes and tutu, and poof, I'm Anna Pavlova. Hey, I can dream, can't I?
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But seriously, I had a long-range plan to make a dream a reality. I accomplished it - one day at a time. Once it became a reality, I found myself dreaming of improving, expanding, and perfecting that dream. I don't think a dream ever ends.

-- posted by Migisi

» pink101 - Long Term & Short Term Goals

In response to Long Term & Short Term Goals posted by Migisi:
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"I could put on ballet shoes and tutu, and poof, I'm Anna Pavlova. Hey, I can dream, can't I?"
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I think that is more prevalent than we might think. Children often do that sort of dreaming and they express it in their play. Putting little plastic plates and play tables and pouring play tea in play cups and having little tea parties. How many times have I seen my girls enjoy such wonderful parties with their imaginary friends?
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But, and here is the key to it all, we have an opportunity in that to sit down with the child and talk about how much fun it was and to be a part of it with them. Then, and gently, we take them on a trip of thought to show them that they truly can achieve their dreams in real life.
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In other words, the energy of the child is there innately. I watched yesterday, in Starbucks, while a mother waited at the counter for her order to be filled; her three year old little guy was just jumping up and down--actually having himself a ball. He ran around at her knees like a little bunny hopping up and down. Then, ever so often, he would fall down--get right up and start hopping again. His mother just rubbed his head with her hand in sort of a non chalant way with a pleased smile on her face. That's the opportunity of a life time to teach the child about the journey ahead. What dreams was that little boy experiencing? How important was it to him? You can be sure his mind was engaged in what he was doing.
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Of course, it all gets seasoned with everything else that comes with life.
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My point is only that long term goals are more important than the short termers as they give us the foundation upon which all the short term goals are set. All the decisions are directed at achieving the goals of the five year plan.
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-- posted by pink101

» Migisi - Long Term & Short Term Goals

In response to Long Term & Short Term Goals posted by pink101:

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With kids, it's 'dream de jour'. Today, a crime fighter, tomorrow a fire fighter, the next day it's something else.
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At what stage in life do you think we narrow down our dream list and select one that's practical and doable? And don't our dreams change during each stage as our priorities change?
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When we realize our own mortality is closer, how does that impact our long-range planning - even our 5 year plan? Do we abandon our dream knowing it's merely a dream which can't become a reality?

-- posted by Migisi