How To Reach Any Goal You Set Without Lowering Your Expectations"
by Veronica Lim

In 1986, Stu Mittleman set a world record for the 1,000-Mile Run, covering the distance in 11 days. When asked how he achieved it, Stu said that he hadn't run 1,000 miles; he had run just one mile a thousand times.

And that is how to reach any goal you set without lowering your expectations - by breaking down your goal into mini- goals to which you have no internal resistance.

You see, when we set ourselves a goal, especially "the big one" that we feel we really want, it can be daunting. Too much internal resistance comes up with thoughts along the lines of, "But how?"

As a result, we feel "discouraged" or some other "not-so- good" feeling, and because we don't like that feeling, we can end up lowering our expectations or giving up on our goal altogether.

So, start by breaking down your goal into a mini-goal - something that you can handle and that you feel is achievable; a mini-goal that you feel good about. Then set yourself a deadline and go for it.

Forget about the rest of your goal for the time being. Then, when you've reached this mini-goal, set the next one... and then the next one... and then the next one etc. Celebrate the achievement of each mini-goal you set with as much feeling as you would if each of them were the big one!

Many people make the mistake of discounting the small events along the way, thinking that it was easy or that anyone could have done it, and so they don't really count. At other times, they just keep thinking about "the big one" and they miss all the elements that have already come together.

Sometimes, they may even beat themselves up for not having yet achieved their big goal, getting impatient, and failing to notice that they already achieved many mini-goals to be proud of.

It's rather like the mountain climber who never notices the mountain they've just climbed because they're only looking at the one they are just about to climb next.

Each mini-goal, no matter how small, and no matter how easy, will contribute towards the big one.