Write down your goals and gratitude and you’ll be surprised by what can happen
While cleaning my office (and it was about time too) I found an old journal. I have lots (they are tucked in all sorts of obscure places). Anyhow, I flipped through it and was delighted by what I had written six years ago. If you regularly read this blog, you’ll know that gratitude is conveyed in a lot of what I write. Without appreciation there is no true happiness.
I gave myself a goal of 365 Days of Gratitude this year
Yep, I’ve missed some days (as far as writing them here) but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t appreciative. All those days are with more thankfulness than I could imagine. Days 249 through 310 were sixty-one days of extraordinary events that, particularly as a writer, have left me wondering if my dreams are coming true.
Back to the journal
In that tiny pink journal, I’d written a writing business plan. Six years ago, I was working fulltime (not writing) and any writing was accomplished in the early morning hours, lunch-time or after work. It didn’t matter. I put the effort in and tried to write every day, even if it was just in this blog. It’s not a chore to find those hours because it’s my passion.
I had written fifteen goals. Seven of those have been reached. Keep in mind, I had no idea how I would reach these goals, but I wrote them down and believed in them.
Here’s some I have ticked off:
- I will be running a successful freelance business (I have three jobs lined up. One is a huge opportunity)
- I will be in demand (after proving I can do the job, I am in demand)
- I will publish my novel ‘Finding My Tarzan’ (The manuscript became ‘The Zanzibar Moon’ and was self-published in June)
- On average I will work 3 days per week
- I will write every day
- I will regularly have my hair done (I’ve got to look like a published author, don’t I?)
- I will see my friends more often
- I will teach my kids good business and money principles, with love.
Here’s some I’m still working on:
- I will earn $150,000 per annum (one day, ha, ha!)
- Finding My Tarzan (The Zanzibar Moon) will become a bestseller (working on it)
- I will have a column in a national magazine (that would be fun and challenging)
- I will own a beautiful house with an awesome office overlooking the water
- I will have spare abundance to share with my family
Things I didn’t write down that have happened:
- Published in two collaborative books ‘Having it all at fifty-plus – innovative edition’ (featured writer) and Lynn Santer’s ‘Just What the Doctor Ordered’.
Secured a two-book fiction writing contract (plus more) - Finished another manuscript (prequel to The Zanzibar Moon) ‘Kendwa’s Secret’
- Bought a new computer for my writing business
I couldn’t have imagined some of what I had written would come to fruition. I didn’t put a date on my goals or make them too specific. That allowed for anything to enter my life. I’m writing genres that I never expected. That’s because I left the windows open to any opportunity that might fly my way (like a hawk). I’m a published author of contemporary women’s fiction and articles. Now I’m also skilled in biographies, short stories and sci-fi fantasy fiction. The diversity a fun challenge. It’s more than I could have imagined. That’s lots of gratitude in sixty-one days.
If you write down your goals (and what you are grateful for as well) I hope you’re as pleasantly surprised by the results as I have been. Look back on them in a few years, readjust the goals if you must. Keep looking forward to what you can achieve.
