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you can only put your heart and soul into something you really desire." 1

Goals also give us direction and purpose. I don't get into my car, turn on the ignition, start driving, and hope I get
someplace. I decide where I want to go or approximately where I would like to end up, then I steer the car in that general
direction. That is how I try to live my life too. Sometimes things happen, and for a variety of reasons I may not end up
where I wanted to go. If I change my mind or problems beyond my control interfere, I find myself doing something other
than what I had planned to do. Timing and exact circumstances may vary. That's okay. I usually end up someplace better
or someplace that is better for me. That is where acceptance, trust, faith, and letting go come in. But at least I'm not
driving aimlessly through life. More of the things I want come to pass. I'm less worried about solving my problems,
because I've turned my problems into goals. And I'm starting to think about and consider what I want and need.

Goals are fun. They generate interest and enthusiasm in life. They make life interesting and, sometimes, exciting.

"... Surrender to desire and gain energy, enthusiasm, mental zip, and even better health.... energy increases, multiplies,
when you set a desired goal and resolve to work toward that goal. Many people, millions of them, can find new energy
by selecting a goal and giving all they've got to accomplish that goal. Goals cure boredom. Goals even cure many chronic
ailments." 2

There is magic in setting and writing down goals. It sets into motion a powerful psychological, spiritual, and emotional
force. We become aware of and do the things we need to do to achieve and accomplish. Things come to us. Things begin
to happen! Following is another excerpt from The Magic of Thinking Big.

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Let's probe a little deeper into the power of goals. When you surrender yourself to your desires, when you let

yourself become obsessed with a goal, you receive the physical power, energy, and enthusiasm needed to

accomplish your goal. But you receive something else, something equally valuable. You receive the "automatic

instrumentation" needed to keep you going straight to your objective.

The most amazing thing about a deeply entrenched goal is that it keeps you on course to reach your target. This

isn't double-talk. What happens is this. When you surrender to your goal, the goal works itself into your

subconscious mind. Your subconscious mind is always in balance. Your conscious mind is not, unless it is in tune

with what your subconscious mind is thinking. Without full cooperation from the subconscious mind, a person is

hesitant, confused, indecisive. Now, with your goal absorbed into your subconscious mind you react the right way

automatically. The conscious mind is free for clear, straight thinking. 3

What are our goals? What do we want to happen in our livesthis week, this month, this year, for the next five years?
What problems do we want solved? What material things would we like to possess? What changes do we want to make
in ourselves? What would we love to do for a career? What do we want to accomplish?

I'm not going to present a textbook lecture on exactly how you should set goals. Setting goals has been made too boring
for too long. Following are some ideas I believe are important. Find a way that works.

·Turn everything into a goal. If we have a problem make its solution our goal. We don't have to know the solution. Our

goal is solving this problem. Do we want something? A new waterbed, a red sweater, a new car, longer hair, longer

nails? Turn it into a goal. Do we want to go someplaceEurope, South America, the circus? Do we want a loving, healthy

relationship? Turn that into a goal. Is there something we've always wanted to dogo to school, work for a particular

company, make $40,000 a year? Turn it into a goal. Do we need to decide

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what we want to do for a career? Turn making a decision into a goal. Do we want to grow closer to God, go to

church every Sunday, or read the Bible every day? Turn it into a goal. Do we want to change something about

ourselveslearn to say no, make a particular decision, resolve some anger? Turn it into a goal. Do we want to improve

our relationships with certain peoplechildren, friends, spouse, a relative? Turn it into a goal. Do we want to form new