Here's a new perspective I recently found: Turn your problems into goals. So, if you're overweight, you've got a problem; turn it around and make it into a goal to lose the weight. If you don't have enough money, that is a major problem; turn it around and make it into a goal to earn more money. If you are depressed all the time, that can be a life-limiting problem; turn it around and make it into a goal to be happy or at least have a more neutral mood as much as you possibly can. Just make the goal concrete by writing it down on paper or posting it online here on Daily Strength as your first step.

If you have a major life goal, it may help to break it down into smaller steps. For me, a major life goal is getting a driver's license. My first step that I can do right now is visit my state's Department of Motor Vehicles website and take the practice sample written tests there, and keep taking them until I get the answers right. Another step is to save enough money for taking the written test and getting a learner's permit, so I need to find out how much it costs and write that down. The next step is to earn enough money to take driving lessons from a driving school, and that will require a lot more money, which I will have to earn by getting a real job that pays real money. And so on. Break your goals down into small achievable steps, and conquer the steps one at a time.

This is a critical part of goal achievement: Be careful who you share your goals with. Some people will tell you that you can't do it - they may even call you names like stupid or incompetent. These are the dream destroyers. You have got to steer clear of such people when you have a goal. Try to find people who support you in achieving your goals with kind words and inspiration. Finding such people can pose a challenge, but here in A Life Skills Group, we'll try to give you all the support we possibly can if you'll just be patient and persistent with us and keep checking back in from time to time when you can.

What would you like to add to this discussion?

I am great with starting new goals, but can never follow through with them. Depression usually kills my enthusiasm before I reach the half way mark. I need to find a way to WANT TO carry on, until I've reached my goal.

Andelene, it's okay to revisit some of your past goals that you didn't achieve and try again with renewed vigor. Depression can be a double-challenge when it comes to goals, but it doesn't have to stop you from continuing to try, and keep on trying regardless of the results, until you reach your goals. You might have quite a few goals in your mind, but try to focus on just one at a time so that you don't become overwhelmed with trying to deal with depression and trying to reach multiple goals at the same time.

A few notable people who managed to deal with major depression in their lives and still accomplish great things includes Winston Churchill (British Prime Minister), Emily Dickinson (American poet), Harrison Ford (actor), and John Denver (singer-songwriter).

I have Complex PTSD and Major Depression, so I know how difficult it can be to make it through the day (often a goal in itself). Don't let what you can't do stop you from doing what you can do.

I have been most successful at reaching goals when I do not focus on the end result or big picture too much. When I do that, it seems overwhelming and not doable. When I break down the steps and just do one thing at a time, it works for me. That is what I did to go back to college. It also works with even things around the house. For me, small bits is easier to manage.

Shar

Here's another tip: You may need external support to accomplish your goals, or maybe you are struggling with the commitment factor and need someone to hold you accountable. While your goals may be personal to you, that doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. If you need help, support or just a cheerleader, ask someone your trust.

Fit your goals to your present circumstances. If the only goal you have at the moment is to make it through this day, that's a great goal for you to have. If your goal is to make six phone calls today to inquire about employment, and keep a written record of how each call went and details such as who you spoke to, how the hiring process works for each employer, etc, then that's a great goal to have as well. If your goal is to lose thirty pounds, try scaling it back a bit and instead make it into thirty smaller goals over thirty weeks to lose about a pound a week, because losing thirty pounds in one day is unrealistic and not humanly attainable in just a day.

I just looked over a list of goals I had written down on paper about six months ago. Astonishingly, I am already on my way to achieving some of them. I am over halfway to losing the weight I needed to lose. I have made a start on making a plan for meeting people. I have redone my resume. There are quite a few other goals I had written down that I have not yet started on or accomplished, but this does go to show the importance of putting goals into writing.

I also realized that, what I wanted most for many years, I have finally achieved! I prayed for a peaceful life, for many years, and finally my life is peaceful now. Since I've realized it, I regard this as my greatest goal that I have reached. And that makes me feel good about myself! It also helps me to be more positive about my current situation. I can accept the unchangeable things better, and focus on doing the best I can with what I have, right here where I am.

Talking about my goals helps me to achieve them.

one of my goals is to become independent and free. i have been striving that since i was a kid (im 27) but i live at home because i have no basic life skills to take care of myself. this stuff was never taught to me growing up its embarrassing to relearn these lost skills that were not taught at my age. i am still striving for a peaceful life away from my parents but i have no income or anywhere else to go since finding a job is hard regardless if it is part or full time.

another goal is i am learning balance again not taught. my therapist and social worker have been giving me skills or some help to help me be a balance person. i feel with the new skills of volunteering at the library it is giving me strength to do better. i am still struggling with the life skills part of the problem is i am codependent and longing for a set of parents to give me instruction.

i find it hard to learn these skills on my own i get so down when i dont get it. one goal i have is to be really mutitalented i dont know if i could do that but it is a goal i have. i feel as though my learning is not up to par to be quick, smart, fast enough, etc not when you have been called dumb, stupid, etc all of your life. i got a lot to list but i will leave it here