If you really want to grow and develop as a person it takes more then just setting goals haphazardly. It takes a step-by-step, but optimality simple approach that will bring a rich, joyful, wealthy and healthy life leading to balance and sustainability.

The habits, rituals, and choices we make in life are all derived from our goal setting. Goal setting is derived from our core values. Core values come from our own meaning and purpose statement. Or as some people call it our mission statement.

Almost all our goals that are met and sustained can be derived using this optimality simple approach.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

Meaning and purpose statement first.
Core values second.
Goal setting third.
New rituals, choices or habits fourth.

Lets use Lance Armstrong as an example of someone who has achieved his goals. Breaking down his thinking will illustrate the steps in a simple and effective manner.

What would be part of his meaning and purpose? Lets make this very simple. Meaning and purpose isnt that complicated. You are on this earth for a reason. To be a dad? To be an athlete? To teach? All of these?

At one point Lance decided to be an athlete. Therefore his meaning and purpose statement would include.

I am an athlete.

In order to be an athlete and become world class would someone like Lance Armstrong have any core values?

Very simply his core values might be

Health
Perseverance
Self discipline

To live according to those core values, would he have any goals? I certainly hope so.

Ride my bike six times a week for six hours.
Eat a balanced diet.
Get eight hours of sleep.

Did these goals turn into habits or rituals? Of course they did. If they hadnt, we might know him as Lance Armstrong, copy machine salesman.

So there you have it.

1. Meaning and purpose.
2. Core Values.
3. Goal Setting third.
4. New rituals, choices or habits.

Review them daily. Live them.

Simple yet incredibly effective.

The new year is around the corner. Start reflecting now on your values and goals.

Terry Vermeylen

I truly believe that our current lifestyle leaves us with little time to breathe and reflect on the path we are taking in our lives.

Hi, my name is Terry and I am the founder of mylifechanges.com, an online value identification and goal setting enterprise. I have a great passion for life and self-improvement, thus I created this website to share my passion and to move people to improve their lives by living through their core values and setting lasting goals. My own personal core values include passion, wealth, beauty, action, compassion and appreciation. My primary passion is wealth building using common sense.

My idea for the website started with my passion and study of philosophy, psychology, self-improvement and business. I own and draw from an extensive collection of books on all these subjects. I also enjoy writing and will be publishing a newsletter focusing on value and goal setting, as well as a number of other self-help subjects. I have worked for three major corporations in a wide range of jobs and also clearly understand the corporate world. Most recently I worked as a business analyst performing process improvement.

It takes about 30 days to break in a new habit, so My Life Changes is an in-your-face, self-motivating tool, with bright colors highlighting each day taken towards that new goal, habit or choice.

My Life Changes has added on a timeline section, journal and e-mail reminders as complementary tools to your quest for a better life. A prototype of My Life Changes was used for over a year before settling on the current design. It has been a genuine labour of love.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Please don't hesitate to ask any questions concerning the web site or any of my self-improvement philosophies. I will be more than happy to answer.

All the best,

Terry Vermeylen