What are your dreams and goals for 2010?  Have you contemplated, pondered and listed your goals?  Have you thought about, imagined and visualized your dreams already manifested?  If not, what is stopping you?

I set my goals early, visualized myself already at the top of the mountain looking down, and started taking steps.  I climbed easily, step by step, putting myself wholeheartedly into my intentions.  And then, seemingly without warning, my world came crashing down.  I was taking steps — but other people, those I was associated with or people I relied upon, were not.  Phone calls that I expected did not come.  Tech support that I needed was not available.  Emotional support was not forthcoming.  Does that sound familiar to you?  Have you ever started out with excitement and enthusiasm only to be stopped dead in your tracks by delays, frustrations, problems, lack of support and even seemingly insurmountable obstacles?

While wallowing in my personal review of all the ways I have not succeeded in my life, I wracked my brain to determine what had triggered such a seemingly negative reversal of my upward climb.  A close friend and colleague from my early training program had gotten sick and passed away.  Several other influential colleagues in two different professional organizations had died within the last few months.  Currently involved in three training programs at the same time and varous different projects, I had a continual sense of overwhelm and doubt about my ability to accomplilsh all that I had set out to do.  In the process, I had temporarily forgotten how to celebrate, play and enjoy the company of others.

Sharing my emotional turmoil with others has brought varying responses.  One person listened for awhile and then said, “Enough!”  My mastermind group listened, supported, clarified and cast a new perspective on my current dilemma.  A study buddy reminded me about the power of our childhood beliefs that have never left us.  And I remembered my father’s words, “Children should be seen and not heard.”  With that admonition, how could I possibly put my work out into the world, be highly visible, and expect to flourish?

Then I remembered the words of Napoleon Hill, author of the ever popular book Think and Grow Rich. He talked about developing the mindset of people we would like to emulate.  He described his way of dialoguing with his imagined mastermind group  and incorporating into his own thought processes their distinct ways of thinking, their methods for setting goals, determining a course of action, and overcoming problems and obstacles that arise.

I wondered to myself, “How might a truly successful and confident person handle my current difficulties?”  Without a second thought I realized that he or she would not waste hours and days mulling over the problem but would seek a solution by finding the person or persons who could help.  I reached out for technical assistance.  I reached out for emotional support.  I was reminded to review not only my failures but all those many accomplishments I have achieved over the years.

One month has passed.  I have taken many small steps toward the goals I have set for this year.  Although my path has been strewn with roadblocks, debris and emotional turmoil, my vision is focused on the wide open field and the sky above.  The path is not always clear.  The steps are not always easy.  But I am determined to keep putting one foot in front of the other, stepping forward steadily toward fulfillment of my dreams.

How are you doing on your path toward your dreams?  Please share your thoughts, successes, and yes, even your temporary blocks and obstacles.  Put it out in full view for you to look at, examine and eliminate.  Let this year be the one that surpasses all others.