Show of hands, please; How many of you out there cringe when you hear the phrase: New Year's Resolution? Or even better, do you remember how you felt the last time someone asked you what your 2 year or 5 year plan was? What about "Where do you see yourself in five years from now?"

I don't know about you, but it always makes me squirm. Seems like no matter who you are, our goals in life, both long and short are something we all have difficulties owning up to. And this is what makes us squirm.

And when we do set goals for ourselves, regardless of our pre- ferred method of mapping it all out, a HUGE determining factor in whether or not we achieve the end result we desire is how we talk to ourself on an internal level.

For example... Let's say (seeing as how we just started a new year and all) that you made a resolution to quit smoking, or lose weight, or exercise more, whatever. Once you make that goal, do you ever sit down and develop a strategy for how you will attain the end-result you want? Can you close your eyes and visualize what your life would be like once you achieved your goal?

Most importantly, how do you FEEL about that goal? This is really the crux of the matter folks, the first step in moving from goal setting to goal getting is revamping (in some cases eliminating) internal thoughts, and feelings that contradict the goal you've set out to achieve.

If I choose to quit smoking, and I close my eyes and try and visualize myself smoke-free, but the first thought that pops into my head while I'm visualizing is "Yeah, but in order to get there I'm going to end up losing half of my friends because I'm so cranky when I don't smoke!"

What just happened? After telling myself through visualization that I want to quit smoking, I immediately told myself to strike that thought, forget it, because I don't want people to dislike me.

Whenever you catch yourself having these thoughts, you need to stop yourself, and say aloud "Forget that. I WILL do this." or "Cancel! I WILL do this without putting an emotional strain on my personal relationships."

It's terribly terribly crucial for you to learn to cut down on negative self talk as much as possible, folks.

You can't get to your end-result if you keep telling yourself there is a new obstacle every time you daydream about what it will be like to live in your desired outcome!

That's probably the most difficult aspect of Goal Getting. The second and final step is much easier:

Every morning when you get up, ask yourself one question: "What will I do today to get closer to achieving my goal?" Answer that question. Post the question on your bathroom mirror, or the front of the coffee pot, do whatever you have to do to get that message in front of you each and every morning you wake up. Answer the question, and then do it.

So what have you learned? Hopefully by now you've realised:

* Goal Setting and Goal Getting Really Aren't That Different.

* The way you 'talk' to yourself is a determining factor in

whether or not you get what you want out of life...

And finally, you've realised that just as the title of this article was fluff - and goal-setting and goal-getting CAN be the same thing - Hopefully you realise in order to get your goals ACTION MUST BE TAKEN... And choosing not to act is an action in and of itself. Choosing to dwell on what-ifs and the worries of how you will get there, is an ACTION, and not a productive one either!

Think, Act, and Be Progressive with your dreams!