Saturday, July 31, 2021

This Week’s Inspiring Horoscopes From Rob Brezsny’s ‘Free Will Astrology’

Our partner Rob Brezsny provides his weekly wisdom to enlighten our thinking and motivate our mood. Rob’s Free Will Astrology, is a syndicated weekly column appearing in over a hundred publications. He is also the author of Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How All of Creation Is Conspiring To Shower You with Blessings. (A free […]

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Friday, July 30, 2021

Early COVID-19 symptoms differ among age groups, research finds

Symptoms for early COVID-19 infection differ among age groups and between men and women, new research has found.

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‘Recycle Your Electricals’ Campaign Diverts 1,000 Computers to Those in Need, So Far, Tapping Households For Their Broken Electronics

In a drive to soak up some of the 527 million small electrical items owned by UK homes, many of which would be thrown in the trash, a new campaign to repair, recycle, or ethically scrap electricals is underway in Glasgow. The Recycle your Electricals campaign is utilizing local resources like mend and repair stores, […]

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Thursday, July 29, 2021

Doritos Gives 13-Year-old Girl $20,000 Reward for Discovering Rare ‘Puffy’ Chip, Which She Listed on eBay

A true visionary is someone who recognizes opportunities where others do not. If you’re keen enough to spot it, the next new trend might pop up almost anywhere—even in a bag of chips. (You just have to be careful not to eat your fortune before you find your fame.) 13-year-old Rylee Stuart was plowing through […]

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Wednesday, July 28, 2021

More Than Half of Americans Have a New Definition for Financial Well-being After the Pandemic, Poll Finds

If you’ve taken a step back to review your finances during the pandemic, you’re certainly not alone. A new survey revealed 58% of Americans have “completely” changed how they think about money due to the pandemic and nearly as many (56%) believe their concept of financial well-being has been altered since the pandemic. The poll […]

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Stranded Away From Home Due to COVID, She Trained With Water Jugs—Then Won Philippines Its First Ever Olympic Gold

Have a minute? Try sitting still and watching the second hand of a clock as it sweeps its way around the dial. Feels like a long time, doesn’t it? Now, picture waiting for something to arrive, not for an hour, not for a day, but for 100 years. An eternity, right? Now imagine what it […]

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Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Scientists discover early signs of frontotemporal dementia in personalized cerebral organoids

Frontotemporal dementias are a group of fatal and debilitating brain disorders for which there are no cures. Researchers describe how they were able to recreate much of the damage seen in a widely studied form of the disease by growing special types of cerebral organoids in petri dishes. This form of the disease is caused by a genetic mutation in tau, a protein that is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. By studying these organoids, the scientists discovered how the mutated tau protein may trigger the death of a specific class of neurons known to be vulnerable in frontotemporal dementia. They also showed that they could prevent the death of these neurons by treating the organoids with an experimental drug, originally designed to combat Crohn's disease.

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Advanced bladder cancers respond to immunotherapy regardless of gene mutation status

Researchers report a study has demonstrated that patients with advanced bladder cancers whose tumors have a mutated FGFR3 gene respond to immunotherapy in a manner that is similar to patients without that mutation. This discovery runs counter to previous research that suggested FGFR3-mutated bladder cancers should not be treated with immunotherapy.

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Blind For 15 Years She Now Has 20/20 Vision And Sees Her Grandchildren For the First Time

A woman left blind for 15 years has finally regained her sight after a life-changing operation. Doctors believed 59-year-old Connie had glaucoma when she rapidly began to lose her eyesight over a decade ago. But then an ophthalmologist diagnosed cataracts in 2018—one of the most common and treatable adult vision issues. Connie, who lives in […]

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What Is Achievement Motivation And How To Use It

“You can do it!” “Keep going!” “You got this, don’t quit!” These were just a few of the exclamations of support from others that I could barely make out as I struggled to finish one of the toughest workouts I had ever done. Everyone else from class (including a very pregnant woman) had finished, and all eyes were on me. It was early on in my days of CrossFit, and I was still figuring it all out. I didn’t yet know that everyone waited around and watched until the last person was done. It was part of the community support that they provided one another when times got tough.

For me, the cheers of others encouraged me as I grind out rep after rep knowing that each one was counted toward my total score. CrossFit, like many other sports, is measured in various numbers to indicate success, such as weight, time, reps, and so forth. These barometers provide a standard of excellence that athletes live or die by. Trust me, it’s that serious to many of them as I would soon find out.

Not long after this day, I realized that many of the athletes I worked out with (myself included) were driven by a special kind of motivation. This was something that came naturally for me as I came from a competitive sports environment. Plus, I coached my business clients around motivation daily. Still, I knew that there were greater forces at play here, so I decided to examine things under a microscope. It was then that I came across a term I was unfamiliar with: achievement motivation.

What Is Achievement Motivation?

Considering that the concept of achievement motivation may be unfamiliar to you as well, here’s a brief definition to help you understand.

Achievement motivation is defined as the need for achievement and is an important determinant of aspiration, effort, and persistence when an individual expects that his performance will be evaluated in relation to some standard of excellence.[1]

In the case of my workout, I was pushing myself to get the best possible score, knowing it would be measured against all other athletes and written on the board for everyone to see.

While the dictionary definition may provide more context, you still may be wondering, what is achievement motivation and how does one use it?

Let’s take a deeper look to help you not only understand it better but maybe even get a leg up in your workouts and other areas of your life.

Atkinson’s Achievement Motivation Theory

The concept of achievement motivation dates back to the forties where various works on success and failure along with ego-involvement provided the early foundation for what would become John W. Atkinson’s Achievement Motivation Theory (AMT) in 1966.

AMT explains the integral relationship between an individual’s characteristics and their need to achieve something in life. It also takes into account the kind of competitive drive a person has to achieve and set goals. For me, this was the drive to put up a good time in the workout. Other examples you may relate to are how you perform at work, school, or even a local bowling league.

In all cases, there are various forces at work. An essential component to note is the presence of internal and external factors, which play a role in motivation. The theory explains that the motivation one has to achieve something in life is closely governed by these factors.

Some examples are:

  • Internal: willingness, determination, punctuality, personal drive
  • External (also known as environmental factors): pressures, expectations, targets (All of these are set by relevant organizations, members of the family, or society.)

In the case of my CrossFit workout, the parameters of a time and reps measurement were set at the beginning of class. Thinking back to the workout, I can tell you that there were internal and external factors at work.

First, I was both willing and highly determined to finish. This internal drive was extremely motivating for me in the situation given that I had committed to finishing from the start, and I was not going to quit.

Second, all other athletes present had finished, and having everyone waiting on me was an uncomfortable place to be. This provided the added pressure I needed to keep moving.

All in all, both the internal and external factors gave me the “kick in the butt” I needed to finish.

Other Influential Factors

Apart from the factors mentioned above, various other factors also have the potential to influence and interact with your achievement motivation, especially in a setting with others such as CrossFit. Some can be categorized as internal and others external, but they all intertwine and can play a part.

Your values, educational background, cultural background, external support from the organization you are a part of, awards, the celebration of accomplishments, recognizing success, providing constructive feedback, and helping one grow by providing the proper support mechanism are all equally important and play vital roles in achieving the required motivation.

The old saying that “we are a product of our environment” is definitely true when it comes to achievement motivation.

Another thought that comes to mind as I read this list is that I can clearly see why CrossFit is so popular. It provides almost every one of these influential factors in a welcoming environment. This example shows us the power of the external components.

Achievement Motivation Success Depends on You—Or Does It?

At this point, you may be saying to yourself, “Sure, I can agree that the outside world has an effect on me, but I make my own choices. I’m motivated from within.” Yes, this is true. We all make our own choices and are driven by our internal emotions.

We are emotional beings who occasionally think and not the other way around. Here is where you have to take a step back and consider what your typical motivators are in a given situation. Are you typically driven more by intrinsic or extrinsic motivation? Here’s a refresher on those two pieces of the puzzle in case you’re not familiar.

Extrinsic motivation – an external incentive to engage in a specific activity, especially motivation arising from the expectation of punishment or reward.

It sounds like, “I really want that promotion to make more money.” You are driven by the external reward of money.

Intrinsic motivation – an incentive to engage in a specific activity that derives from pleasure in the activity itself rather than because of any external benefits that might be obtained.

It sounds like, “I’m going to work really hard to get that promotion so I can be more fulfilled at work.”

You are driven towards the achievement of a promotion by your persistent hard work.

When you add these into the mix, the picture becomes a bit clearer. Your experience may differ from situation to situation, but you will typically have an affinity towards one over the other.

Success Vs. Failure

Another key aspect is the concept that achievement motivation stems from two separate needs. One is the motivation to achieve and is related to one’s desire to accomplish successful goals, and the other is the motive to avoid failure.[2]

Some individuals are hesitant to take on the responsibilities of having to accomplish goals or employ in activities because they are afraid to fail. The motive to avoid failure includes worries about the consequences of failing, self-criticism, and diversion of attention, accelerated heart rate, or nervousness, which can all lead to poor performance.

In contrast, those who feel the need to achieve successful goals are more motivated to persist at goals they know they can accomplish, which means that your achievement-oriented behavior is influenced by the strength of your tendency to achieve success.

The success vs. failure driver can be seen in competitive environments all across the world from your local CrossFit gym to the Olympic games. Just listen to the post-event interviews, and you will hear the clues that indicate which was the driving force within the athlete. I personally enjoy listening to the accompanying music played in relation to the event, such as “All I Do is Win” by DJ Khaled or “Loser” by Beck. The music always shows how the outside world viewed the athlete or event, which takes us back to the power of the external factors.

These are especially prevalent in areas where performance is evaluated as attention is drawn to the determinative role of extrinsic motivational tendencies on what appear to be achievement-oriented activities. This means that it may be difficult to tell whether the driving force is extrinsic motivation or achievement motivation.

Is It Really Achievement Motivation?

At this point, you may be slightly confused and wondering if achievement motivation really exists or if it’s just other types of motivation in disguise. Trust me, some of these components may muddy the waters a bit, but there is one over-arching principle that will sway your belief in achievement motivation.

According to Achievement Motivation Theory, a person’s need to achieve something and the reason behind his/her overall motivation to achieve a certain goal, more often than not, comes from within and is strongly related to the individual’s need for power and affiliation.[3]

Said another way, yes, you do make your own choices and your desire for control is what drives these choices.

I bet your as happy to hear that as I was. The key to remember is that achievement motivation stems from an emotional place.

In my example above, it was my emotion that drove me. My competitive drive, masculine pride, and desire to not be humiliated all motivated me to achievement no matter how small the achievement was and believe me it was small. I don’t know which memory is stronger in my mind, the difficulty of the workout, or seeing my four rounds being written at the bottom of the white board as the lowest score of the day.

I put the achievement motivation to good use, though. It wasn’t too long before I started beating everyone and finishing on top—well, almost on top. The very pregnant lady keep kicking my butt all the way until the day before she delivered. Guess you can’t win them all, but you can be motivated to try!

Learn More About Motivation

Featured photo credit: Garrhet Sampson via unsplash.com

Reference

[1] Encyclopedia.com: Achievement Motivation
[2] Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development: Achievement Motivation
[3] Marketing91: Achievement motivation theory

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Monday, July 26, 2021

Dashing Support Cat Helps Kids With Eye Problems Feel Confident About Wearing Glasses

Meet Truffles the support cat. Not only does she purr and play and do all the things regular kitties do She also supports her optician friend in a very special way. How? By encouraging nervous children to see glasses and eye patches as fun, friendly—and not at all scary. See, this former stray is more […]

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Little Boy Finds Sweet Friendship With 99-Year-old Woman Over the Fence During Lockdown (WATCH)

There’s an old saying that goes, “Good fences make good neighbors.” With so many folks forced to stay at home during the pandemic, some are happy to report that good fences can also make good friends. In Minneapolis, the Olson family lives next door to 99-year-old Mary O’Neill. Although Mary has an adult daughter in […]

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Sunday, July 25, 2021

Man Hikes With Support Owl Named Louie — Inspiring Others With PTSD Along His Way

It’s not every day you see a man and his owl hiking up a mountain. But this isn’t just any regular owl. Louie is an emotional support animal. Jaylo Miles and his beautiful PTSD barn owl have the most incredible bond. Together they are on a mission to help raise awareness for mental health and […]

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Saturday, July 24, 2021

This Week’s Inspiring Horoscopes From Rob Brezsny’s ‘Free Will Astrology’

Our partner Rob Brezsny provides his weekly wisdom to enlighten our thinking and motivate our mood. Rob’s Free Will Astrology, is a syndicated weekly column appearing in over a hundred publications. He is also the author of Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How All of Creation Is Conspiring To Shower You with Blessings. (A free […]

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Realtor Transforms Abandoned Properties into Tiny Home Villages That Give Permanent Housing to Chronic Homeless

A realtor in Missouri is determined to make her hometown “a city where no one sleeps outside.” For nine years Linda Brown and her husband David organized a nightly drop-in shelter where homeless people in Springfield could eat, shower, do laundry, use a computer, and socialize during bingo games and karaoke—but they wanted to do […]

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Friday, July 23, 2021

Waitress in Tears After Receiving Thank You Note From Widow Eating Alone

Since the start of the pandemic, there have been tons of stories making the media rounds about crazy-generous restaurant customers leaving behind outrageously large tips to the amazement of stunned and deliriously happy waitstaff. While it’s true that an extra—or even extravagant—monetary tip is always a nice bonus, sometimes a heartfelt show of appreciation can […]

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Americans with higher net worth at midlife tend to live longer

In a wealth and longevity study to incorporate siblings and twin pair data, researchers analyzed the midlife net worth of adults (mean age 46.7 years) and their mortality rates 24 years later. They discovered those with greater wealth at midlife tended to live longer.

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Potential role of 'junk DNA' sequence in aging, cancer

Researchers have recently identified a DNA region known as VNTR2-1 that appears to drive the activity of the telomerase gene, which has been shown to prevent aging in certain types of cells. Knowing how the telomerase gene is regulated and activated and why it is only active in certain cell types could someday be the key to understanding how humans age and how to stop the spread of cancer.

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These Students Built an Epic Baby Stroller for a New Dad in a Wheelchair

A group of school kids made a special wheelchair stroller so a disabled dad can take his newborn son out for a walk. 37-year-old Jeremy King has impaired mobility following an operation to remove a brain tumour in 2017. He was concerned how he would manage to help his expecting wife Chelsie after she gave […]

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Thursday, July 22, 2021

AI built to find anti-aging chemical compounds

Scientists have built an artificial intelligence (AI) model that identifies chemical compounds that promote healthy aging - paving the way towards pharmaceutical innovations that extend a person's lifespan.

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Rags-to-Riches Story Sees Human Compassion and Social Media Turn Homeless Painter into LA’s Next Big Artist

Sometimes the distance between fortune, fame, and ruin is just a house fire away, as Los Angeles painter Richard Hutchins found out found after his studio in Santa Monica burned down. Thanks to the power of social media however, Richard also understands another distance—the one between homelessness and stardom. In a real-life riches-to-rags-to-riches story filled […]

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Never Give Up! Terrier Lost While on Vacation For 290 Days is Found Through Social Media

You’re on vacation and somehow, your family dog goes missing. You search and you pray and then you search some more. As the days go by with no word, your brain may tell you it’s time to give up hope—but in your heart you never do. And sometimes that hope is rewarded. The Battista family […]

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Evidence of sustained benefits of pimavanserin for dementia-related psychosis

Researchers have published evidence of the sustained benefits of an investigational antipsychotic treatment for people with dementia-related psychosis.

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Scientists reverse age-related memory loss in mice

Scientists have successfully reversed age-related memory loss in mice and say their discovery could lead to the development of treatments to prevent memory loss in people as they age.

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Fisherman Delighted to Find Rare Melo Pearl, Worth up to $350k, In His Seafood Lunch

A crab fisherman was delighted after being surprised by a rare orange Melo pearl in his seafood lunch. 40-year-old Prasarnphon Phunwan took home a large sea snail he caught while trawling for crabs in Prachuap Khiri Khan in Thailand. The fisherman boiled the seafood for a meal, but while he was slicing off the cooked […]

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20 Healthy and Tasty Family Meals Ideas to Try This Week

It’s 5 p.m., and you’re exhausted. The kids are hungry, but no one knows what they want to eat for dinner. With very little energy, you force yourself into the kitchen and look through every cabinet, hoping for a spark of inspiration. Eventually, you toss a few ingredients together and hope for the best. It won’t win any prizes and falls short of what you consider “healthy,” but it fills everyone’s stomachs.

Feeding a family can be stressful, even tiresome. It’s hard to find the energy and creativity needed to cook healthy but simple family meals. It’s easy to fall into the “anything goes” mentality. When you’ve got a busy lifestyle, meals become more about survival and less about nutrition.

Here are 20 quick and healthy—but tasty—recipes followed by tips on making these family meals more nutritious. These recipes can help you have a healthy family meal on the table in an hour or less. Remember, swap ingredients out if someone in your family has dietary restrictions or if you avoid certain foods.

1. Mini Meatloaves With Green Beans and Potatoes

These miniature meatloaves come together quickly and cook faster, too. You can have a family favorite on the table, paired with seasoned potatoes and fresh green beans, in just 40 minutes.

Get the recipe here.

2. One-Pan Chicken Parmesan Pasta

This classic will taste like you spent hours cooking, but the preparation and clean-up couldn’t be quicker. One-pot cooking makes this dish practical, while fresh basil, parmesan, and garlic add a special touch.

To try this recipe, go here.

3. Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajitas

Skip the restaurant and make fajitas at home. The ingredients go on one sheet pan, meaning you won’t spend all night cleaning. Zesty chicken, bell peppers, and warm tortillas can be on the table in 40 minutes. Add sour cream, salsa, guacamole, lettuce, diced tomato, and any other favorite toppings.

Check out the recipe here.

4. Philly Cheese Steak Stuffed Peppers

Lose the carbs but keep the cheesesteak flavors with this quick family meal. Kids will love the pepper “bowls,” and you’ll love giving them a meal full of veggies and protein to keep them healthy.

Try it tonight. Get the recipe here.

5. Chipotle Chicken Quinoa Burrito Bowl

This veggie-packed meal adds an extra boost by using the superfood quinoa instead of rice. Flavorful yet simple, this meal makes an excellent packable lunch or dinner for your whole family.

Find the recipe here.

6. Spinach and Chicken Skillet With Lemon and Parmesan

The complex flavors of lemon and parmesan come together nicely in this gourmet-like dish, but you don’t have to exert the effort or spend as much as a gourmet meal.

Get the recipe for this dish here.

7. Oven-Fried Fish and Chips

Fish and chips can also sometimes be healthy as evident in this oven-fried version. You won’t miss the calories with this favorite family meal.

You can find the recipe here.

8. Pineapple-Teriyaki Chicken

Tangy pineapple and sweet teriyaki will have everyone coming back for seconds. Frozen vegetables make this simple family dish even easier to make and enjoy.

Find the recipe here.

9. Mozzarella, Basil, and Zucchini Frittata

This egg dish is usually served for breakfast, but a frittata can make a fantastic dinner, too. High in protein, packed with zucchini, and delicious, there’s no reason to wait until morning.

Try it tonight. Get the recipe here.

10. Chicken and Sweet Potato Grill Packets

Skip the pans and throw everything into foil with this fun family recipe. Kids will love loading ingredients into their pack, and you’ll love its versatility and simplicity.

The recipe for this meal can be found here.

11. Chicken and Spanish “Rice”

Cauliflower takes the place of rice in this low-carb family meal, but it’s so flavorful and filling, no one will miss it.

Find the recipe here.

12. Honey Chicken Stir Fry

This honey chicken stir fry is the healthier version of a restaurant favorite that can be served up quicker than you can order it.

Find the recipe here.

13. Chicken Skewers With Tzatziki

Greek chicken and tzatziki sauce will have you yearning for the Mediterranean, but you can make this recipe at home for your family to enjoy.

This easy recipe can be found here.

14. Healthy Walking Tacos

Traditional walking tacos are a party favorite, but they’re not usually healthy. However, this recipe keeps it fun while making it more nutritious.

Find out how to make it here.

15. Slow-Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

This classic comfort meal can be ready when you walk in the door. All you have to do is add noodles, and it’s ready to serve.

The recipe can be found here.

16. Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole

This usually takes a little over an hour, but the preparation time is only 30 minutes. You’ll love how easy it is, and the cheesy rice is sure to please.

Find the recipe here.

17. Crockpot Rotisserie-Style Chicken

Skip the checkout line and have a rotisserie-style chicken ready at home. A staple in many quick meals, you might find this family meal recipe among your most-used.

Get the recipe for this flavorful chicken here.

18. Santa Monica Street Tacos

Named after a simple taco found on the streets of California, you’ll be surprised that something with only a few ingredients can be so flavorful. Your kids will surely enjoy them.

Find the recipe here.

19. Pizza Pasta Salad

Enjoy the flavor of pizza without the hassle of making a crust. Use a fun pasta shape to make this even more appealing to your family, especially kids.

Try it tonight. Get the recipe here.

20. Slow-Cooker Lasagna Soup

Everyone loves lasagna, but it can be time-consuming and messy to make. However, this soup version has the taste you want but with the ease of a crockpot.

Get the recipe here.

Bonus: 3 Simple Ways to Make Meals Healthier

Eating healthy doesn’t have to take a lot of money, time, or thought. Any improvements are a big step in the right direction.

Here are three easy ways you can make meals healthier for your family.

1. Lose the Sugar

Are you looking to improve your health? Cut processed sugars from your diet—the more, the better, and that includes artificial sweeteners.[1] Why? Studies show that sugar increases the risks for weight gain, heart disease, acne, type-2 diabetes, depression, cancer, fatty liver disease, cellular aging, and low energy levels.[2]

2. Avoid Highly Processed Foods

Many processed foods are fine to eat. Even fresh fruit and vegetables go through some processing to stay fresh longer. However, highly processed foods have added salt, sweeteners, saturated fats, preservatives, and artificial colors. These types of food have been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.[3]

3. Replace Simple Carbs for Complex Carbs

Lowering daily carbs can do wonders for your health. Studies show that low-carb diets lead to lower insulin levels, lower bad cholesterol levels, visceral fat loss, weight loss, reduced appetite, and can be therapeutic for many brain disorders.[4]

When eating carbs, choose complex carbs over simple carbs. Simple carbs, such as white flour, rice, and degermed cornmeal, lack nutrients and spike blood sugar levels. Complex carbs, such as sweet potato, brown rice, and oats, are usually more nutritious and aren’t digested as quickly, giving more sustained energy and less of an insulin spike.[5]

Enjoy Family Meals With Less Stress!

Dinner can be enjoyable again now that you’re armed with simple and nutritious recipes for your family. These healthy and tasty family meal recipes can help you feel even better about what you serve. Best of all, you’ll have the extra time and energy you saved from cooking and spend more time with your family.

More Healthy Eating Tips

Featured photo credit: Jimmy Dean via unsplash.com

Reference

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Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Scientists link frailty and neurocognitive decline in childhood cancer survivors

Scientists have shown that frailty contributes to neurocognitive decline in young adult survivors of childhood cancer.

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‘We heard a faint tapping’: Goose Finds Injured Mate at Wildlife Hospital and Won’t Budge From the Door

No one writes romance novels about geese, but maybe they should. Unlike many of their fickle human counterparts, geese mate for life. So, when they honk, “ ’Til death do us part,” they mean it—which would explain why when a Canada goose named Arnold wound up in the hospital, his Mrs. marched up to the […]

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$10 Million in Student Debt is Wiped Out for 2,500 South Carolina Students Using Stimulus Funds

With money received from the stimulus bills, South Carolina State University decided that it wasn’t such a big deal if some of the students there didn’t finish paying their student loans. Last week, South Carolina’s only Historically Black College or University (HBCU) announced it would renounce their claim to around $9.8 million in incoming student […]

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Tuesday, July 20, 2021

3 Women Found Out the Same Guy Was Cheating on Them. They Dumped Him and Took Epic Road Trip Together

Three unsuspecting women. One cheating boyfriend. And the epic road trip of a lifetime. Can this plucky trio of former flames bond over the man who done ’em wrong to find love, laughter, adventure, and friendships that will last a lifetime? Cue the uplifting soundtrack, right? Well yes, if this were the trailer to a […]

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Spinal fluid biomarkers detect neurodegeneration, Alzheimer's disease in living patients

Alzheimer's disease and other forms of neurodegeneration can be identified using a combination of biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid of living patients, researchers find.

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New Netflix Series ‘Cat People’ Seeks to Elevate Stereotypes of Cats And Their Adoring Owners

Maybe nobody else understands, maybe they call you “crazy,” maybe they hold onto many of the old superstitions that still persist about the animal, but when you look into the eyes of your cat, you understand; you understand completely. Treasured once for their ability to catch vermin, and now as (sometimes) faithful companions, cats are […]

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Monday, July 19, 2021

Why MS patients develop progressive disability

Did you know multiple sclerosis (MS) means multiple scars? New research shows that the brain and spinal cord scars in people with MS may offer clues to why they developprogressive disability but those with related diseases where the immune system attacks the central nervous system do not. Researchers assessed if inflammation leads to permanent scarring in these three diseases.

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Why You Need Intermediate Goals And How To Set One

One of the surest ways to improve your life, your sense of well-being, and fulfillment in life is to set goals. A study carried out by the Dominican University discovered that students who wrote their goals were much more likely to accomplish higher income levels than students who did not write their goals.[1] And one way to effectively set goals is to set intermediate goals.

There are many other reasons why we should be taking goal setting seriously, but before we get into the heart of this article, we should first define what we mean by” intermediate goals.”

What Is an Intermediate Goal?

From daily goals to lifetime goals, there are multiple types of goals, so what would an “intermediate goal” look like?

An intermediate goal is any goal you would like to accomplish in the next three to five years. We could give or take a year or two here, but a good reference point is between three and five years.

What Do We Use Intermediate Goals For?

An intermediate goal is a goal that bridges the gap between the goals you are working on this year and next year and your longer-term lifetime goals. For instance, if you plan to have $2 million in your retirement fund by the time you retire, that would be a long-term goal. So, an intermediate goal that bridges that gap would be to save X amount of dollars in the next three years.

The problem with long-term goals is they are often a long way into the future, which means that the rewards for achieving those goals are too far away to excite us today. An intermediate goal bridges this gap by bringing a reward closer to you.

Our brains are programmed to crave instant gratification.[2] This is one of the reasons why losing weight is so hard.

Aside from the science on how our body stores and retains fat, losing weight is the basic principle of eating less and moving more.[3] The trouble is that when we feel hungry, our bodies desire food now! We need that instant gratification. So, no matter how much we know eating that extra portion of rice will not help us lose weight, we eat it anyway because our brain prioritizes instant gratification over our longer-term desires.

View Intermediate Goals as Stepping Stones

You should view intermediate goals as stepping stones towards something much bigger. One reason why so few people set and accomplish goals is their motivation over a long period falters and declines. Goals that are too far in the future are often forgotten about and only reappear when we think about our New Year’s resolutions.

Ultimately, whether you succeed with a goal or not is down to why you want to accomplish the goal. Your reasons must be strong enough to pull you towards the goal. If your reasons are not strong enough, it will be like pushing a large, heavy rock up a never-ending hill. On the other hand, your reasons why you want the goal, if strong enough, will be like a magnet pulling you towards accomplishing it.

If your dream is to own a yacht because you want to impress your old school friends, you will ultimately fail because achieving something to impress others is a weak reason for attaining a goal. If, on the other hand, your reason for wanting to own a yacht is so you can live a life on the open water and have a place to go where you can enjoy the peace of nature, your reasons why will likely be strong enough to pull you towards achievement.

This is why setting intermediate goals works. They act as magnets to pull you towards achieving your long-term goal.

Create Milestones and Pathways

Imagine you have just graduated from school, and you start your first job. Your long-term goal could be to become a senior executive at the company. However, that could take ten to twenty years, which is a long time for a twenty-something to wait.

To make the goal more achievable, you can break it down into intermediate goals. For instance, you may discover that all the top executives at your company have MBAs, so one goal could be to study for and complete your MBA. Another goal could be to get yourself promoted to a managerial role within five years. Once you know what you want to achieve over the next three to five years, you can figure out how to make it happen.

Instead of having a big, long-term goal with an unclear pathway, you have created a clear path towards achieving your long-term goal. Once you achieve your intermediate goal, you can pause, reflect and look for the next stepping stone towards the longer-term goal.

This methodology works with fitness goals, too. For example, let’s imagine one of your long-term fitness goals is completing the Boston Marathon in five years. Now, the Boston Marathon is unique in that it has tough qualifying times. You must be able to prove you have run a marathon previously under a specific time for your age and sex. For instance, to qualify for the 2021 marathon, if you are male, aged between 45 to 49, you would have to have run a marathon in under three hours and five mins. A female aged between 45 and 49 would need to have run a time under three hours and 50 minutes. That’s a tough time to achieve.

If you have never run a marathon before, you would need to start with some shorter-term goals—perhaps beginning with a 5k race followed by a 10k and gradually increasing the distance until you run your first marathon. From there, you would have enough information to modify your training so that you could run a marathon before the Boston in the qualifying time.

These shorter-term goals not only move you closer towards your ultimate goal, but they also give you the incentive to keep going until your reach your longer-term plan. They pull you towards your longer-term goal.

How to Set Intermediate Goals

If you want to reap the full benefit of intermediate goals, you first need to establish a long-term goal—a goal that is sufficiently big enough to motivate and excite you.

To give you a real example, my wife and I have a long-term goal to build our house—a house we designed ourselves. We have estimated how much this is likely to cost—which is a lot—and so we have broken down the steps into intermediate goals.

The first is to save a given amount of money—enough to cover 50% of the total cost. The next is to find and purchase a piece of land on which we can build the house. Then we need to set about building the house. In that longer-term goal, there are three intermediate goals. Save money, purchase land, build the house.

I have this long-term goal set up in my projects section in my notes app, together with images of the kind of house we want to build (to keep me focused), and this is broken down into the three intermediate goals. Now, we are currently well into the saving money intermediate goal.

Your long-term goal is the ultimate destination. It gives you a direction and a purpose to wake up in the morning. To make that goal more achievable, intermediate goals serve to provide you with the stepping stones that will keep you on track and ultimately pull you towards your destination.

Key Takeaways

Everyone has long-term goals. But sometimes, it’s important to first take a step back and set intermediate goals that will allow you to eventually reach your long-term goals. Here are the key takeaways on how to set intermediate goals.

  1. Establish a long-term goal and why you want to achieve it.
  2. Break your long-term goal down into sections that cover three to five years.
  3. Decide what you need to do to complete your first intermediate goal and start doing it.
  4. Review your intermediate goals frequently (at least weekly).

More Goals Setting Tips

Featured photo credit: Estée Janssens via unsplash.com

Reference

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Sunday, July 18, 2021

Unsuspecting Pedestrians Trigger a Dance Party By Standing on Decal That Says ‘Stand Here For Dance Party’ (WATCH)

What do you get when you surprise random people with an unexpected dance party on the streets of New York? Pure joy, community, and connection. The inspiring street performance group Improv Everywhere placed a decal on the pavement in a park that read, “stand here for dance party.” Designed in the style of the ubiquitous […]

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Innkeeper’s Kindness—Housing People For Free After Storms—Was Contagious With Everyone Pitching in and Sharing

This story was chosen as one of the top ten nominations to win the Reader’s Digest annual “Nicest Places in America” contest: a crowd-sourced effort to uncover nooks where people are still kind and compassionate in an era of global pandemic and political divide. You can see all ten Nicest Places for 2021 here, at […]

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Saturday, July 17, 2021

This Week’s Inspiring Horoscopes From Rob Brezsny’s ‘Free Will Astrology’

Our partner Rob Brezsny provides his weekly wisdom to enlighten our thinking and motivate our mood. Rob’s Free Will Astrology, is a syndicated weekly column appearing in over a hundred publications. He is also the author of Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How All of Creation Is Conspiring To Shower You with Blessings. (A free […]

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Donated Cars and Cash Flood in to South Carolina Mechanic Who Fixes Them And Gives Them Away to Those in Need

A few weeks ago, the CBS Evening News featured a rural South Carolina man who is transforming lives by repairing broken cars and giving them away for free. Where Eliot Middleton lives, there’s no public transportation, no Ubers or taxi’s. So, if you don’t have a car, there are few options for those with kids […]

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Friday, July 16, 2021

Stranger Takes In Their 2 Dogs After Helping Car Accident Victims Airlifted to Hospital Unable to Tend the Pups

The universe offers a myriad of opportunities for random acts of kindness. When such a chance falls in our path, some choose to ignore it and keep on walking, while others rise to the occasion with grace and kindness. Case in point: When Nova Scotia native Matthew Van De Riet unexpectedly found himself at the […]

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Man Gives His Terminally-Ill Dog One Last Walk Up Their Beloved Mountain in a Wheelbarrow (PHOTOS)

These touching pictures show a man taking his dying pet dog up his favourite mountain on one last walk—in a wheelbarrow. Ten-year-old Monty enjoyed exploring hills and walks all over Wales with his owner, Carlos Fresco. The pair have visited the Brecon Beacons many times over the years, and have even summited the three peaks. […]

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Are You Utilizing Your 8 Forms of Capital? From Social to Spiritual and Intellectual, Capital is More Than Money

The Lesson: Human society is filled with value, and we can place value on almost any object or opportunity. Viewing the financial system through the lens of permaculture, Ethan Rolland identifies Eight Forms of Capital which, when contemplated as a whole, gives us a clearer understanding of our net worth—not just in dollars. We can all […]

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Thursday, July 15, 2021

A new avenue for fighting drug-resistant bacteria

A small regulatory RNA found in many problematic bacteria, including Escherichia coli, appears to be responsible for managing the response of these bacteria to environmental stresses. Researchers see a promising avenue for more effective treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

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Think about this: Keeping your brain active may delay Alzheimer's dementia 5 years

Keeping your brain active in old age has always been a smart idea, but a new study suggests that reading, writing letters and playing card games or puzzles in later life may delay the onset of Alzheimer's dementia by up to five years.

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After Man Finds Thief Who Stole His Dog, Instead of Calling Police He’s Helping Her Get Into Drug Rehab

When a pet goes missing, owners frantically search every Lost & Found website, bombard social media with pleas for help, and post rewards in hopes their fur baby will find its way home. Stories with happy endings are always the best ones—but this tale has a twist. Brayden Morton’s Shar-Pei Darla didn’t just disappear, she […]

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3 in 4 Kids are Inspired by Their Parents’ Fashion Sense When They Were Teens: It’s Actually ‘Cool’

Nearly six in 10 American kids admit to stealing one of their parent’s old outfits to wear to school, according to a new poll. A survey of 1,000 kids ages 5-18, and their parents, reveals that nostalgia for the fashion of their parents’ era is strong—with three in four kids saying they think their parents’ […]

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High Schooler Invents Fire Extinguisher to Save Your Home When You’re Away, and He’s Donating All the Profits

A kid moved away from his friends and the familiarity of New Jersey to California, then immediately grabbed a local problem by the scruff of the neck with a brilliant invention. Along with potentially winning himself a career in advertisement television with an excellent reveal video and excitable timbre, an 11th grade San Francisco student […]

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Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Signaling molecule may help prevent Alzheimer's disease

The main driver of Alzheimer's disease is excessive inflammation in the brain that is triggered by cells called astrocytes and microglia in response to high levels of amyloid beta deposits and tau tangles. New research reveals that a subset of astrocytes releases a molecule called interleukin-3 that instructs microglia to adopt a protective response and clear away amyloid beta deposits and tau tangles. Interleukin-3 may hold promise as a new therapeutic intervention in Alzheimer's disease.

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Watch Villagers Heartwarmingly Come to the Rescue of Crashed Pickup Truck: ‘They came without even asking’

This is the heartwarming moment villagers showed great teamwork to retrieve a crashed pickup truck from a steep hill. The vehicle was traveling along the slope when the driver lost control and skidded off the dirt road in Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand. More than fifty locals volunteered to pull the old vehicle that […]

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From Working At McDonald’s To Competing At The Olympics, This US Track Youngster is Living American Dream

Setting goals and achieving them is the path that’s transformed one Olympic contender from a 17-year-old with a gig under the “golden arches” to a world-class athlete taking her shot at bringing home a gold medal at the Tokyo games. Quanesha Burks was raised by her grandparents. As a teen, she worked long hours at […]

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26 Future Goals Examples For Your Career And Personal Life

Most people set several goals every year, but most of them go unfulfilled. To make sure that your dream life becomes a reality, you should take some time to learn how to create personal and career goals that suit the life you want to create.

Of course, picking the right goal can be hard. Sometimes, a little inspiration is needed to grease the wheels of success. So below, you’ll find many future goals examples that’ll help make setting and achieving goals for your future a lot easier. Whether you’re looking for good old-fashioned self-improvement or want to future your career prospects, you’re in the right place.

So, are you ready to take that all-important first step? Take a look at the following 26 future goals examples so you can get started today. And before you know it, you’ll be well on your way to a better, more fulfilling life.

1. Read a New Book Every Month

The first on this list of future goals examples is reading a new book every month. This is an ambitious goal that’ll make you grow personally and professionally. How? By allowing you to learn more each day than most people do in their entire lives.

Any time spent reading can be done either at home with family (or alone), during a lunch break from work, or even before bedtime. The important thing, though, is using what you read about to change your habits. And over time, it’s practically guaranteed to change your life for the better.[1]

2. Build a Website and Blog

This is great because it teaches you how to find your voice, figure out what you want to say, and share your message. You might also learn about new technologies or tools that can help work more efficiently. It’s an opportunity to turn words into action! And this is great whether for your personal development or career purposes as well.

Even better, you can use it to demonstrate your career expertise, which could potentially attract more business opportunities your way.

3. Develop a More Active Lifestyle

Incorporating an active lifestyle into your routine will make you feel better, be more energetic, and improve your health. You’ll even have a higher chance of living longer as well. And the best part? It doesn’t need to be a difficult task. You can easily find ways to make this happen, whether it’s by taking your dog for walks in the evening or working out with friends on weekends.

4. Find New Passions to Explore

This goal is helpful because it gives you time to rediscover yourself. You might find this goal sparks a whole new interest in something. If that’s the case, you can explore it for a few months and then find another passion to pursue—or even combine two passions into one! This gives your goals meaning and essentially, this means your life has more meaning as well.

5. Learn New Skills in Your Field

You’ll find this helpful because it allows you to keep up with trends, stay relevant in your industry, and have something new for yourself or others. You might also get to use your new skills in a job interview or work project, which could lead to more work opportunities and better job prospects as well.

6. Take on New Projects at Work

Experimenting with new projects will help you grow in your career and learn more about the goals for a company or how other teams work. It might also teach you something unexpected that can be applied to another project as well.

7. Make Time for Friends and Family

This is a great way to help you feel more fulfilled with your social life. This might be meeting up for coffee or dinner, going out on a date night, or simply taking care of your pet together. You’ll get to catch up and share quality moments that can’t always happen when you’re busy. And often, it’s these slow, quiet moments that stay with us the longest.

8. Do Charity Work

By taking on this kind of future goal, you’re giving back to the world and making a difference. Even better, you might be able to meet new people and make connections with others that share similar interests, as you’re more likely to volunteer somewhere you feel strongly about.

9. Plan One or Two Trips Per Year

Sometimes, the most important thing is to take some time away from your everyday life. By changing scenery and exploring new destinations, you’ll get a break from work projects or other activities that keep your mind busy. You might also meet new people while you’re away and have a chance to explore different cultures, learn about yourself, and grow connections with new and interesting people.

10. Learn to Cook From Scratch

It’s always useful to learn more about what goes into your favorite foods. It might also make your kitchen feel like a less intimidating place, or give you tools to cook on the go, which could be really convenient. And, of course, you’ll be able to make delicious and healthy meals for yourself or your family.

11. Try Something Outside Your Comfort Zone

This goal is great for giving you the opportunity to push yourself and challenge what you know. By living life outside of our comfort zone and making mistakes along the way, you’ll constantly be learning something new. This could be anything from traveling somewhere new, trying a food you’ve never had before, or even taking on something in your personal life that would typically cause anxiety.

12. Learn How to Meditate

Meditation is helpful because it helps you be more present. It might also help with other goals like sleep or having a better work-life balance as well. After all, you’ll feel less stressed and have an easier time finding your zen state when you meditate regularly.[2]

13. Practice Gratitude Every Day

One of the best stress relievers is being thankful for what you have, and this can be done by keeping a gratitude journal, reflecting on goals you’ve accomplished, or even just saying “thank you.” The major thing is not letting negativity cloud your thoughts and remembering what is actually good in life.

14. Treat Yourself to the Occasional Indulgence

Sometimes, it’s hard to take some time for yourself and enjoy life. When done responsibly, indulgences can be beneficial to your well-being and help you feel more refreshed. Whether this is a massage, dinner out with friends, or even just an evening at home watching TV, we must take some time for ourselves every now and again.

15. Create a Debt-Removal Budget

One of the most stressful experiences we can experience is financial issues. And while we might not be able to solve all of the debt problems right away, it’s important that you make goals and start tackling some of them.

One of the major financial stressors is debt. If you can create and stick with a debt-removal process, the level of satisfaction you experience when your debt is wiped away will be huge.

16. Take Care of Your Mental Health

All these examples of future goals mean nothing if you’re not in the right state of mind to use them. So, it’s important to make goals for your mental health as well. This is different for everybody, but in general, it means getting away from sources of stress and balancing them out with activities that bring you joy or satisfaction.

Stephen Covey calls this “sharpening the saw” in his book, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Essentially, it’s what keeps you moving forward through the tough times in life.

17. Learn a New Language

It’s obvious that being able to communicate with more people is great for both personal and career prospects. On the one hand, people prefer communicating in their native language. So, this will make traveling and socializing more enjoyable. On the other hand, practically every company desires multi-language speakers. It’s just good for business and will make you stand out more.

18. Take a Self-Defense Class

This may not be so obvious, but another future goal example is taking a self-defense class. While you ideally never have to use it, learning self-defense will help you feel more empowered and safe. And just knowing that you have the skills to protect yourself and your loved ones is a great feeling. So, why not take advantage of it?

19. Take Up Painting

Painting is a perfect outlet for regulating emotions and gaining a sense of peace and calmness. It’s also great for developing your creative abilities and being able to express yourself through art. You’ll be surprised by how quickly your skills improve when you take up painting as an activity for simple fulfillment reasons.

20. Learn to Play a Musical Instrument

Another great way to be creative is by playing an instrument. It might seem daunting at first, but it’s surprisingly not as difficult as you think. And playing an instrument will force your brain to work in new ways and help with cognitive development.[3] Plus, music is great for social reasons as you can bond over it as well.

21. Start a Side Hustle

Side hustles can be a good way to not only make more money but improve your career as well. Any employer will be impressed by the initiative needed to start a side hustle, and not to mention the skills needed to make it work. But the most important part is that it will give you goals to pursue outside of your day job, which can be extremely rewarding.

22. Learn How to Garden

A great way to relieve stress while also being physically active is gardening. It’s not as hard as you think. All you need is a small garden space and some seeds. And it’ll be good for your mental health as well since you’re able to maintain something outside yourself even when present circumstances are tough.

23. Aim to Be a Team Leader

The best way to move up at work is to be in a leadership position. Leaders are automatically given respect by other people. Plus, by being a leader, you’ll stand out in people’s memory more. This will give you more weight when new positions or projects are being considered for employees.

24. Hire Someone From Your Network

Working with people within your network will foster better connections and opportunities. And if you help them, they will help you. This means you’ll have an easier time finding better positions to work towards in your career.

25. Teach or Mentor Others in Your Field

One of the best ways to stand out in your field is to teach others. Not only will it make you more marketable, but it’ll also help you learn more about your field of expertise. It’s a great way to give back in some ways as well.

26. Try Out Different Roles and Departments at Your Company

The last one of these future goals examples is trying out different roles in your company. If your goal is to move up in your company, it can help to work in the various departments for even a short time. This will help you better understand the company’s goals and culture, which is great for networking. It’ll also give you an idea of where your strengths lie so that when new openings arise in different departments, you’ll be able to apply successfully.

Final Thoughts

Setting goals is key for your personal life and career success. If you’ve been struggling to achieve your goals, it might be time for a change in strategy. But you don’t have to go from zero to hero overnight. Instead, take small steps every day that’ll lead towards your major goal.

You can use these future goals examples to set your own and work on them one at a time. And before you know it, you’ll build enough momentum to make progress that changes your life forever.

More Tips on How to Achieve Your Future Goals

Featured photo credit: Jodie Cook via unsplash.com

Reference

[1] Healthline: Benefits of Reading Books: How It Can Positively Affect Your Life
[2] National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Meditation: In-Depth
[3] NCBI: A Prescription for Music Lessons

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