New year, new you! That may be a bit of an overstatement, but there is some truth there. Setting goals is a great way to help us grow in our personal lives, and what better month to start than January! Setting goals can sometimes be overwhelming because we see what seems to be an impossible task to accomplish. I once heard the quote, "How do you eat an elephant?" One bite at a time!" That is a great example of having a big goal to accomplish, but starting with smaller goals instead. Small goals are a great way to reach the bigger goal.

A great way to start is by setting goals for yourself. Then, share those with your teen. As you share, begin to talk with them about the goals they could set for themselves.  Try to let them talk and open up to you about the goals they have for their lives. You may learn something new! Also, encourage them to set small goals to accomplish that larger goal. For example, if they are in middle school and want to be in a band when they grow up, a small goal could be trying out for their middle school band or finding an instrument they like and beginning private lessons. If they want to go to college, a small goal could be to make better grades every sememster from here on out. Whatever interest your child has, find a way to nurture that interest. It may, after all, be a passion of theirs that leads to a more abundant future.

So, no  matter where you are in life, setting goals can be the start to an even greater you! Always remember, even if you don't accomplish your goal today, there's always tomorrow and that gives you a fresh start!