So this self-esteem book has a whole section on planning to achieve your goals, whether they are very short-term goals at work, at home, etc., or longer-term ones in life. What I liked is that it tacked the stumbling blocks to achieving the goals and offered suggestions for overcoming them.

Stumbling Blocks to Achieving Goals:

1) Insufficient Planning: you must break down your large goals into small, discreet steps. Trying to achieve a major life goal all at once is like trying to swallow a whole loaf of bread in one gulp. You must take one bite at a time or you will choke.

2) Insufficient Knowledge: a very common stumbling block that requires overcoming a fear of asking for help.

3) Poor Time Management: if you are already juggling more balls than you can comfortably keep in the air, adding even one new goal may be one ball too many. Either become a better juggler or decide which balls to drop.

4) Unrealistic Goals: This is a form of self-sabotage. When you set unrealistic goals, you guarantee failure and continued low self-esteem.

5) Fear of Failure: While normal for everyone, this can be a huge stumbling block for people with low self-esteem.

6) Fear of Success: This is more rare but it’s actually a fear of delayed failure. You fear becoming successful for fear that ultimately you will fail. “The higher you climb, the farther you fall.”

Deconstruction Exercise

Overall Goal

1. What information do I need?
2. How much time do I need each day or week?
3. How much money do I need?
4. Whose help do I need?
5. What resources or services do I need?
6. What would be the earliest sign that I was starting to accomplish my goal? (first step)
7. How would I know I was well on my way to accomplishing my goal? (middle steps)
8. How would I know I had fully accomplished my goal? (final step)
~ Self-Esteem: A Proven Program of Cognitive Techniques for Assessing, Improving, and Maintaining Your Self-Esteem

There are so many other great tips in this book and the accompanying workbook. I’m trying to get through it all but I found this especially helpful for me in not catastrophizing situations and getting stuck/overwhelmed.