Engaging in goal-seeking behavior in recovery as in life is the secret to being successful in having the kind of life you want.

Achievements are something to work towards not wait for. Wishing for things to happen won’t magically make the results appear.

This is the number-one reason I recommend writing down goals and reviewing them as often as you feel you need to. Do two things each day to advance yourself in the direction of your dream(s).

A reputable female researcher suggests a person should set challenging goals to have the best chance of obtaining them. Framing in your mind an outcome that is easy to achieve makes you less likely to take repeated action to go for it.

I recommend starting out by obtaining an easy win only because for most people diagnosed with schizophrenia there might have been so few wins in their life before they got sick. Once you rack up this win, you can act resilient to set goals slightly beyond your reach.

It’s your choice whether you keep your goal(s) private or share them with a trusted friend or family member. Either way is fine whatever you decide.

The key is to not quit. Setbacks are often only temporary on the road to long-term success.

Often a dream is no more than an intention you tell yourself in the quiet of your own head. The intention takes on a force of its own and your thoughts start to rumble, urging you on because to not do what you want to do isn’t acceptable anymore.

Try. And try again if you don’t succeed.

It took me 10 years to be able to publish my memoir.

No kidding.