Ask Alex : Setting Goals
Lifestyle November 15, 2020
Hey Alex!
I am in a huge rut! I keep making plans and setting goals but it seems that I never get anywhere. I have great follow through on most things in life but when it comes to accomplishing my long term goals it seems like I never get there. I feel like I’m failing and everyone can see. What can I do to keep with my plans and achieve my goals?
Sincerely,
Spinning Wheels
Hey Spinning Wheels!
Haven’t we all fallen short of our goals at some point? There are several tactics that experts recommend to help people achieve their individual goals and I’m not sure that any one way is the right way.
Every person will need to find what works for them and based on what you have told me, I would say that the route you have been taking isn’t working for you and it is time to change direction.
The most common recommendation is visualization. This works for many people. Create a vision board, plan out your course of action in a journal and then take time out of each day to reflect on your board and your plans. This method is often noted as the top method for keeping someone on track.
A less conventional method is to keep all of your plans and goals to yourself. Don’t talk about, don’t write about it and don’t share it on social media! It has been proven that when a person achieves a goal, dopamine (or the feel good chemical) is released in the brain. This is your brain’s way of training itself and keeping your success pattern logged so that it may be used in the future.
On the flip side, studies have shown that your brain also releases dopamine when you talk about your goals or see them written out. So by telling a friend about your plans, your brain releases the same dopamine as though you have already accomplished your goal. This makes it less likely for you to want to continue on your path since your brain and body have already received the reward.
In this hush hush method, it is recommended that you set a goal in your mind and a couple of stepping stones to help reach your goal. Then you just do. You don’t plan out every detail, you just begin taking action.
These methods are pretty polar opposite of each other but I would recommend trying each one out and seeing if either works for you. It might be that you need to modify to find a middle ground between the two methods.
Sincerely,
Alex
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NCDHHS announces $26M to assist families facing economic hardships
Fetching Featured July 19, 2020
RALEIGH — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) announced that the state’s Community Action Agencies (CAAs) have begun to receive flexible funds that can be used to help low-income individuals and families meet a variety of needs caused by the economic disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds are part of the federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and can, among other allowable uses, help eligible residents facing eviction with unmet rent and utility expenses.
“With the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor’s moratorium on evictions and utility shutoffs is the only thing keeping many families in safe and stable housing,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D. “This flexible funding will allow our Community Action Agencies to continue to meet a wide array of needs in our communities, including helping families remain in their homes when the moratorium is lifted.”
Community Action Agencies are nonprofit organizations created by President Lyndon B. Johnson’s signing of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. To be eligible for CSBG-funded services, individuals and families must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.
“Community Action Agencies have helped bridge gaps for low wealth residents and communities for 55 years,” said Sharon Goodson, Executive Director of the NC Community Action Association. “They provide comprehensive services like case management, transportation, housing, employment, education, child care, eviction and emergency assistance programs to ensure low wealth residents increase and maintain their economic stability.”
To apply for help, contact your local CAAs. For additional information on the CSBG funding or contact information for the 33 CAAs in North Carolina, visit ncdhhs.gov/csbg-contacts.
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