Thanksgiving starts a busy whirlwind of new to-do’s and list making and trying to get more done in less time than you’ve tried to do all year. How is it that with so much more to do, we somehow find time to get these extra things done? Instead of complaining about so much to do, we’re actually happy about it. Sure, we whine about it to our friends and worry that the holidays won’t be perfect, but most of us enjoy the holiday hustle and bustle. It’s different from the pressures we put on ourselves earlier in the year. Maybe it’s because we can actually visualize ourselves making the perfect turkey dinner and laughing off the snide comments that ruin many a family get together. We can see the joy in our children’s faces when they open the present that is “just what they always wanted”. This strong mental image pushes us through the unpleasantness of standing in long lines, never-ending trips to the grocery store, and unpacking and putting up decorations. This is what makes it all possible. What if we could do the same for the not so joyful tasks that we deal with throughout the year? What if we could really get excited about completing a project for work? It would be much easier to do wouldn’t it? This is how I think we should approach our goals. When you write down what it is you want to accomplish, be sure to close your eyes and visualize how good meeting that goal could be. The idea is not to simply cross a goal off your list, but to fully achieve it, that is, make it something worth celebrating!