Live your dreams

"While the dreamers are DREAMING their dreams, the goal setters are LIVING theirs"
It is not enough to just want a new skill. It is not enough to dream about being an amazing cheerleader. It is not enough to hope for a great tumbling day. If you want your dreams to come true, you need to MAKE them come true. Starting right now.
The name of the game is "action plans". Anyone can make one! The rules are simple:

1. Know your goal. Dreaming about being amazing is not going to cut it. Know what it is that you want. Know what it is that you want to achieve.
2. Make your goal both specific and measurable. For example, "I will land my double full all the way around on the floor". This goal is much stronger than "I want to be a better tumbler"
3. Set your goal to a deadline. When we don’t think about how long it takes to achieve the goal, it makes it easier to put it off. It is also possible that we never start working on the goal. Lets modify my original goal to " I will land my double full all the way around on the floor by choreography this year"
4. Write it down! This goal should be all over your life. Write it on post its and stick them around your room. Write it on the side of your water bottles. Write it on a big poster and hang it on your ceiling above your bed. Write it on facebook! Tell your friends! Tell your teammates! Tell your coaches! Remind yourself every single day that this is what you want and that you WILL make it happen.
5. Make a plan. Your goal needs to be broken down into smaller, achievable goals.

1. Break your goal into parts. For example: attempt double fulls on the tumble track, visualize double fulls 10 times a day, work single fulls on the floor-increase height and twist faster, condition calves and shoulders to increase power…etc
2. Set the goals to a timeline. Begin with where you are at now, end with where you aim to be. Put your goals in order and give each small goal a deadline within the timeline.
3. Set TODAY goals. This is easily done via calendar. Write the days you are in the gym, what you aim to achieve each day there. Also write down actions and plans to do outside of the gym such as visualize, condition, rest, etc.
4. Follow the plan! Also do not be afraid to modify the plan! If you are progressing faster or slower than intended, accept it and feel free to add more goals and actions to the plan where needed.
5. Remember those bad days and set backs happen to everyone. It is all right! Keep that goal in mind and keep pushing forwards.

Picture a staircase that leads to your dreams. Each day you can either take a step down the stairs, farther from your dreams, or you can step up. Some of you may be content on the same step, day after day, just gazing at your dreams. If you want to make it to the top, you need to climb.