Do you feel pressured to change something about yourself? Whether it’s your health, your work, your life, your marriage or your location, when the New Year is staring you in the face.

I don’t know about you, but there seems to be more pressure this year, than ever before. Perhaps I’m reading more blogs related to goal setting, making things happen or listening to the media, however I feel bombarded with messages on how to:

• structure your day
• organize your work
• become more efficient
• take baby-steps to reach your goals
• make to-do lists
• make short -term goals
• make long-term goals
• add five minutes to your walk a day and you’ll soon be able to run a marathon

As most of us know, January is the month when we make resolutions, and February is the one when most of us break them. Of course, this does not apply to you and me.

I try to set my goals based on a clear vision of where I want my life to go. For example:

• In the next year, my goal is to have an agent and/or a publisher for my memoir.
• In the next year, I want to launch my improved blog and website.
• In the next 2-3 years I plan on moving to our house in Naples, Florida.
• In the next 5-7 years I want to do 27 months of Peace Corps work.

So here’s my first change starting right this minute: I’m going to start smiling more. Why? Not only is it supposed to energize the brain and muscles, but it will make me feel happy and perhaps someone else too.

What about you? Do you have goals for 2011, or do you prefer not to think about it?