“Having a serious problem to overcome does not make one less worthwhile as a person. Someone who has asthma is not of less worth than one with the hiccups -- nor an alcoholic than one who strives to overcome his/her fear of public speaking. Clearly identify goals ‘Second is to identify clearly the positive goal one desires to accomplish. This is quite different than identifying a negative goal. “To run a mile a day and eat comfortable is negative (yet sincere) ap- proach to New Year’s Resolutions as well as many other goals in life, which alone is sufficient to insure failure. Why do some people achieve in great strides, while others seem to make little or no improvement, even though great energy and effort are exerted? Turpin says the answer is “not so much the amount of effort that is exerted toward goal setting and self-improvement as it is the approach taken. and faith ciates, 7661 Inland Drive, Olmsted Falls, OH 44138, for $7.95, which includes tax and one has a negative or shipping to alumni.) a positive approach to the problems and challenges of life. tight lug nut on the wheel of a car when one is in reality turning the lug wrench in the wrong direction. “The harder one tries, the worse the problem becomes; “‘yet, he said, we sometimes measure success by “‘how hard” we are trying. “One needs to evaluate the present approach taken to goal setting and problem solving, and identify a more positive approach.” He suggests the following method: » that ~~ . — Py capped hill -- things that put you! touch with the world. “You can schedule your times) full that there isn’t time to lingeray little and savor the beauties. “There needs to be a little timp © © | © to smell the daisies.” faculty member. It is ex- citing to see young people stand on PYy - i Co young ee — Pn — “I think you can be so goal oriented that you box yourself in and become too rigid,’”’ she explained. ‘‘Like adhering to rituals -- they become so important we forget why we are doing them and what they really stand for.” Widowed before age 29, her goals always had to be prioritized, with the children at the top. “I knew they wouldn’t be home too long, and that when they went off to college I could devote my life to my shoulders and accomplish what I haven’t.”’ It is gratifying to her to see the vast array of professions available to women now. “When I went to college for my bachelor degree there were only two things I could be,”’ she said, nurse.” “Young “‘a school people now teacher or a have choices that I didn’t have. They can set their goals even higher, and women Goals change as a person, no matter what it is he/she desire to overcome. Personal worth does not come from our achievement level or failures, but is rather something that is naturally ours as human beings. Page 2 purpose should. We have not made the strides that we should have made.”’ Self esteem is essential to realize the continued, “‘so high on my goal list was the desire to be a facilitator — whether it was my children or a more and more effort to loosen the needs than “People have always been more important to me than things,”’ she counter - productive. Extreme amounts of effort toward a negative approach is as useless as exerting one professor and head of the department of child and family studies at WSC, has accomplished many goals in her dual role as mother and educator, but cautions that goals sometimes become more important for the goal. time to ponder,” she sai adding that she feels thinking th goal through is the most importal part. “I prioritize in my head, but} seldom write things down,” sip confided. ‘‘And I don’t put mys on time lines because so oftem something will happen to get med track and I don’t like to be dey couraged. “The world is beautiful and tl needs to be time to enjoy f sunset and the quietness of a snd People more important than things “The irony of this finding is that it appears too much effort -- or ‘trying too hard’ can often be “First, of some r. Jean T. Kunz, something else,’’ she said. Don't try too hard... he/she is worthwhile 8 that “The difference seems to be whether t . i, in themselves the approach will work. Four -- “Set up a positive plan through brainstorming.”’ Five -- ‘‘Forget the brainstormed list for a day or more.” Six -- “Develop and implement a specific positive plan.”’ “Now,” he says, ‘‘your plan is much easier to achieve than a calculated, and often negative, approach to New Year’s Resolutions.”’ (His book is available in most bookstores but can also be ordered through the mail: Turpin & Asso- “My goals are changing now as I contemplate retirement. I want to go back to school, but this time take different things than I have taken before -- art, weaving,’’ she said thoughtfully. ee faith if WSC alumnus Dr. John C. Turpin, class of 1967, who is co-author of a new book entitled A Positive Approach to Personal Growth. He thinks many people have a She continued that these gos were still in the pondering stagiid. “Long-term goals ‘have to grow ry said b- Resolutions,’’ Suggestion three is to relax and not try too hard. He thinks one needs to sit back and have a little Ses Year’s negative.” oN New very i is — > the key to keeping . — net ; one kD mn , rr aA positive approach is * until much different than the goal to stop being lazy or to stop gaining weight. One is positive, the other 2 Cee only é very year betwe the beginning December and January 1, I | aside a certain amount of time’ very carefully review that whic have accomplished over the p year. . . and decide what I plan accomplish over the next year.” WSC President Rodney H. Br very firmly believes in New Yé Resolutions, although he does call them by that name. He} been “‘isolating’’ himself to revi