Setting personal goals

I know somebody who, when it's time to reassess their personal progress and then make some more goals for their future, takes a piece of paper and writes on it four to six specific things that they want to achieve. Then they fold the list, place it in an envelope, enter on the outside the date when the goals should be reached, seal the envelope and then put it away where it cannot be seen every day. Somehow (and I cannot really explain how) this exercise plants the goals in their subconscious mind and without dwelling on them, it is remarkable how many are achieved by the due date. Perhaps it has something akin to an experiment done some years ago when the college basketball team was split into two groups. Then one group practiced each day on the court while the other group did not practice, but concentrated on imagining they were playing a basketball game and shooting hoops. After maybe a month, the group who imagined they were playing were found to be considerably better at the game than those who practiced on court. The mind is a powerful tool if it is allowed to work. Denis Waitley said "Setting a goal starts with a dream, a desire for something you really want. Planning is the road map that leads you to your destination". Happy goal setting!