3 Active Ways Charting Can Help You Live Sanely - Starting Today

Charts are visual explanations that sometimes surprise people with the truth. For centuries, navigators have maintained nautical charts for aircraft or ships, educators have used charts to measure academic success and soft drink manufacturers Coca Cola and Pepsi have charted comparisons to boast the most popular beverage.

But how can charting help you live sanely?

1. Charting is seeing. Having the visualization of accurate data can be surprising. A simplistic dashboard can help you see that you may actually be doing or seeing something in a more positive way than you realize.

One down moment may shatter overall accomplishments.

"Rome wasn't built in a day." There was a lot of mistakes made and much rebuilding that took place, but the end result kept the workers forging ahead through the architects vision.

You can do the same. Give yourself an overall picture of what your striving for or seeking to stay away from.

Check out the chart below for healthy options chosen by an individual during one month. There are a lot of positive +s shown in actions, but the negative -s could skew a person's view. Seeing the chart is inspiring.

Chart the progressions you make toward your goals, and see the reality. It may be better than you think.

2. Charting is an opportunity to be challenged. Once you've seen the stats, you can analyze the data. You can take a look at what may be keeping you from hitting the mark, reworking actions to get different results.

Success comes from examining failure and learning from the experience. Olympic athletes, inventors and even infants transitioning to toddlers fail many times before they succeed.

Dare to live above and beyond the past. Chart toward the future and set goals that stretch your limits.

3. Charting is a way to stay focused. It's a built-in accountability, if you stay at it. Actors, singers and athletes all practice over and over and over until what they are doing becomes second nature. It takes commitment.

And no, you don't have to go it alone. In fact, charting is best done with others to celebrate successes and encourage one another through failures. Call, text, email or go see a friend or family member today. Engage in a rewarding mission together.

So, what are you waiting for?

Get started, and drop me a line to let me know how it's going. Here's a link to a free online goal tracker you can share on MySpace or your own blog. http://www.joesgoals.com/

Your shared experiences can help others live sanely.