We may have a memory as children of playing that well-known game Snakes and Ladders? This is a variation on that theme looking at the steps we need to take to achieve our goals, the possible obstacles we may encounter, how to overcome them and the reward for each step.

This tool is part of a variety of tools aimed at helping us solve what can sometimes be the complex puzzles which are our own lives. This one has a focus on steps to achieve goals and works well when used with the Jigsaw lid and getting back your oomph workbook all available for FREE on the COPEScotland website www.cope-scotland.org

How to use

• Write your goal in the section of the poster relating to your goal, ideally in pencil so you can rub out and use the poster again, so being kind to the environment, the version below you can download and edit, the instructions to do that are on the poster.
• Take time to think about what are the steps you need to take to achieve your goal and write these in the space in the poster,
• Then for each step think what obstacles you may encounter and add that in the section on what may hold you back
• Having identified what may hold you back, then think, ''what can I do to overcome that obstacle?'' and add that in the space provided.
• We all need some motivation, so think about the rewards you can have when you take each step and add that in the rewards section.

The poster is a motivational tool to help you plan the steps you intend to take towards a goal which has meaning for you. These are also some useful tips for goal setting. Having a vague goal can cause us as much stress as having no goals at all, so please take time to think about what matters to you. 

The Getting back your Oomph Booklet on this site may help with that, as it offers you space to reflect on any changes you may want to make. Then decide what are your immediate priorities. The Jigsaw lid tool may help you with that once you have used the Oomph booklet, then the goal-setting snakes and ladders can help you plan how you intend to achieve your goal. It is important it's your goal so please take time to really reflect on what matters to you. Is it something which is within your control to achieve? Then go for it. Recognising sometimes external factors may have an impact, this is why this tool invites us to think of possible obstacles and are there other ways to get around them. If you need help, that's okay, we all need help sometimes. 

Check out the various 'Whit's Happening' info mag and resource directories on our site, and you will see there is often more available to help us get to where we want to be than we realise. 

No one said achieving goals is easy, and sometimes there are many obstacles in our paths which is why it's important to spend time deciding on what your goals are, what are the changes you want to see. 

Start with something achievable to build your confidence and develop your plans from there. If you find confidence is an issue for you, we also have a workbook on the site on confidence-building you may find helpful. Remember, you matter, and people do care

''Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek''.

Barack Obama