Does it feel as if your goals have gone rogue?
We’re all in a hurry, it seems we want everything now; happiness now, lockdown to end now, success now, health now, love now … But have you spent enough time thinking about what you want from life? What inspires you; who do you want to be known as? We’re talking “the big one” here; the goal to ultimately change your life for the better.
So, pick one. Want to write your first novel? Awesome. Clarity leads to commitment; the first step in achieving an important goal is to ensure that it is specific and clear.
Although big and audacious goals are great, the reality is that we rarely even take the first step because it might seem too overwhelming and unachievable. What’s the secret then? Where do we start? It’s actually quite simple: THINK SMALL. It may seem counterintuitive, but the key to getting extraordinary results is to go small rather than big, taking the pressure off yourself to accomplish heroic feats every day.
Planning is how we make sense of time. Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, was 44 years old when he began his first book, Casino Royale. He knew that experience and imagination were not enough. He would need to go through the daunting process of writing an entire book. So, he established a process; he would spend four hours each day writing. That’s it. At the end of the four hours, he would celebrate a productive day. Much in the manner Bond would have done… He stuck to his guns, and within six weeks, a new James Bond novel was born.
It’s like the famous saying goes: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!
To ultimately be successful, you need to develop SMART goals that are:
- Specific: Define what you want your life to look like.
- Measurable: Tracking your progress is an essential part of keeping you motivated.
- Achievable: Your goal should be attainable and not impossible to achieve. Challenges are good, but be realistic. Do you have the time and the resources to make it happen?
- Relevant: Make sure that it is worth your time and that it will provide positive benefits to your life.
- Timebound: There must be a deadline.
So, write it down. After all, you wouldn’t set out on a major journey with no real idea of your destination. Studies show that we are 42% more likely to achieve our goals if we put them to paper. Then come up with an action plan by creating mini-goals for each day and staying true to it. Achieving small goals will lead to overall progress, and that will get the momentum going to keep you happy and motivated along the way.
It’s important to set milestones, so you know if you’re on track. But also, be flexible with milestones because life happens. Give yourself a pat on the back and celebrate the mini victories; each small win will give you a feeling of progress which will make you more confident in your own abilities.
While we are asked to put our lives on hold, dig deep and find the courage to start working towards your goal.
“Believe you can, and you’re halfway there” – Theodore Roosevelt
Source: lifehack.org, leadershipnow.com, forbes.com, independent.co.uk, entrepreneur.com, blog.thefabulous.co, positivepsychology.com, blog.rescuetime.com, magazine.vunela.com, mindtools.com
DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional.
