| Many of us simply live our lives by "chance" - waiting | | | | Often, people have so many goals they would like to |
| for things to happen to us, then moving on from that | | | | achieve, that it becomes overwhelming. That |
| place. Instead of leaving our lives up to chance, goals | | | | overwhelm can either lead to overload of activity or |
| give us greater control, can help us become more | | | | no activity at all - both of which can lead to stress. The |
| efficient and give us a feeling of confidence. Goals can | | | | secrets, therefore, to staying motivated and on track |
| motivate us to move forward and show us where | | | | with your goals include: |
| forward is. | | | | 1. Narrowing your goals |
| Do you have specific goals for your life? | | | | Are your goals "wants" or "shoulds"? (hint: you must |
| Do you have a vision for what you want to be doing | | | | truly want to achieve your goals) (ex. I should go back |
| next year? | | | | to school vs. I want to go back to school because...) |
| In the next five years? In the next 10 years? | | | | Which are most important to you? Which will be most |
| Develop a Vision | | | | challenging? |
| The first step in setting and achieving goals is to begin | | | | How does each relate to your vision for your future? |
| with a vision. Defining what personal and professional | | | | Which of your goals relate to each other? (ex., running |
| success means to you, what you want your life to be | | | | a marathon, mastering golf, learning tennis - could all |
| like, look like and feel like will help you develop goals to | | | | relate to getting fit, physically challenging yourself...) |
| take to you that place. | | | | Which of these do you have the most control over |
| Try this exercise: | | | | achieving? Remember, a goal that is directly |
| Write a narrative of what you want your life to be like | | | | dependent upon another person is not a goal, it is a |
| in five years time, yes five. What you would like to | | | | wish. (ex. wish: I want my partner to be more attentive, |
| have accomplished, how you would like to have grown | | | | I want to be hired by ABC company vs. goal: I will ask |
| and developed for yourself, your family, your career, | | | | my partner for what I need, I will be prepared for my |
| your home and your community. The first key with | | | | interview with ABC company by clearly knowing what |
| writing this narrative is that you are writing it as if it is | | | | I am offering and how I can prove that to them) |
| five years from now already. Your sentences, then, will | | | | 2. Following the rules |
| all begin with "I am..." and "I have..." instead of "I will". The | | | | They must be possible to achieve (even if it is a |
| second key is to write this vision in such a way that it | | | | stretch for you to believe it now) |
| evokes a strong visual - so much so that you can | | | | You must have a realistic timeframe in which to |
| actually "feel" the excitement and joy of the | | | | achieve them (remember to give yourself the space, |
| experiences you have had and are having. | | | | yet challenge) |
| Begin to Achieve Your Vision | | | | Each goal must be clearly defined and specific (if you |
| In the previous exercise you were asked to write your | | | | don't clearly know what you are hoping to achieve, |
| "five year vision". When you know where you want to | | | | then how will you know when you have achieved it)? |
| be in five years, it helps each of your one-year goals | | | | 3. Creating a plan of action in writing (increases the |
| become more focused and clear. By breaking your | | | | success rate to 50%) |
| goals down to more focused steps, your large future | | | | List all of your narrowed down, manageable, specific |
| goals become more attainable and less overwhelming. | | | | goals and the steps you will take to achieve them |
| As you complete each of your smaller goals, they build | | | | 4. Saying them out loud to others (increases the |
| upon each other, bringing you closer and closer to your | | | | success rate to 65%) |
| ultimate goal. | | | | Share your goals with others in your circle of influence, |
| Try this exercise: | | | | those you feel are your motivators, people in your life |
| Taking your vision, begin to write all of the large goals | | | | you trust. When you share your goals with others you |
| you see (ex: move, start a business, etc). Next, | | | | are making more of a commitment to them. |
| working your way backward from the ultimate goal | | | | 5. Creating accountability (raises the success rate to |
| you want to achieve, take these large goals and break | | | | 95%!) |
| each down into smaller, more specific goals (ex. | | | | Set deadlines for each goal |
| research places to live, business that I would like to | | | | Be accountable to someone, report your progress - |
| start) - and then into even smaller goals (ex. decide | | | | someone who will support you in achieving these goals |
| what I want in a community, what my passions are) | | | | - friend, partner, colleague, life coach? |
| Staying motivated and on track | | | | |