The sky is the limit with this one. Today, take a few minutes to think of something you really wish to accomplish. It can be anything, like losing ten pounds, learning to speak Japanese, traveling to Thailand, or finishing a project you started. Whatever would fill you with a real sense of accomplishment is a good direction to turn.
We all have things in life that we would like to do, but somehow we don’t make any progress on them in real time. That means, you are doing nothing today to get closer to getting or doing the thing you want.
Wishing to do something and actually setting a goal to do it is completely different. The former is passive, while the latter requires action.
Action – Until you decide to do something and begin to make plans, nothing changes. Thinking of all of the wonderful things you could be doing is nice, but there is only one way to bring something into fruition.
SMART goals became popular in the workplace several years ago because they were measurable standards of goal-setting that included specific time frames. While they are somewhat restrictive, they can at least push you into starting to get a plan in motion.
Steps – Identify exactly what you want to do. Be as specific as possible. This gets your mind to begin to identify possibilities towards fulfilling the goal. Determine exactly what success will look like when you achieve the goal. That provides an end-point. It can help to work backwards from the achievement of what you want to where you are now to help identify exactly what steps are necessary to get you there.
Set a timeline that is realistic for getting this done. Set yourself up to succeed by not being overly ambitious and making it impossible for the goal to be reached. If the goal is important to you, it is worth taking the time to do it well.
Why It Makes You Feel Better – Goal setting encompasses a lot of what we have already identified as things that make you feel better every day. It provides a sense of purpose and gives you something to look forward to as well. Nothing feels better than working methodically and consistently to achieve something that you feel is important.
Example – The more specific you are, the more likely it is that you will get to where you want to go. If you want to feel healthier, then do some research about diet and exercise and see where you can make some improvements. Then implement the ideas that work for you starting today.
Deadlines can really help with the process. If you want to look good for your high school reunion, then determine how much time you have to do what needs to be done. If you want to further your education, then find a way to take courses that fit into your schedule. Whatever the goal is, make the time in which you want to accomplish it as concrete as possible.
The days will pass by whether or not we are working towards what we want, or just getting by and wishing things were different. If you want something enough, there is likely a way that you can figure out how to get it.