GOAL SETTING and GOAL ACHIEVEMENT
- overcoming the feeling of being stuck -
Goal Setting: People believe that Goal Setting is like a major conscious event... that you are awake and aware that you are doing it....
that you go through a process, give it considerable thought, make a decision regarding what you want to achieve, and based on that you - set a goal and develop a strategy. Well, that is not necessarily true. In fact, a lot of the time it is completely untrue.
For example:
Waking up in the morning I usually just get myself out of the bed... no real thought or motivation needed. It's what I do everyday - But that “getting out of bed” is, in itself a goal. It is something that we must achieve. We all get up, walk into the bathroom, take care of a few things, walk back into bedroom and get dressed, etc. It's a stupid example, but it is true...
We call this a routine, and if you are like me, you have a bunch of little, well basically unconscious routines that help you get through your day... but these routines are actually a series of goals... setting and achieving – GOALS. Somewhere along the way we had to actually learn these little skills, and learning is a series of goal setting and goal achievement. Brushing teeth, tying shoe laces, walking... all are skills that we learned at one point in our lives. Nowadays, we have done these little things so often, and we have been so successful doing them, that we don't even have to think... as we utilize those skills. They have become routine.
Feeling stuck; in life, in a job, in a relationship, financially... whatever. Believe me, I understand – I can't tell you how many times I have felt that way; so I've been there, and it is no fun.
Feeling stuck can create a lot of stress, can cause a loss of motivations that can lead to a less than great self-image, and even depression. These things – stress, loss of motivation, devalued self-image, and depression... can cause us to make some really bad decisions. Bad decisions then feeds this stress, loss of motivation, poor self-image, and depression.. and the cycle begins.
OK.. to break this cycle we can ask ourselves....
What makes us feel successful – and I'm not talking about money. So what is it? Well for me it can be the fact that I have achieved something of value... I have achieved some personal goal. And what must first be done in order to achieve a goal – we must first set one. We have to set a goal - Have a target. Rise to some achievement. Or perhaps decide to overcoming some bad habit, obstacle or challenge.
OK
And what makes us feel really good about ourselves? What is that thing that lifts us from within and causes us to see ourselves in a better light... to love ourselves?? Well, for me in this context it could easily be a personal Achievement or a personal accomplishment...
And I emphasize the word “Personal.”
the personal aspect of setting and achieving – more deeply felt, appreciated, and valued. Don't ask someone else what goal you should set, or what thing you should accomplish... Look at yourself and decide what goal, which achievement will best serve you. What will make YOU happy. What will help you feel good about yourself.
So, make it personal... and it does not matter how small or how big the goal is.. it all depends on where you're at.
If you are STUCK, if you are in that place where you are asking yourself: What am I doing; why am I even trying; nothing I do has value; I really just don't care; Why should I even try??? Then consider this question; Are you Happy – look at this graphic – and if you want to “do something different” then may I suggest that you begin here and do something simple...
go clean something – your room; your car; the garage, the yard...something, anything. Here's what will happen.
First: you will make a decision on what to clean (well my room looks likes @$%*!)... that is your GOAL.
Second: you will make a commitment to achieving the goal.. (OK, I'll get up and go do it)
Third: you will make a plan on how to do it... (Even if you just wing-it; Take it as it comes).
Fourth: you will make the effort, do the job, and fulfill your commitment to achieve the goal.
Fifth: you will stand back and take a look at what you have achieved. That's the Reward.
Sixth: Realize that it doesn't matter what you choose to do – when you stand back and see what it is that you have done... When you realize that you have done what you have set out to do... YOU WILL feel good about yourself. You will feel the Satisfaction.
Now the trick is to make that a habit. Setting and achieving GOALS... and the feeling of accomplishment that comes with that habit... with that way of doing things.
And as a bonus... along with that feeling of accomplishment – things are actually getting done. That is the simple pathway to giving yourself more success in your life. More control and even more happiness and self-respect. Of course this motivates us to set more goals and accomplish even more.
Here is a strategy for staying focused and motivated: At the end of each day write down the 5 most important things that you need to get done. The next morning take the first one and work it until it's done. Then go on to the second one, and so on. It doesn't matter if you don't complete the entire list. Whatever was not accomplished today goes to the top of the list for tomorrow. I know it takes a little effort, but if you want to accomplish more, have more control over what happens in your life, if you want to uplift your self-image and get going again then this small strategic goal setting journal will do that for you... it is true that this small effort can change your life..
Because it is in our innate, our in-born nature as Human Being to set and achieve Goals... then that make us all Creators; because the act of setting and achieving goals is an act of Creation...
So go and create something..... make something happen for yourself.
START SMALL... but THINK BIG! ...and believe in yourself – Whatever the Goal... if others can and have done it... if other Human Beings have achieved this same goal... then so can you. Find out how they achieved it and then make your own plan, strategy, or pathway. Be tenacious and persistent... and don't loose sight of your personal GOALs.
Well, that's it for now. We will have other discussions in the future. Stay safe; remember to
always set an example for others to follow...