Use Goal Setting To Give You That Little something extra To Break Through!

Is there something you want to achieve? Is there something you've decided it's time to take on?

Goal setting may just do the trick...

You can use different kinds of goals to create within yourself... extra motivation, awareness, direction, and concentration... Whatever you're challenging right now, this little step can make a big difference!

Working towards a lifelong dream, persisting through the difficulty, for however long it takes, growing, and eventually achieving it, could be a major turning point in your life. Setting goals can help provide the fuel for this process.

If the quote above resonates with you... If you love self-development, psychology, the art of living well... then you're in the right place!

There's loads of reasons you might want to set a goal...

feel more happiness
eat better
develop a more loving relationship with yourself
exercise more
improve your work situation

reduce stress
support your friends
improve in something
learn something new
save money
develop a skill

The list of course could have thousands of things. The possibilities are endless...

Did anything jump out at you?

Or maybe there are many things you'd like to challenge?

Well, you'll find extra energy, strength, and hope with a flexible and personally unique practise of goal setting. What's the first step? Read on, learn the basics, and go from there.

Start setting some goals today

There are many ways to go about setting goals. There are different time-frames (short, medium, long) and also different types of goal (performance, outcome) which all serve different purposes.

There are also multiple models you may've heard of that can help with setting goals...

SMART

Specific
Measured
Attainable
Realistic
Timed

PURE

Positively stated
Understood
Relevant
Ethical

CLEAR

Challenging
environmentally sound
agreed
recorded

All these models have good grounding in research. Becoming an expert goal setter, I believe, is partly about learning all the types and then adopting a flexible and broad ever-growing approach.

Things to consider will include your personal preferences at this time, the unique situation you find yourself in right now, and your desired outcome. Here's a couple of examples of how you might get started setting goals today:

Setting a short-term goal to take on right now

One way of starting is to focus on something in the short-medium term. I'm hesitant to put a specific time-frame on this. Typical might be a month or two. However anywhere from a week to a year is reasonable.

Goal Setting Worksheet For One Goal

If you can't seem to bring yourself to get going... a short term goal like this can help you start to win the battle within and get moving.

One approach would be to set an outcome goal (e.g. to publish a book), and then a performance goal that aims to propel you to that outcome (to write 10 pages a week). Where you want to go and how you're gonna get there.

And if you'd like to check out some other worksheets or templates like these...

If you are especially busy or unwell you might want to be kind to yourself at this time. When it comes to deciding the "when", you may not want any extra pressure. Feel free to skip the target date entirely. Goals work in many different ways even without target dates.

Maybe a slight shift in focus and awareness is enough at this time. Even just naming a month, or a season might feel like it's enough.

You may want to focus on a goal based on self kindness or well-being. One that rather than focusing on what your going to do, focuses directly on you.

Taking a break, resting, going in nature, enjoyment, pleasure are goals that enhance production capacity...

Then later, you might decide to set a goal that propels you forward in terms of what you produce. Take care of yourself first and foremost. You are valuable, a precious treasure.

There are many ways to set targets. Try and find an approach that sings to you right now. You will learn to set goals with flexibility on this site. No one method is "better" than another. You'll learn how to adjust your goals for different types of tasks, different personalities, and different situations.

Creating a exciting long-term vision

Another option available to you is thinking in the longer term and creating a vision for your life.

I recommend that you make this an ever-changing fluid vision. I also suggest to make it exciting, energy-creating. Now is not the time to be overly realistic. The motivation created by a vision is powerful in many ways.

It's perhaps more subtle but if your goals ring true to you this activity will help with a background sense of meaning and purpose, short term prioritising, and acting as a compass. Fill out the long term dreams worksheet now to give it a try!

Don't worry if you can't fill it all out now. You can always add to this in the following weeks, months, and years eventually creating something you are delighted with which captures your vision for the future.

Remember, there are no wrong answers! Don't worry too much about accuracy and realism here. Have fun!

If you start goal setting what's in it for you?

You'll achieve more - When someone wants to achieve something in any field… think of Chistiano Ronaldo, Usain Bolt, Richard Branson... they probably do many things well. One thing they definitely do is set goals.

You'll become more decisive - When you're clear about where you're going it’s easier to decide on the best action to take. Decision making becomes easier.

You'll have more enthusiasm about the future - I know the whole vision thing might seem a bit ridiculous when you first write it down. BUT, although subtle, it does create a sense of possibility and hope.

You'll become less distracted - One cool thing about having some clarity of where you're going (whether it's pie in the sky or not!) is... Less distractions. It becomes easier to say “I appreciate the offer but no thanks”. Of course this could be good and bad. Finding a nice balance that works for you is important.

You'll grow in capability - Doing this whole goal setting thing points to a life of growth (whatever that means to you) and bringing out more of your capabilities. Over time, you'll become more capable by setting goals. You'll grow at a faster rate.

More resources and tools to work through your dreams and goals

You can find resources such as different worksheets and various templates for every kind of goal you're thinking of setting below.

Most popular areas you can set wise goals in

Have you got a goal in mind you want to focus on now? Below are some popular areas that you might want to focus on...

Body

Summer

Love and Relationships

Friendship and Social

Goal setting articles

We've probably heard it 100 times. But sometimes we all need a quick reminder to jog our memory. Why it all works? How it all works? How to make your goal smart etc etc... You will find articles on all this below.

Top Tips

Setting SMART Goals

Personal Goals

The Mechanics of Goal Setting

Key to Achievement

Thanks for popping by...

Well done for visiting the goal setters dojo and honing your skills once again! Sign up below if you want the latest inspiration, resources, and product discounts sent straight to your inbox!

Wishing your great success!

James

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