The 6 steps to take to reach your personal goals
Let’s talk about goals!
“Most people spend more time planning a one-week vacation than they spend planning their life.”
I think taking the time to set your goals can be one of the best things you can do for yourself. I would argue that it is a form of self care. It allows you to create your future from your future. Goals help give your brain a direction and intention.
Through all of the self development I immersed myself in the past year, one of the most important lessons I have learned is that all of our feelings come from our thoughts. Your thoughts create your feelings, your feelings create your actions and your actions create your results. Once you grasp that concept, you will understand that there isn’t going to be a magical ta-da you’re now happy once you reach your goals. If you try to reach your goal expecting happiness once achieved you will always be putting off your happiness for a future moment. That happiness already lives within you now. Goals are not set so we can be happier in the future, they are set so that we can evolve as individuals.
“success does not lead to happiness. Happiness leads to success.”
Step One: Review your 8 life categories
Health (physical and mental)
Relationships (family, friends, spouse, partner, etc.)
Career/business (business job, side hustle)
Environment and Space (physical space at home and at your office)
Money
Personal and Spiritual Development (self help, spirituality, religion, etc.)
Contribution (Service, volunteer back to the world)
Recreation (hobbies, extra curricular activities)
Review and create visions for your life. Write down 1-3 goals in each category.
Step Two: Set goals from a place of abundance
We spend so much time wanting what we don’t have. That is wanting from scarcity. Do you ever sit and want what you already have? This is wanting from abundance.
Make a list of things you want, but within that list also write down things you already have that you really want.
For example, I really want to have two healthy children, and I do. I have Anthony and Jayden. I really want a dog, and I do. I have Rory. But between those two wants that I already have, I slip in between the two wants from my future self that I don’t have yet. I really want to lose weight and be healthy, and I will.
Step 3: Get specific
I have a separate journal which I write my goals in every single day as if I have already achieved them. I write 10 future goals in the first person and present tense. I focus on one goal in particular that I am working on at a time. The more specific you can get with writing your goals, the better. Include timeframes, dates, etc. Read it and write it down every single day.Then choose one item from all of your categories, just one. Ask yourself why you want the goal.
Step 4: Ask your brain questions
Ask your brain questions. Keeping to the weight loss goal I don’t tell myself “I don’t know how to lose weight” I do know how. Write it down, do the math, this is how many calories I can eat each day. This is how many calories I need to burn each day, how much do I need to exercise each day? What exercise classes am I going to take, etc. If there are steps to achieving my goal that I really genuinely don’t have the answer to, use questions as well. Your brain is like a computer and will try to come up with the answer to any question you ask it.
Step 5: Work Backwards
Set your goals and then begin working backwards, with all the actions that you need to take to achieve it.
For example if I have a one year goal I break it up into goals by the the quarter, then by the month, then by the week, down to the day. The more detail you can give yourself about your action plan for your goal, the better. Create a list with all of your to-do’s to achieve your goal.
If your goal is to lose weight. How much time and energy are you willing to put into doing the math, taking your measurements and before pictures? How many books are you willing to read on weight loss? How many people are you willing to tell to help you with accountability? What are you really willing to do?
Step 6: Track your progress. Reflect and evaluate.
Track your progress towards your goals. List out what your wins were for the month. List out areas you didn’t succeed in. Make the adjustments needed. Rinse and repeat. Keep taking action until you get the results you want.