Proper Personal Goal Setting
Why does goal setting sometimes fail to work?
When people want things, situations or accomplishments, they
often call these goals. Then they are disappointed when they
don't get them. You can call desires goals if you want, but just
naming your desires sure isn't effective goal setting. Good personal
goal setting results in goals that have some or all of the following:
1. The goals are specific. "I want to be healthy"
is too general. "I want to lose weight and walk three times
a week," is much better.
2. The goals are measurable. Exactly how many pounds do you
want to lose, or how much money do you want to make? How will
you know (by what measure) if your relationship is better?
3. They're written. There is power in writing down goals.
Writing makes them more real, and this influences your subconscious
mind, especially if you review the goals regularly.
4. They're realistic. Even if it is possible that you could
become an astronaut, if you're already 55, you better try for
becoming a pilot for now. Goals that are unrealistic set you
up for failure.
5. Good goal setting uses deadlines. You'll have that new
job by when? Setting dates and keeping track of them really helps
your progress.
6. Good goals become plans. Making a goal into specific steps
makes it much more likely, and it is less overwhelming to take
one step at a time.
7. They're motivated. Having the right reasons is a good start,
but you should also learn how to re-motivate yourself, and reward
yourself when you make progress.
8. They take into account personal factors. Can you really
get what you want if you feel like you don't deserve it? Well,
maybe, but good goal setting takes into account personal changes
that are necessary or useful.
9. They're followed by action. One of the secrets to motivation
and to getting where you want to be is to start with any movement
towards the goal. Action begets action. Start slow if you must,
but start.
10. They're not written in stone. Your goals will naturally
evolve. Why would you become a doctor once you learned that you
liked doing lab work better?
This last one is a tough one. Making an excuse or making a
change of course are not the same thing, but to know the difference
means you need a certain level of self-awareness. Develop that,
then apply the keys to goal setting above, and you'll get to
where you want to be.
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