by Carol Woodliff (c) 2006
Are you making progress on your 2006 goals or finding yourself frustrated that time is flying by and you haven’t even begun? It can be a challenge to figure out how to achieve our goals when we already feel stretched by our commitments.
Achieving your goals takes both the power of your mind and your ability to take action even when it isn’t comfortable or convenient. Don’t you hate that? We have to find a way to make ourselves move and take action even when we don’t feel like it, are scared or are too busy. In the end it all boils down to choice. If we want something different in our lives we have to choose something else. You can say you want to lose weight but if you don’t eat less and move more-it isn’t going to happen. Same with growing your business or having more quality time with your family-it requires you to assess what you are doing now and make a commitment to doing something differently. Yes that means doing something different even when you feel like you don’t have time for it.
We often need a reminder that our goals will not become a reality unless we get smarter about how we use our time and resources. Here is a list of action steps and things to ponder as you work toward your goals.
- Pick only one or two goals to work on at a time. Don’t be tempted to tackle all of the things you want to change at once. Avoid overwhelm by picking your most important goal and working on that first rather than bouncing from one thing to another.
- Choose the goals that excite you. Do you want the goal enough to make those changes you are going to have to make in your life? Focus on the benefits you get from achieving that goal.
- Ask yourself, is it a “when I have the time goal” or “there’s got to be a way goal?” If you aren’t willing to make your goal a priority-it will always be in that pile of things to do but will never get done. If you are a busy person like most of us are–something is going to have to move down your list of priorities for something else to move up.
- Look at your calendar ruthlessly. What are you busy with? If you need 8 hours a sleep a night that gives you 16 waking hours a day. What can you change? For many of us it is something like time spent watching television or on the internet. There is nothing wrong with television or the internet but be conscious of the hours that these activities can steal from your day.
- Know that resistance is normal-not fatal. All change can feel dangerous and uncomfortable even if it is for our own good. Accept that if you are going to change you will have moments of fear and discomfort. You will have to take action even though you may not feel like it.
- Break big goals down into interim steps. Take some action step as soon as you can-no matter how small the step is. It is better to inch toward your goal in small steps than never start.
- Tell yourself you can do it-even when you are uncertain. If you are going to lose weight, Say “I am happily trying on my new size __ outfit “(you fill in the size you are striving for.) We call this kind of self-talk affirmations-as opposed to the self talk most of us use. Think about it-don’t you deserve to be your own cheerleader? You can do it. It may be difficult but you can find a way. Isn’t that better than “it’s hard and I can’t?”
- Spent some time daydreaming about your goal. Yes, I know those teachers in school used to scold you for daydreaming but visualization is a key technique to performance used by sports heroes, professional business people, performers and people just like us to achieve everyday. Daydream with all of your senses as though you have already achieved your goal. Enjoy the feeling of accomplishment. All great achievement started as a daydream in someone’s mind. What is the old saying – “Michelangelo knew David was already in the stone?” The things you want to create are already within you. The more certain you are of your vision-the more you will be able to take action.
- Go for it. You will never be 100% ready. Even with your goal clearly in mind, the benefits in place, the goal visualized, you have to take a deep breath and go for it– one small step at a time or in one big leap of faith. Sometimes we just have to say, “Oh what the heck-I’m not ready but here I go.” Each step gives you more confidence and courage to take the next step.
- Allow things to not work out exactly as you planned. Remember perfectionism will kill your progress. Know that you are learning this new way of life that will take you toward your goal. If you judge yourself or your results too quickly you will stop your forward motion.
- Get support. Make sure you have people who will help you with your goals. Karen and I are always here to support you and you can create your own support system with friends who have similar goals. It is easier when you aren’t going it alone.