3 tips to help you reach your goals
It seems that whatever goals we had envisioned for ourselves in 2021 (and 2020 for that matter!) went awry … we were prevented from dreaming big about our future because, well, life seemed like a mirage - the uncertainty of everything was difficult to see past. Perhaps you are looking back at the goals you had set for yourself and are thinking - that didn’t quite go to plan! Well today is an opportunity to begin again, to start afresh and to set yourself up for success with a sporting spirit (today or any time in your life for that matter - whether that be the start of a new year or a beginning of a new chapter)
With this, I am sure you are keen, like me, to begin (again!) working towards your goals with a renewed sense of purpose and intention. Here are 3 things to consider to help you reach your goals in 2022 -
1. Review THE PRESENT
Before we can move forward, we have to briefly reflect on how far we have come and where we are at present. Sometimes, we delve into our goals and think we want to achieve x,y, and z without pausing to take account of our life as it stands at the moment. Firstly, congratulate yourself for all you have accomplished this past year! Maybe you didn’t manage the lofty goal of running a marathon, but perhaps you did manage to spend some more quality time with family, going for the daily walk with friends or siblings - this too has its own merit.
Now, think about where you are right now and how you are feeling about your current state. Get a pen and paper and write it down. Start with some prompting questions to get yourself in the zone - What is going well for me right now? How are my relationships? Do I feel healthy and happy? What hobbies give me joy? What hobbies would I like to start? Is there an area of my life I have been neglecting?
Areas of life to look at -
Health & Wellbeing
Relationships
Spirituality
Career
Finances
Intellectual
Social & Adventure
Once this is done, list out the various areas of life you’d like to grow in, you can add or take from the list above - a suggestion - one goal in each area might be a good idea … ultimately we should aim to give attention to all areas of our lives. In doing so we create more balance and harmony overall.
2. Focus On the Process, Not the End Goal
When we set goals for ourselves we might think we constantly need to have the end goal in the forefront of our minds. However, this can become a bit overwhelming if you are far off. Instead, focus on the process - the actions and habits that you are committing to on a daily basis that you are carrying out to edge you closer and closer to where you want to be. By breaking the goal down into manageable bite-size pieces, you are setting up for yourself a framework for success. For more on this idea, I would recommend watching this brilliant Tedx Talk - How to Achieve Your Most Ambitious Goals:
Remember, what you are committing to is the process, not so much the goal itself. The goal itself will come and go, but ultimately you are committing to the journey. As the saying goes - life is about the journey, not the destination.
The One ‘Highlight Habit’
Honing in on this idea of focusing on the process as opposed to the goal, even more important is committing to just one habit at a time. This can be hard! We automatically want to do 3 things at once in the hope we will get to our destination faster, however, this is not sustainable nor realistic. Take a highlight habit, that is, one single habit you will carry out to get you a step closer to your goal and just focus on making this one stick. Give yourself a timeframe for this highlight habit and once you have got this one down, you can expand and build on it by adding the next habit you feel is the next step. This slow and steady 1% incremental growth is effective as it forces you to focus on the micro as opposed to the macro, giving you permission to take growth at your own pace.