“What you get by achieving your goal is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” ~Henry David Thoreau
“If you’re bored with life – you don’t get up every morning with a burning desire to do things – you don’t have enough goals.” ~Lou Holtz
“Life can be pulled by goals just as surely as it can be pushed by drives.” ~Viktor E. Frankl
“People are not lazy. They simply have impotent goals – that is, goals that do not inspire them.” ~Tony Robbins
We all know what it is like to set a New Year’s resolution only to fall flat on our faces by the first week of January. Aside from that, we also all probably know how setting a goal so high that we almost sabotage ourselves is another way to set ourselves up for failure. However, it does not have to be that way.
There are more friendly and kind ways to set goals known as positive goal setting.
In positive goal setting, you don’t set your sights too high and you set your goals keeping in mind kindness to yourself.
Be in the Moment
When you set a goal, make sure to state it in the present tense. For example, if you wish to return to school, state that you are already in school and doing well. By stating your goals as if they are in the present moment, you reinforce your mind’s belief that they are achievable and in the here-and-now.
State Your Goals and Write Them Down
State your goals verbally and write them down somewhere so you will see them every day. Maybe post them on a vision board with appropriate pictures next to them.For example, put a picture of a cap and gown next to your declared goal to return to school.
Write your goals in the present tense as well. For example, “I am on my way to being a published author today and every day.”
When you state your goals in the present tense, it tells your mind you are currently achieving your goals.
Take Action
In the example of going back to school, even if you are not ready to go back to school, you can still do the research or make a phone call or even order a catalogue. It does not have to be an all-or-nothing event. You can take a small action step every day and feel successful.
This is setting action steps with kindness. You don’t overwhelm your brain so your first instinct is to quit.
Ask Yourself Some Pertinent Questions
Ask yourself, “What steps will I take?” Ask yourself, “How long will I give myself to attain this goal?” “Who will I tell about this goal?” Then write down the following items:
- Your game plan
- Your goals
- The ways you will achieve them or the tactics you will use
Visualize
Visualize your goals as being achieved. See yourself wearing that cap and gown. Imagine the sun shining down on your face as you walk to receive your diploma. Picture yourself as a best-selling author and how excited you feel signing your book.
When you visualize positive happenings, you bring your positive goals closer to you. However, if you focus on the negatives like “I cannot” or “I will not” then those expand, as well. Either way it is your choice.
So, there you have it, a few simple tips to create positive goals. As you can see, positive goal setting is a great way to set and achieve the even bigger goals.
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