subject: Power Up Your Life With Goal Setting [print this page] The discussion of goal setting is a common topic. Everyone understands the overall concept of goal setting - right? Can you think of goals you have set in the past? Or have you given up on goal setting because you "don't ever succeed?" People can get stuck in the endless cycle of setting goals and failing. So, a natural reaction is not to set goals at all.
Does everyone fail at goal setting? Of course not! What is the difference with people who set goals and succeed versus those that set goals and fail? The biggest obstacle that gets in the way of success is the level of commitment a person has in the actual goal they set.
Setting or declaring that you want to lose weight will not be enough to lose the weight. Beyond the declaration of the goal, are the steps and actions that you commit to to losing the weight. Actions such as changing your eating habits, determining the type of exercise program to implement, who is going to be part of your support system, etc.
If you cannot see beyond the goal itself to the steps and actions necessary, then the declaration of the goal itself will not be enough. It is a great first step - but not the only step necessary.
Steps to committing to your goals:
1 - You want to make sure that each and every goal is vital and important to you - not to someone else. Setting a goal to quit smoking because your spouse asks you to will not set you up for success. Spend time determining the value of this goal and its importance to you and your life before making your declaration.
2 - Ask yourself what will happen if you do not follow through on this goal? If nothing comes to mind that would happen, then you might want to raise the stakes; revisit the goal and its importance to you and your life. If you set a goal to quit smoking but you do not believe there are any benefits to that goal, you might want to research the health issues of being a smoker versus a non-smoker.
3 - Renew your commitment to your goal or goals each day. Post your goals where you can see them constantly. Begin to see the goal and the rewards of achieving the goal in your mind and in your life. See yourself as a non-smoker, feel yourself easily breathing in fresh air, saving the money you had been spending on cigarettes, etc. See the goal and the benefits of the accomplishment of the goal every single day.
The only person that can achieve your goals is you. If you have a belief that you have failed at every goal you have set, re-visit those goals and ask yourself what was missing. Maybe the goal just was not that important nor did you have the right action steps identified. You are more than capable of achieving anything you declare.
