You hear it all the time. It’s important to set goals if you want to achieve what you want in life. It’s absolutely true. Setting goals is creating a roadmap for yourself – if you don’t know where you want to go, you won’t ever feel that rewarding sense of going in the right direction. If you don’t have that assured sense that you are moving towards where you want to be, you will flounder quickly, and fall back into old habits.
Here is the truth of it. Setting goals is hard work. I would argue that the process of setting goals is the toughest part of making any kind of life change, because you actually have to sit down and dare to believe that you can do it. That you can transform into the person that you want to be. I am firmly of the belief that the thing that makes it difficult to make changes in our lifestyle is not a lack of ability, but the challenge of letting ourselves believe that we can do better. That we are better.
It sounds so simple. Sit down and think of what you want to achieve. Then, write down how you are going to do it. Then, get it done! Easy! In a style typical of the age we live in, the process of setting goals is sold as being the fast bit. The bit that you can get done quickly, before the hard work begins.
I don’t agree with this. I believe that you must give the process of goal setting your fullest effort and attention. Your journey has begun when you sit down to visualize where you want to be, what you want to be, and begin the process of allowing yourself to believe that you can do anything. This process of self analysis, this test of self belief, this challenging task of really daring to imagine who you can be if you trust and believe in yourself, is the foundation of your success.
If you spend the time you need to really set your goals, to go through the process of formulating them with precision, belief, and intention, you have made it through the first stage of a lifelong change that will enrich the rest of your life.
Today, let yourself begin to consider what your goals may be. Notice any mental blocks that you encounter. Do you find yourself talking to yourself negatively? Telling yourself that a goal is ridiculous and unachievable? Do you get bored and switch off when you begin thinking of what your aims may be?
Really pay attention to your processes; they are an important part of your journey and the key to overcoming your obstacles. Getting to know yourself, understanding yourself, and gently working to overcome any processes that stand between you and the person that you want to be is an essential part of reviving your confidence and unlocking a long term, healthy you.
