Try the Dynamic Goal Setting and Motivation Program for Women
Step 2: Prioritize Your Goals
Step 3: Writing Goals Down
Step 4: Positive Motivation
Step 5: Negative Motivation
Step 6: Identifying and Overcoming Limiting Beliefs
Step 7: Changing Habits and Behaviors
How to Set Goals: Brainstorm and write down all your goals!
When it comes down to how to set goals, you don’t need to worry about various categories. When you are in the “idea” phase and brainstorming out all the possibilities for what you might want to pursue in your future, you need not get caught up in categories or the “types” of different goals. Simply write down as many things as possible for what you’d like to do, be or have.
Remember, the sky is the limit! Also, let me give you a very cool tip for this first step on how to set goals. Spend as much time as needed, or as much time as possible on this exercise until you feel as though you have really captured many of the goals that are important to you. Don’t feel as though you have or need any goals? Hmm…Think again, and Read all about what goal setting really means!
Why wouldn’t you want to take your time on this brainstorming exercise? Hey, if you are feeling as though you want to skip this step, let me use my power of comparisons talk on you again… First of all, how many hours a week do you spend watching television? I’m guessing you spend at least 1-2 hours on average. So, why couldn’t you also invest a minimum of an hour on this particular exercise? Do you go to the movie theatre each week, every other week, or even once a month? I guarantee you that, the few hours you invest in this exercise will return much more than the few hours you’ve spent watching shows and movies. And, let me also say, that you’ll have just as much if not more fun!
Here are some awesome motivational goal setting questions that will help you identify all the things that you want to do, become or achieve (you don’t have to answer these, but they will stimulate a lot more ideas for you)! Go nuts, and make a nice big long list! As you learn how to set goals be sure to keep the process fun! After you complete this brainstorming process, you will move on to step 2, which is prioritizing your goals.
Goal Setting Questions to Help You Brainstorm!
1. What things do I want to do with my life?
2. What kind of person do I want to become?
3. What do I want to become known for?
4. What is my life purpose or mission?
5. What material possessions would I like to have?
6. What do I want to move toward?
7. What would I like to have in life?
8. How do I want to focus my time and energy?
9. What does my ideal lifestyle look like?
10. What do I want to experience?
11. What sorts of activities am I so passionate about that I would gladly get up at 5:30am to start them?
12. What do I find myself daydreaming and fantasizing about all the time?
13. If a genie could grant me one wish, what would I wish for? 
Congratulations for finishing step 1 on how to set goals! If you now have a nice, long list of your goals, you are further ahead than most people! Most people figure – “what’s the point” and don’t even bother. You are now ready to move on to step 2, which is prioritizing your goals.
Using my motivational questions, you’ll have no problem buckling down and deciding what it is that you want to focus on! Are you still wondering how to set goals? You are well on your way!
Step 2: Prioritize Your Goals
Step 3: Writing Goals Down
Step 4: Positive Motivation
Step 5: Negative Motivation
Step 6: Identifying and Overcoming Limiting Beliefs
Step 7: Changing Habits and Behaviors
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Evolving Achievements: What Savvy Women Know
Throughout my journey of personal development, I’ve realized that great achievements are comprised of a series of small steps, efforts and actions that have evolved over time into what are often perceived as big, notable achievements.
As a woman who is very passionate and ‘obsessed’ with her personal development, I would describe myself as overly ambitious, and often times frustrated by anything that resembles status-quo living. Just like you, I’ve had the tendency to want ‘more’, or ‘different’ in my life now, as opposed to later.
Interestingly, we live in a culture in which we are continually bombarded by success stories in the media that misrepresent how people actually achieve their goals.
We typically hear about the “rags to riches” stories of a people making millions of dollars in the marketplace, turning a home-based business into a multi-million dollar company, suddenly becoming a famous actress, and so forth.
The media always focuses on the end-result of the journey, – the destination. No one ever hears about the complex journey that often times comes before.
This is not to say that huge achievements cannot happen within a short period of time, because they can, and they do. For most people however, achievement is something that evolves and grows with time.
The journey is not about a race, it’s about setting and sticking to your own pace. My personal motto has always been, “one step a day is the only way!”
As you approach your goals remember to exercise patience. If you’re obsessed and passionate about your personal development, you’re probably quite busy working toward your goals, and, probably feeling quite inpatient.
One of the side effects to being a savvy, ambitious woman who is overly passionate about her achievement, is something called cognitive dissonance. While creating cognitive dissonance is necessary to make your goals a reality, it can also make your life a living hell if you aren’t careful.
Once you create a clear, detailed picture of your dreams, things can get pretty hectic. You constantly think, talk and act on your goals consistently. As a result, even though you haven’t achieved your goal, in some small way it feels like it has already happened, and that it is already a reality.
The only problem, is that it hasn’t happened yet, and there is a gap between your current reality and your expectations. This is called cognitive dissonance. While experiencing this gap ensures you stay motivated and in action, if you’re not careful you can become quite impatient and frustrated with yourself.
In my own experience, I’ve described this feeling as exploiting my intellectual and spiritual resources, and feeling empty inside. There have been times where I’ve felt quite productive and proud of my efforts, yet it came at the expense of living unconsciously.
Remember the story of the tortoise and hare? Slow and steady will win the ‘race’. It’s about being consistent, and developing the habits that will make your dreams a reality! As much as your passion might be your strength, it can also be your Achilles heal. There is wisdom in knowing when it is time to make leaps and strides versus when it is time to stick to your ‘baby steps’.
Think about some of your character qualities that you are proud of. You probably didn’t become a different person overnight, but rather you honed and developed your character over time. Think about some of the most meaningful things you’ve accomplished in your lifetime. How did they unfold? Was it suddenly, within a few days, months or even years?
Regardless of whether you are at a point in your life where you are taking baby steps, leaps or great strides, and regardless of how quickly you take those steps, – remember this:
Your journey to achieving your dreams is a process as opposed to a single event that happens ‘overnight’.
No doubt that as a busy, savvy woman, there will be times when you will need to take comfort in knowing that you are moving forward, period. Sometimes, baby steps are good enough.
Each step you take toward your dreams, is a step forward. Move toward your dreams with confidence, power and pride. Step forward consciously, and enjoy the journey!
Cheers,
Allison
Women’s Missing Links to SMART Goal Setting
In working with many women over the years, I’ve learned that women’s ways of knowing, and their approach to achieving their life dreams, differs from what is taught in the SMART acronym. When setting goals, we are taught that they are supposed to be very Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented with a detailed plan, Realistic and Time-bound (must have a deadline).
The problem with the Smart formula is that its assumptions and philosophies are heavily rooted in pure ‘scientific’, left-brain thinking, pure logic, and reason. It’s the whole “I’ll believe it when I see it” perspective, as opposed to “I’ll see it when I believe it.” The problem with these instructions is that they alone, are limiting in nature.
Smart goal setting has many valuable benefits that should not be ignored, and I wouldn’t advocate that you through the baby out with the bath water. However, Smart goal setting seems to only speak to only one of two important sides of the “success” equation.
I believe that the Smart formula has turned many women off from the idea of “goal-setting”. It has become such a mechanistic, boring chore to set goals using only the Smart formula. When I think about the Smart formula on its own, there are certain negative connotations and overlooked concerns that immediately come to mind.
Let’s start with the first guideline of setting a Specific goal. Being specific with your goals is very important, however “specific” on it’s own, leaves out an important former step, which is the need for exploration, brainstorming, curiosity, and something else called, “thinking big”! This is how the process of goal setting should begin, but this part is rarely ever suggested, it is only assumed.
The first time you actually get serious and start thinking about what you want in your life, you will come up with many different ideas, and this is exactly what you want. The term “Specific” on its own, is limiting in nature. How does one have absolute clarity and detail on a goal that is in its infancy?
The truth is, the clarity of your goals evolve and develop over time. So, don’t worry that the goals and the visions behind them in the different areas of your life are a bit fuzzy. This is completely normal when you are first setting a goal.
What about being told to make sure that your goals are measurable? This only takes into consideration measuring the final outcome. What if the ‘outcome’ is a result that will take many months or years to attain? How will you measure your progress in-between? I believe that we need to measure and reward ourselves for the many steps, actions and efforts along the way.
There also seems to be some goals that just aren’t measurable by quantifiable standards. For instance, what if a person’s goal is to maintain a positive outlook on life? What if a person’s goal is to experience more gratitude on a daily basis? Not everyone wants to ‘translate’ or break those goals into something quantifiable. Not everyone wants to take a ‘logical’ approach to every single goal.
On the flip side, of course there are many short-term, straightforward goals that are easy to measure such as the size of your waist, your bank account, or perhaps the number of unique visitors that arrive to your website each month. These types of goals are easy and fun to measure, because they are quite concrete. Not all goals are so straightforward though.
Third, we are taught to make sure our goals are Action-oriented. Of course this is important, – it’s a no brainer. Interestingly, taking action is not most people’s weakness. It’s relatively easy to take action. Consider the common New Year’s resolution to lose weight. People get into action right away, but they often have problems staying in action.
The downside to promoting the ‘massive action’ side of the equation is that it leaves out an equally important task – which is that of planning. Many people in life know what to do to achieve their goals. The problem they often have is sticking to their goals and following through with their goals.
In order to make this a success, a person needs to work on identifying their limiting beliefs, thoughts and behaviours, and supplementing them. This requires work, and compared to taking action, it is relatively boring for most people as it is ‘behind the scenes’ work, and not something that you can easily measure and track.
One of the worst things about the Smart formula is the notion that our goals should be Realistic. When you are first setting your goals, that last thing I’d recommend is to be realistic. This assumption again is rooted in thinking out of practicality and logic. What about thinking big?
The first step is to decide on what you want in the different areas of your life, and only later does a person figure out the ‘how’. The ‘how’ is your plan, and that is the component that will be rooted practicality. Don’t ever let your current lack of awareness or knowledge ever prevent you from attempting to achieve a dream of your choice.
I once read that being realistic with setting your goals is actually being pessimistic. So, think big, and don’t consider realistic plans in the beginning. That part of your plan and strategy is what comes later.
Last but not least, watch out for the Time-bound notion of the DEADline! My goodness, what feelings and thoughts come to mind when you hear the term ‘deadline’? The term seems to imply, – achieve your goal by a certain date or else! Automatically, many people report feeling a lot of negative pressure and stress.
It almost feels like a competition to ‘beat the clock’ so to speak. There is a feeling of needing to rush and possibly sacrifice quality to meet the deadline. There is also the fear of failure. If you don’t achieve your goal by the deadline, you might feel like a failure. This can create feelings of low self-worth and unnecessary frustration and stress.
Deadlines of course are important, and they will have a necessary time and place with many of your goals. When the tasks are quite menial and straightforward, it might make sense to set a date for their completion. The pursuit of many other life goals however, aren’t so straightforward.
The achievement of big goals and dreams are rather complex. Rather than focusing on achieving an end-result or arriving at an exclusive destination, women find that their dreams unfold one step at a time. Our achievements evolve, and it is a journey-oriented process.
The key isn’t so much to focus on the quantity of time it takes to achieve our goals, but rather it’s about the commitment to our goals. It’s about staying focused and knowing the direction we are headed in. We can’t always control timelines due to the expected, yet unexpected variables that always come into play along during our journey.
Deadlines assume that one already has all their resources in place, and that one already knows the exact instructions on how to arrive at the goal. It also assumes a person will have no obstacles or barriers to overcome, which in turn, takes time to circumnavigate.
The problem is that achieving big dreams can’t be done by following a cookie-cutter approach. There is no precise instruction manual with a person’s name carved into it. A person’s unique circumstances and life context always comes into play, and there are never any detours.
Rather than thinking in terms of deadlines, it makes better sense to think about moving or ‘evolving’ targets. The achievement of our goals is a dynamic process that is constantly in flux. Changes in our environment, available resources, and the unique factor of ‘trail and error’ all ensure unexpected zig zags in our path, and hence our overall timeline.
As a person works toward achieving their goals, they are constantly customizing their plans and overall approach. As time goes on, we constantly evaluate our goals, their importance, relevance and meaning to us.
Another assumption inherent in deadlines is that a person will always be consistent in their motivation to plan, take action, and adjust their approach as needed. This is rarely the case because what gets a person from Point A to Point B is always different than what is required to move a person from Point B to Point C. New plans, and new perspectives for staying motivated are always required.
Furthermore, deadlines assume that a person knows how to stay motivated all the time. I’ve learned that learning personal motivation techniques is perhaps even more difficult than taking action, because motivation is what gets a person to take action, and to take consistently.
Achieving our goals is not a single event, but rather it is an evolving process.
Our achievements evolve, one step at a time, one day at a time, one insight at a time, and this occurs over and over again. The journey is forever evolving, which is another point left out in Smart goal setting. For example, a deadline implies that the journey ends once the destination is arrived at. However the journey continues as a person maintains, improves or builds upon that big dream.
Being “smart” about achieving your dreams isn’t only logical – it also requires being present to your own unique life context, and rather than relying exclusively on someone else’s cookie cutter formula, you might want to take a few of the main principle ingredients that you prefer, and then create your own personalized recipe for success.
Others’ expertise and advice combined with your own self-knowledge and inevitable trial and error might prove to be the most fruitful.
It is not just about staying fully committed to a set of predetermined and specific goals with date tags attached to them, – it also requires being open and receptive to the many new opportunities, perspectives, and learning lessons that develop as each day passes. We are in constant flux and change, and therefore our goals reflect this as well.
Goal setting is about living with passion, and staying focused on your multiple, evolving dreams. The Smart approach to setting goals is one of two important sides of the equation. Use your imagination, intuition and personal wisdom to adopt an approach that works for you. In the end, there is no one exact acronym, formula or secret that can get you there. What works for someone else might not work for you.
Try my goal setting and motivation program today.
This will allow you to not only set your own goals, but it will provide you with personalized motivation – and that is what you need for the long haul.
Cheers,
Allison
Goal Setting Software
These goal setting software programs have become popular because they are helping people to organize their personal goals. I myself, was contemplating on buying some goal-setting software until I encountered many great free goal setting software programs. However, I’ve realized there are pros and cons to using these tools as opposed to writing your goals down on paper.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Using Goal Setting Software
One benefit is being able to have all your files together, and this includes your personal goals. Just as you are in the habit of checking the online news, your email, Facebook and anything else online – now you can check your goals at the same time.
Also, many of these programs provide for a nice visual background, and a sense of true interactions since others can also read your goals. You feel supported and you feel a sense of community which can be motivating in and of itself.
There are a few disadvantages to using these online programs. First, are you going to take the time to login to check your goals? Or, will it become one more ‘to-do thing’ on your list?
For myself, I love to read my goals every night as I lay in bed. Somehow, this seems more real and personal for me. My journal is so easily accessible, whereas I don’t always feel that my software is if I’m not at my computer all the time.
Also, if I’m plugging my goals into the computer, I’m more likely to get distracted with all the other things occurring online, and so I might not focus as much on setting my goals.
In contrast, there are many benefits a person can reap from the power of hand writing their goals. It has been thought that it is a more active approach integrating many different sensory faculties. As you move your had across the page, often times your hand will cross the median of your body, and this is thought to activate different parts of the brain.
Handwriting might actually ingrain the goal more into your subconscious mind. This is important, because it normalizes and ingrains how badly you want your goals – your desire and expectation to achieve these goals simply becomes your true waking reality -and you won’t accept anything less.
Of course, if your goals are in notebook, they aren’t as confidential as someone could find your notebook. Also, if you’re the type of person who would lose your notebook, or paper on which you’ve written your goals, then maybe using a goal setting software program is best for you. Check out the following goal setting software programs!
Goal Setting Software Programs
Joe’s Goals – Free Goal Setting Software
Take the tour, and check out this amazing platform first! You can easily add new goals and new logbooks to track everything! This program is all about measuring your success. You just click on a calendar to log in information! It’s fun!
A Program that Creates Wallet Size Goal Setting Cards!
Try this totally advanced platform now!This along with the free goal setting program will keep you inspired and taking full action!
Receive Your Goals by Email!
goal setting software program because you can have your goal emailed to you each week! Advertise your goals to yourself through email so you don’t have to remember to go out of your way to read them! How great is this? Reminding ourselves of our goals is half the battle in my opinion!
The Fun Life Tango Goal Setting Program
This is a totally cool, easy to use goal setting program. The platform itself is very colourful and well put together.
It sort of reminds me of Facebook in that you can decide whether or not to share your goals, and your level of privacy. The flip side is that you can view your friend’s goals as well! You can choose an alias name if you’d like. They have a really unique set-up where you can view a whole bunch of people’s goals, and you can even adopt someone else’s goal and have it set up on your own profile!
There is also a task tracker, so you can remind yourself of the little steps required to meet your bigger goal. I promise that you won’t be disappointed with this site – you’ll love this one for it’s ‘looks’ alone!
Value Based Goal Setting!
This is yet another great site – no joke again! As soon as you get to the site, you can watch an inspiring video informing you on what the goal setting software includes. Watching this video alone is worth the trip to its site!
Join A Goal Setting Ring for Group Goal Setting
This good program has all the standard features as above. While it is not as visually appealing, it does include other perks such as a goal setting guide, the ability to set goals as part of a group, and finally, it also includes charts to track your progress. Have a peak at this program, and you can begin sharing your goals with others and receiving support right away!
8 Goals Online: Set Your Goals and Track Your Progress for Life!
Another user-friendly goal setting freeware program that allows you to track your progress in achieving your targets. This has a video demo for you to follow instructions on how to use it. It has current, future and lifetime goal categories. What is unique about this program is that it contains a section called “Reason to Achieve”, so that you write down why the goal is important to you. The program also contains some decent charts as well.
43 Things Goal Setting Freeware
What I like about this site, is that you can type in your goal without registering to see how many other people have that goal as well! This is a great site that is user friendly and free of course, – well up to 43 goals, and then you’d have to pay. You can take the 43 Things Goal Setting Tour to see what it is all about. While this site is not overly aesthetically appealing, it has a very nice basic look.
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Goal setting and Time Management
Goal setting and time management – who doesn’t want to become more efficient in these pursuits?
Let’s face it, – it’s something that we all struggle with!
Each of us has weaknesses and strengths in regards to achieving the many different areas of goals in our lives:
- Health Goals
- Financial Goals
- Career Goals
- Education and Personal Development Goals
- Relationship and Leisure Goals
Which areas of goal setting and time management do you struggle with? Have you tried to get your life together so many times before in the past, but you’ve just never gotten yourself to really focus on the needed tasks?
Do you ever secretly pray and wish that you could find a way to motivate yourself into action? Do you wish you could get yourself together?
Well you’ve come to the right place, because I am all about helping people find ways to motivate themselves into action. Motivation is one of the most mysterious human dilemmas that I am super passionate about.
Are you ready to experience another one of my “Ah-ha!” moments? What I’m about to share with you has dramatically changed my life. I call it the power of comparions.
When it comes to leveraging your success with goal setting and time management, one of my super successful strategies that I’ve used on myself and with my clients, is the power of comparisons. The best way to explain this is for me to demonstrate a personal example in the area of health.
First let me ask you – Do you constantly struggle with getting the motivation to exercise? Do you wish you had the workout motivation that would allow you to feel like a million bucks? Perhaps you feel like there just isn’t enough time?
Or, maybe you technically have the time, but you find yourself with conflicting values. Part of you wants to exercise, while part of you wants to sit in front of the television and veg. Hmmm…Sound familiar?
Now, here is where the power of comparisons come in for increasing your motivation with goal setting and time management. Are you ready for a personal breakthrough?!
Motivate Yourself Using The Power of Comparisons!
Here is how you need to think when it comes to motivating yourself. First of all, exercising and working out is obviously something you value, or at least something that you want to value. So, compare then, all the time spent in your life, where you are engaging in activities that you don’t actually value. What activities do you engage in simply because you feel obliged to engage in?
The here, is asking yourself the following question: If I spend amount of time doing something that I don’t really care all that much about, then when wouldn’t I spend that same amount of time exercising? Why wouldn’t I give myself the gift of spending my time working out?
Here are some powerful comparisons that have been really transformational for me that have revitalized my goal setting and time management techniques as they relate to my health.
Keep reading because one of these comparisons might change your life too! Don’t you just love those “ah-ha!” moments?! Ok, ok…back on track to my personal example…
Here are a few of the comparisons I say out aloud to myself when I need to motivate myself:
If I used to get up at 6am, three times a week to attend a research and statistics class that I hated, then why wouldn’t I get myself up at 6am these days so that I could give myself the gift of a great workout?
In other words, if I’ve been willing to spend and invest my time in an activity (boring class), that I didn’t enjoy or care about all that much,and in a particular manner that I wasn’t fussy about (early morning), – than why wouldn’t I get myself to apply this same amount of self-discipline to a goal that truly does matter to me?
If I used to get myself up at 6am to drag myself to a class I cared nothing about, than why do I not demand of myself to be up at 6am to fit my exercise into my day? Do you see the comparison here?
I am comparing how I’ll easily invest time into others’ expectations of myself, but then I won’t hold myself to the same rigorous standards when it comes to my own exercise goals. It is a bizarre, yet liberating way to think about things.
So, when it comes to your goal setting and time management techniques – remember to think outside of the box! Use the power of comparisons! Compare how you are already spending time on things you don’t value, yet you are not spending time on what you do value – exercising for example.
The “ah-ha!” here, is – if I’m willing to spend time doing things I don’t value, like, or care that much about, then why wouldn’t I spend at least the same amount of time doing something that is truly important to me!??
Stay tuned as I develop my website! I will be adding many more examples on my website – examples that will create many more powerful realizations for you – whether you want to improve your goal setting and time management techniques as it relates to your health, wealth or your personal relationships – you will find the motivation here!
[tags] goal setting and time management, time management [/tags]
Definition Goal Setting
Definition Goal Setting: The Power of Language
What is Goal Setting?
The word “goal” is only one piece of language that describes goal oriented behaviour. The definition goal setting, is not clear cut in my books.
That is, there are many different ways to think about what goals are.
I’m afraid though, that for a lot of people, the term has negative connotations. People think of deadlines, time committments, and last but not least – the idea that failure is possible.
So, to help move away from this typical way of thinking about goals, I want to provide several pieces of language, or other ways of thinking about goal setting. There is obviously more than one definition. Goals can also be thought of as:
- Intentions
- Aims
- Desired Changes
- Dreams
- Hopes for the future
- Wishes
- Manifesting what we want
- Focus
Do any of these words or ways of thinking speak to you? If so, then I want you to think about one of these particular words as your definition.
Goal setting is most effective when you have a way of understanding what works for you!
Or, you might want to begin with a more holistic goal-setting program where you can begin the brainstorming process of what you want out of life. Try it now!
[tags] definition goal setting, what is goal setting, goals, personal development, motivation [/tags]
Goal Setting Motivation’s Privacy Policy
Goal Setting Motivation’s Privacy Policy
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Importance of Goal Setting
The importance of goal setting is a very hot topic these days. We are always told to set goals if we want to be high achievers.
In fact, I’ll bet many people even take this advice for granted. After all, we hear it so much that we don’t know what to do with it.
If you want to start setting goals, but you are having difficulty getting motivated, then you need to the reasons for goal setting. Without knowing the benefits of setting a goal, you are unlikely to engage in any efforts or actions past the ‘dreaming’ stage.
This principle by the way, applies to any thing in life that you want. If you are lacking motivation, not following through, and not being persistent enough, than you need to step back, and write a list of all the benefits and positive consequences you will experience as a result of committing and working toward your goal.
Now you can see why a discussion on the importance of goal setting would not be complete without a list of the goal setting benefits! So, without further ado, here is a list of the benefits you will receive by setting goals.
Benefits and Importance of Goal setting
You’ve probably heard of the motivational quote, The road of ’someday’ leads down the path to nowhere. Well, until you turn your dreams into smart goals, you are most likely headed down the path to nowhere.
And as the saying goes – that is not a place where you want to be! Especially if you are reading this website…
So, one way to think about the benefits of goal setting is that it gives you a clear, specific focus. The benefits of smart goal setting involves creating specific goals!
You cannot arrive at your preferred magical destination if you didn’t define one in the first place!
Think about all the important accomplishments that you achieved in your past. How did you achieve them?
I’m guessing that any important accomplishment first involved you identifying and getting specific about what it was that you wanted in the first place! You cannot take action steps toward any goal without first having a goal! Are you starting to see some of the benefits and importance of goal setting?
The Importance of Goal Setting and its Benefits
1. So, the first benefit of goal setting then, is getting clear on what you want. Here’s how and why this works. There is something in our brain, called our reticular activating system, and every time we write down a goal that we want to achieve, our reticular activating system creates an impression of this goal in our mind. This impression signifies the importance of the goal itself.
Then what happens is our brain does everything in its power to find evidence of this impression or goal in reality. Our brain begins to pay attention to information, resources, opportunities and people who can help us achieve this goal! Now we’re talking about the importance of goal setting…!
Think back to the last time you identified the new car you wanted to buy. After you went to the dealership to identify this car, and sign some papers, what did you notice next?
You probably became hypersensitive to noticing this car everywhere on the road! This is your reticular activating system hard at work!
The point of this, is to write down smart goals, so that your brain takes your goal seriously. Use the power and leverage of your mind! I love using this example to demonstrate the importance of goal setting and its benefits.
A similar example to illustrate the benefits of goal setting, is to think about your career development. As you moved through college or university, did you start to feel as though everyone and their brother was in your profession?
Did it seem as though everyone was after the same opportunities that you were?
Once again, this is because your reticular activating system is paying attention to all the resources and people that can potentially help you achieve your goal.
It’s not that everyone is in your profession, but rather, finally – you are paying attention to anything that can help you succeed in this profession.
The same will happen with goals in every area of your life. As you begin to work toward, and achieve new goals, you might begin feeling as though “so many people” are doing the same. Un-unh. No. You are just tapping into the power of your subconscious mind, and having it go to work for you!
2. Here is another great benefit that shows the importance of goal setting again. When you are actively writing down goals, it gives you a sense of control.
You are telling yourself, that you are actually committed to achieving this goal. Pardon the pun, but you aren’t just telling ‘yourself’ this, you are programming your brain, and putting in an order to make sure your goal becomes a reality! So, how can you not feel in control of your life when you do this?
3. Of course, when you feel in control of your life, your self-esteem is also likely to increase. How can you not feel good about yourself when you are in the driver’s seat turning your dreams into reality?
4. The importance of goal setting and its benefits, is that it gives you a LOT of momentum in your life. Like a snowball getting larger and larger, you begin to accumulate more and more accomplishments. This in turn creates a lot of unstoppable energy and leverage for you to begin taking all sorts of new actions.
If you are feeling a bit stuck in your life, and don’t know where to begin with your goals, you might want to start with your health goals. Many of my clients have found that moving their body and eating healthy has helped increase their energy and clarity. I’ve put together an excellent health and weight loss/maintenance program that encourages you to keep excellent habits. This is not just for weight loss – it is for healthy eating AND exercising. Everyone needs this program.
Begin the health and weight loss motivation program!
5. Overall, you will feel a greater sense of passion and excitement in your life. It’s sort of like being on a roller coaster ride, but you are in the driver’s seat making things happen! As you set and write down your smart goals it should make you feel thrilled that you are beginning a new commitment to what is important to you. You might have heard of the saying – half of success is simply showing up. Well this reminds me of my personal advice to you – half of success is writing down your goals!
I know in my own personal experience, simply identifying my goals gives me a lot of passion, zest and confidence. It sort of makes me feel like I am living on the edge. Yes, – again, sort of like riding a roller coaster non-stop!
Now, who wouldn’t want that kind of fun in their lives? Call me crazy but…
Here is my piece of advice to you!
Live on the edge, or go hide in the hedge! It’s your choice, but I’d rather live on the edge, and begin reaping the benefits of setting smart goals!
6. Last, but not least – the importance of goal setting can also be found in some classic research studies. Read these now!.
If you are smart, you will try to remember all the benefits you will reap if you set goals, because, as I said, the more positive reasons you have for doing something, the more likely you are to do it!
Goal Setting Activities
My goal setting activities will help you program your subconscious mind to make your newly chosen affirmations and beliefs, a reality! Some of these exercises will also help you gain clarity on which goals you should focus on.
I love these exercises because they are so easy, and they help to really increase confidence at the same time.
1. Try journalling. Journalling is one of the best goal setting activities I’ve experienced in terms of gaining clarity on my goals. Go out and buy a nice hard cover journal with lines. Get a spiral bound cover since it is easy to fold and adjustable to different sitting positions that you may prefer. Here’s a great experiment.
Give yourself up to an hour each day, and simply write whatever comes to mind. Don’t judge the process. You can write about random thoughts, concerns, inspirations, etc.
Just get into the habit of expressing yourself on paper, and soon, you’ll begin to clarify which goals you’d like to focus on now, or prepare yourself for focusing on in the future.
I will never forget the time I tried this doing this in my own life. I was in my early twenties, and had just finished reading the book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. She talks a lot about the morning pages, and the benefits of doing this type of free-form journalling.
To make a long story short, within several weeks I realized that I had a major desire to design and deliver motivational speeches to the community. I immediately developed these workshops and then cold called elementary schools and social organizations. I also later spoke at a financial corporation. Out of all the different goal setting activities, this one has done so much for me in my life.
If I hadn’t journalled to discover and then express this desire through my writing, it never would have become a reality for me. So, go buy a nice journal, and then find a time when you do this regularly. Give it some time.
Just begin writing about whatever is important to you. See what happens!
2. Another one of many goal setting activities that will help you, is my free, online goal setting program which helps you prioritize your goals.
3. Post all of your goals on a bulletin board above your desk so that you can see them all the time. As you read your goals each day, you will get a real sense of which goals are truly in line with who you are right now. And when you read those important goals, you’ll be motivated to continue taking action steps to achieve those goals.
4. Put your goals on wallet-sized ‘business’ cards.. Carry these cards in your wallet wherever you go. Then when you have a few moments, you can pull out the card and read it. You might even want to keep that card in the window of your wallet where people typically keep their driver’s license. You also easily make your own wallet-card templates as well! Whatever will help you remember what your goals are, will help you take action toward your goals! Remembering and reminding is often half the battle!
5. Many goal setting activities are carried out online now. Try using some online goal setting software such as these programs here. These are very functional, easy to use programs that give you an interface for setting and monitoring the progress of your goals, as well as others! Why not join with a friend and keep each other accountable!
6. Be sure to use the power of other self-help resources that will help inspire you into action, and over road blocks. Cinematherapy involves watching movies for some therapeutic use.Review the categories of movies here, and see which topics might be relevant to the achievement of any of your goals.
Also, bibliotherapy is another great way to keep yourself motivated with your goals. By reading books on other real people or characters, you will relate and learn from other people’s experiences.
7. Some people will even record their own goals on a digital recorder and then play them back to themselves each day. Use an mp3 player, iPod, or your own computer program.
8. Try spending a few hours in a local coffee shop or bookstore that has comfy chairs available. Bring your journal, and re-write your goals down. By doing this, you are experiencing the importance of your life goals. Also, you are giving yourself total concentration by being outside of your home and your regular distractions. It can be a very uplifting experience.
I’ve had a few friends who even spent a full day and night in a hotel to focus solely on setting and revising their life goals. Again, by doing this, it demonstrated their committment to their goals. Also, being in such a novel, or even an extravagant environment (depending on where you go or what type of room you get) can be uplifting, and infuse you with hope for the future.
9. Try joining a mastermind group, or creating your own mastermind group. Get together with like-minded people who want to discuss their life goals, and their goal progress.
Try the website MeetUp.com if you don’t of anybody. Sometimes being surrounded with like-minded people can make a world of difference in achieving your goals. Like attracts like! Why not find people engaged in the same goal setting activities that you are?
Law of Attraction
I’m a pretty straight forward kind of person, so do you want to know what the Law of Attraction (LOA) is all about? It’s not just about asking, believing and receiving.
Don’t get me wrong, those are important steps, and they have their place in how achievement works, however, they are pretty general steps to give someone.
In fact, many people simply think of the LOA as really hokey. However, I’m certain that I know what the Law of Attraction is really about, and it’s quite powerful. Here it is…
Law of Attraction Boils Down to Action
This principle is simply another way of understanding that, in order to achieve success, one must consistently take actions to continue “attracting” their good fortunes.
With each action step that you take toward a goal, you get feedback from the universe. Your actions tell you what is working, and what is not working.
There is always some trial and error involved, and in doing so, you learn new, practical information that assists you in achieving your goals.
You learn things that you didn’t even know that you didn’t know. You come across new resources, you meet new people, and discover new opportunities.
Essentially you find, or rather, “attract” tons of little gold nuggets in disguise along the way.
Attracting success is simply a matter of being so focused on our goal-oriented actions that we can’t help but notice all the things along the way that will help bring us more success.
When you know what you want, and you take action and go after it, you constantly “attract”, notice or stumble upon the opportunities that will be valuable to you.
As you take action and unlock one door, a few more new and undiscovered doors open for you. Every time you take action toward your goals you gain clarity on what your next step might be.
Your focus and your committment to action are the driving forces behind the LOA.
Develop Systems, Habits and Routines for Action
So, your job, is make sure that you have consistent actions in place to work toward your goal.
Develop a system, a routine or a habit that will make taking action easy and automatic for you. This is the key.
If you build this momentum, then you will have the Law of Attraction working like crazy for you.
My advice to you, is the find the lowest common denominator of action that you can take every day, week, or month, that will move you closer to your goals. Start anywhere. Jump on the bandwagon and get some momentum.
Develop a schedule of actions that you can stick to. This is no different than the habits you put in place for your fitness goals, your health goals, or your financial goals.
Slow and steady does it – consistently putting one foot in front of the other, moving forward bit by bit.
My saying is: One step a day is the only way!.
So, there you have it, the Law of Attraction demystified. If you want to attract your dreams, goals and desires, it all boils down to taking action.
Take action. Do something. Keep doing it. Move yourself forward and get the law of attraction in full gear for you!
Don’t delay, start today!
