5 Sure Ways to Stick to Your Goals
Everybody has goals in life however they may not always be as obvious as owning your dream car or having a dream job, they could be simple everyday things like getting home safely after a hard day’s work to be with your family. By definition, a goal is an observable and measurable end result having one or more objectives to be achieved within a more or less fixed timeframe.
I vividly remember my earliest goal in life which was back in high school. For the most part, I was an underachiever who towards the end of my junior high began to grasp complex mathematical and science problems and adapt a better command for languages. However when it was time to choose subjects for my senior years of high school, the career counselor insisted that I change my subject choices because I was bound to fail owing to my history of poor grades. I was distraught and felt embarrassed but I refused to give up on my goal. Eventually after getting my mum involved who appealed to the educators to allow me to do the course, they reluctantly agreed. Needless to say, I graduated high school with satisfactory results that would allow me to study at any university.
“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward” - Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. Edwin A. Locke developed a theory in 1968 in order to explain human actions in specific work situations. With all the advancement in technology and advancement half a century later, Locke’s theory for goal setting is very much relevant today.
When setting your goals, you must be specific as to what it is that you want, they must conform to your morals and value. You must be able to measure your progress so that you are able to assess whether you’re getting closer to achieving them. You must grow as an individual and develop traits that will make your goals attainable. The higher or more difficult goals you set, the more motivation you need to build up in order to achieve them, so your goals must be realistic.
The first thing I do is that I write down my goals on a piece of paper and put it up on my bedroom wall where I can see it every day. Just by writing my goal, I immediately begin to develop ideas about how I am going to achieve it; I envision myself reaching it and being overcome with feelings of accomplishment. Having my goals up where I can see them enables my subconscious and conscious mind to continuously work towards my goal.
“The first step toward creating an improved future is developing the ability to envision it. VISION will ignite the fire of passion that fuels our commitment to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to achieve excellence. Only VISION allows us to transform dreams of greatness into the reality of achievement through human action. VISION has no boundaries and knows no limits. Our VISION is what we become in life. ”
Develop ways of staying focused and motivated, the more you invest in yourself, the easier it gets to achieve your goals. Negative motivation such as in my high school example, can be a powerful tool to help you stay determined. It will drive you to make necessary changes and force you to be disciplined in achieving your goals in life. Put in the extra time and hard work that will help you gain new strength and abilities.
“Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”
Commit yourself to your goals, I sometimes tell my friends and family what I intend doing, especially if I know that I am likely to chicken out. By doing this, I am holding myself accountable to fulfill them. There’s no way to back out and nobody wants to be a blabbermouth known for all talk and no action. It also helps when friends and family check up on you and find out about your milestones. If you have bit off more than you can chew, don't be afraid to come out and admit it before you cause yourself emotional damage and discouragement. I took up a new sport, mountain biking that I knew very little about, but I boasted to all my friends that I am going to start racing in the local races. I almost gave up immediately when I realised that an entry level bike was going to cost me R6000.00. I was not going to give up that easily, not before giving the sport a fair chance. I simply charged the bike on my credit card, joined a cycling club and today I am pleased to inform you that this is my fourth year doing mountain biking competitively and loving every minute of it.
“It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action and discipline that enabled us to follow through”
Don't give up when things get tough, make sure your have a plan of how you going to achieve your goals. Everybody expects quick results and when there are obstacles, giving up seems easier than putting in the extra effort in overcoming them. If you have to, break down your goals into smaller milestones and celebrate small successes, for instance, if you want to lose weight and intend losing 10Kg by the end of the year; reward yourself quarterly for your achievement instead of waiting for the year end. This will not only have a therapeutic effect, but you will feel confident and motivated to go the extra mile.
“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” Napoleon Hill
Make sure that you set a time limit in which to achieve your goal. Use your cell phone or other forms of electronic diaries to set a date so that you have something to work toward. Many of us tend to think we have ample time and take on more than we can handle, we often underestimate the time it will take to complete certain tasks. You need manage your time more effectively. Think of anything that is likely to delay your progress and possible ways to counter them.
“Time would be my friend, I told myself. Yet time, I knew even then, was my enemy.”
Make sure you monitor your overall progress. I suggest asking for help if you find yourself not making good progress. I really hope that you find article helpful in planning and achieving your goals. It all begins with your thoughts, only you can determine how badly you want to achieve your goals. By adopting these guidelines, you are bound to succeed and be an inspiration to others around you. Try your best not to give up on your goal. If you're contemplating giving up, think back as to why you initiated this goal in the first place. If it was important to you and you really wanted it then, it should still be important to you now.
Good luck, I hope we all make it to the finish line!!
