When people hear the word “goal setting”, they often think of a colossal procedure and are scared to set goals. Goal setting can be straightforward if you understand the “how” to set goals. Goals are set and achieved daily.
Have you ever thought of what you want to achieve in a day? Or probably list tasks you want to perform in a day? If you have done this at any point, you have set a goal.
When we talk about life-changing goals, we talk about goals that positively change your life. Your goal is your vision or a big picture of your desired result, which you or a group of people work and are committed to achieving.
Your goal is your big picture, and having a goal helps direct and influence your actions towards achieving these goals. It enables you to focus and maximize the opportunities you get in life, which is why you must understand the art of setting and mastering the right goals.
Here are six golden ways to set the right goals and change your life;
Know your core values and develop them
Before setting your goals, it is essential to know your core values, what drives and motivates you, and how to develop and harness them. Knowing what you value the most and are passionate about helps you set motivational goals. Research has shown that people are motivated to do what they are passionate about. This indicates that your focus lies in your interest. You can find out your value by asking yourself your “Why” and writing it down. This written statement will serve as a motivation for you in moments when you are in doubt, or you are losing confidence.
Employ SMART GOALS
There is a simple rule in goal setting, and that is ensuring every goal you set is SMART. The SMART goal rule must define every goal you set.
Smart is an acronym that means;
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Time-Bound
Your goal must be definite. It should not be ambiguous or generic. A well-set goal is like a soldier on a mission, well-focused and direct. Also, you should be able to know how much time is needed for certain tasks, and your goals must be realistic and vital in filling the big goal.
Write your goals down
Writing down your goals in your notepad makes them more powerful. When you write a goal down, you remember it at all times. When you think you might be forgetting your goals, you take out your notepad and look at it. When writing down your goals, be assertive. Use empowering words that will stir up confidence in you. You can say “I will” instead of “I might”. “Will” shows your power and how you see yourself achieving the goal, while “Might” is a statement of uncertainty. Writing down your goals can empower and motivate you.
Break your goal into short-term goals
While setting goals, it may be difficult to set accurate goals because you may have a very big vision. If this is you, it is important to ensure a strategy is in place to set your goal. This strategy is called breaking your goals into milestones and creating multiple short-term goals based on the process.
For example, if your big goal is to own an educational institution, you can break your goals into milestones to make them more achievable. The milestones may include getting an education certificate, applying for and getting a teacher’s license, researching the education system e.t.c
Your short-term goals, called milestones, should be completed before a given timeframe.
Take a step towards changing your life.
Goal setting is significant, but the secret to setting life-changing goals is making conscious efforts toward changing your life. Have a vision of the change you want to experience in life, and then take a step towards it. This will open you to the requirements and resources needed to achieve that change, guiding your goal setting. You will be able to set the right goals.
Connect your goals with your purpose
Goal setting is critical in fulfilling purpose. Your goal is the vision of the future you have. Research has shown that people are more motivated to achieve their goals when it is aligned with their purpose. Before setting your goals, ask yourself, “what is my purpose in life?” Knowing the answer to this allows you never to forget your vision in goal setting.
