Setting your Goals

According to the Encarta online dictionary, goal means aim, something that somebody wants to achieve. The question is, how do you know what to aim for and how do you know when you have achieved it? Following on from the article on page 1 (download the whole Motivational Magic newsletter by clicking here), it is easy to have lots of ideas, but goals are the process by which you are able to focus those ideas to make them achievable.



Here are the main points why goal setting is a good idea:



1. Knowing where you are heading empowers you. If you can see the finish line, you know exactly how much effort is required for you to cross it and that is empowering.



2. Recording your goals also empowers you. By writing them down and giving them a timeframe to make them measurable, you go through the mental process of figuring out exactly what you are going to need to achieve them. Giving them a date to be achieved by helps to apply the pressure necessary to motivate you to action.



3. Visualising your goal in your mind, helps you to adopt the mental attitude necessary to achieve your goal. Imagine yourself doing whatever your goal is. The clearer you can see it in your mind, the more achievable it will become.



4. Talk positively about your goals and eliminate negative self-talk in relation to them. Every goal will have it’s issues but by being solutions focused, the issues will fade into the glory of achieving your goals.



5. Break your goals right down into achievable bite size chunks. The more detailed you are, the more probable your success will be.



6. Protect your goals from what are called the “dream stealers”. These are people that want to discourage you by pointing out all the obstacles and problems associated with your goal.



7. As you are working on your goals, adopt a “do-it-now” mentality. If something is annoying you, do something about it. Take action.


8. Make lists. If you rely on your brain, you will miss important things out. Buy a notepad you can carry everywhere with you and make lists of what you want to achieve, then tick them off as you go.

9. Make new goals regularly. A goals list is a fluid document. It needs to be visited daily and updated as things come up.



10. No more excuses, take action now! You can only guarantee success if you start the journey.




Achieving your dreams



You now know what goals are and how you can set them and you have been given the keys to setting and making your own goals. But is there another process that is missing that ensures that you achieve your goals?



I would like to suggest that there is. You know what you want to achieve, you even have created a visual board for yourself where you have images of what you want to achieve, with all the description and dates of your goals. But what it is that takes the dream off the page and converts it to reality?



Here are my three factors for making it happen.



1. Belief—Do you believe that it can and will happen to you?



2. Faith—Do you have the faith to step out and test your vision to prove it’s worth?



3. Focus—Are you prepared to make your goal the focus of your life?



If you can firstly, believe in your dream; secondly, have faith in yourself and any spiritual power that you may believe in; and then thirdly, place your focus on attaining that dream, amazing things start to happen! Without these your dream will fail before it has even lived.