The time has come, and believe me, I can NOT believe it! 2020 has come to an end, and 2021 is right around the corner. With the new year comes new goals and new aspirations. And with new goals comes the possibility of being disappointed because we don’t know where to focus or underestimate how long it will take to complete. Also, sometimes the goals we set can be unrealistic. That is why there are thousands upon thousands of different systems to help you set goals and even more goal setting worksheets.
All of the systems out there promise to help you figure these things out. There are so many of them, and knowing which one is right for you can be difficult. While you’re thinking and planning and trying to figure out which goal-setting system is best, you can immediately apply this golden rule of goalsetting. That golden rule is: write it down!
One Common Theme for Goalsetting Worksheets
It can seem obvious that you should write down your goals. Yet, often there is something that we want, but we never write it down. This is a huge mistake. If you don’t write it down, you are much less likely to achieve it.
How To Set Goals By Writing Correctly
The key to writing your goals is to make sure you have written them in an affirmative way with an outcome that puts a little love into your words. Meaning you write down the goal as if you’ve already achieved it and use words that will excite you. For example, if your goal is to lose 10 pounds, write down your goal as if you’ve already achieved it with some love. For example, “I am 10 pounds lighter and fitting into my old jeans.” Or even, “I am 10 pounds lighter and looking badass in my new jeans.”
When writing your goals, you want to be sure that you know why you’re working towards them and want to achieve them. The reason should be built into the goal you write. This is how to write goals that keep you motivated. In this example, you want to lose 10 pounds and look amazing in your clothes. More importantly, you want to lose 10 pounds and feel great in your clothes. That is your REAL motivation.
Another version of wanting to lose 10lbs could be health motivated and look like this; I am 10 pounds lighter and super active with my kids, or I am 10 pounds lighter and the most fun mom because I can play all day.
Fall In Love With The Outcome
When you write your goal, the outcome should be something you fall in love with. You should look at it and want to make out with it. Silly, I know, but seriously! You should look at that outcome and get butterflies in your stomach. If you don’t feel elated about reaching that outcome, try making your goal bigger or more specific. Your goals should move you. They should be the “what-if” that you dream about.
Create A Visual For Your Goal
Now, knowing your outcome, create an image to help visualize it. Using the example above, if you are looking to lose 10 pounds and feel great in your clothes, maybe the visual is a pair of jeans or a party dress. It could also be a picture of you playing with your kids. Stick figures are fine. Keep it simple and something that you can draw. If you’re not a great artist, don’t worry, a wonderful picture is not the point, and no one else has to see it. This step may seem bizarre, but you’ll see how it helps in a moment.
Write Your Goal and Write Often
If there is something that you want in life, write it down. Think about the outcome that you want. Think about why it is you’re trying to achieve it and how you’ll feel once you do. Then, write that goal down. Write it every morning and before you go to bed. Each time, feel what it will feel like when you achieve it.
Doodle Your Goal
How to write goals isn’t just about using words. Now the image comes in. Maybe you were one of those girls or at the very least have seen in the movies where some love-struck girl doodles the name of their crush over and over again because they’re so in love. This is what you need to do with your goal. Doodle it over and over again. Take a moment to bring yourself to the place of what it will feel like and how you will be and how your life will change, and what that will mean to you and your family once you’ve achieved this goal. Then, make a doodle of the image. Associate those feelings with that image. Now, doodle it again and again.
Recap: The Best Tip For How to Set Goals
Write your goals at least once a day and doodle them as often as possible. As you put pen to paper and write or doodle your goal, really feel what it will be like when you’re there. Feel what it will be like when you’ve lost 10 pounds. Feel what it will be like when you are out of debt. Feel what it will be like and how your life will change when you achieve the goal.
Writing your goal every day will help you to keep it at the top of your mind. Doodling your goal will help to lock it into your subconscious. Doing both of these things will help you start to realize opportunities to bring yourself closer to your goal. Every system on how to set goals and every goal worksheet recommends writing your goal down. Do it.
Take Action
You now know how to write goals. You might still be looking for a goal-setting system. That’s fine. Don’t let anything stop you from taking action today. As you try to figure out what is best for you, get started today by writing your goals down. You can do that at this moment. Everything that is in this article can happen right in this very moment. If you don’t have a pen and paper in front of you, then go ahead and open up a notepad on your smartphone. Write down your goal. Think about how you will feel once it’s accomplished. Imagine what doodle you can create to represent your goal. You can do all that now.
For more goal related tips and tricks check out, 3 Questions To Reduce Goal Related Stress.
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Take action to start believing in yourself at How To Get Unstuck.