The very first step in creating a goal, or a destination as I like to call it, is to create a clear vision of where you are going. Creating a vision is the foundation for successful goal setting. If you have never created a vision board, I would encourage you to try. Success requires a vision that inspires us. It should spark emotion!
Our brain does not do well with an ambiguous destination. This is like packing your bags for vacation, getting in the car, and preparing to leave, without knowing exactly where your final destination will be. You will likely get off track or get lost along the way. Our destination has to be specific and direct. This is how we are able to place our focus on the journey. What looks like resistance to move is often a lack of clarity of the destination we are trying to achieve. Create a strong vision of your destination and you have achieved the first step towards success!
When you sit down and establish a goal do you ever stop and think about whether or not you truly believe you can achieve it? I know it sounds crazy, but many of us set goals that we do not believe we can achieve. Once that vision is established, you need to make sure your beliefs about the situation align.
An example would be deciding you want to lose weight, but your mind tells you “I have always been overweight” or “it’s genetic”. If your beliefs are not aligned with your vision, taking action becomes very difficult! Think about it… if you do not believe you can really be successful on your journey, such as losing weight, why would you even try?
You may have a desire to pursue a destination, but are you truly committed to making it happen? Commitment will only follow if your vision and your beliefs align. Without beliefs that align, you will create a major obstacle for getting to the end result. Your foundation to take action needs to be a clear vision of where you want to go, followed by beliefs that are in sync. A continued recipe for success! What prevents us from believing in our ability to be successful? How about the negativity in our environment?
We live in a society where negative thoughts consume us daily. We are bombarded by negative media, negative people, and negative environments. Negative thoughts are limiting to our goals. They actually narrow our vision of what is possible. The first step in planning your strategy is to think about whether or not you believe that you can accomplish the desired goal.
For example, you want to lose weight, and the desire is there, but you look at your past experience, family genetics, and life history and think to yourself, “I can’t do this; it is going to be too hard!” You have just established a self-limiting belief. Or another example is “I just can’t eat like that, I love my sweets too much.” If you believe you can’t, I guarantee you will not!
The final example I want to share with you is a common belief that keeps people from their physical wellness goals. “I don’t have the time to exercise, my life is too busy.” We all make choices on how we spend our time. We decide what tasks hold the most amount of value. If this is your mindset then the goal does not hold much value, so finding time for the gym will not be a priority. Being successful is dependent on the level of commitment we have to obtaining our goals. Our beliefs about what is possible have to be congruent with our goals. What can we do to facilitate that process?
A positive environment broadens our scope of what is possible. Positive beliefs are the foundation of that environment. They are the key to changing self-limiting beliefs. So how do we bring more positive into our day? One is starting by believing if we commit to it, anything is possible. Secondly, surrounding yourself with other positive people who are passionate about the same goal is going to drive you towards your goal.
I often talk about your “Top 7.” That is the 7 people you spend the most time with are the ones who are most likely to influence you and the choices you make. Who are your top 7 and do they drive you toward or away from your goals? One reason a gym membership is beneficial is that you are with like-minded people who share a common desire to improve the quality of their health.
Respond to your self limiting beliefs with a positive attitude and you will have more drive to take action to get to your desired destination quicker! Taking action is the next step. Why is it important to be action-oriented?
Action-oriented goals are what give us our plan of action. What does an action-oriented goal look like? It gives you a specific and measureable plan to keep you on task. For example, if I want to lose weight, saying to myself, “I want to lose 20 pounds” is not an action-oriented goal. It is my desired result but it does not tell me “how” I am going to achieve it. Therefore, it is unclear, non-specific, and too ambiguous to be successful. Remember, our brain does not do well with ambiguous goals.
If I state, “I want to lose 20 pounds by going to the gym 3 days a week, spending 40 minutes doing circuit training. I am also going to cut out diet pop and sweets for the next two months.” Now those are action-oriented goals! Weekly actions you can measure to a long-term destination are the best way to see great results toward your detailed and compelling vision! Do not be fooled into thinking there won’t be obstacles because you are taking action, obstacles are inevitable.
When we see obstacles we should remain solution focused. So what that means is it is important to look at things from a positive change perspective. For example, if your trainer tells you in order to lose the desired weight you have to stop drinking diet pop and increase your water intake, you can choose to focus on the loss of having diet pop everyday (which focuses on your problem) or you can focus on the fact that drinking more water will ultimately give you more energy for your workouts and stimulate your metabolism. That is being solution focused!
If you have to miss your favorite television program to get to the gym, you can focus on what you are missing or what you are gaining! That will change your whole perspective on why you are doing what you are doing for your own health. Being solution focused is crucial to meet your goals. Ask yourself when negative thoughts creep in, “What is the solution to this issue?” Be open to possibilities and to change. Keep in mind, for every problem, there is a solution!
So much of our goal success is mental mindset. How can you stay committed, stay positive, and watch yourself be successful? Search your mind for all the right answers! I guarantee with the right mindset anything is possible! Best of luck on your goals for 2012! Happy New Year!!
