Tackling goals isn’t about having them; it’s about getting them started. Fear, burnout and lack of confidence sometimes holds us back— simply because of the fear of change, the unknown, and failing in the past.
We're usually creatures of habit so we prefer to remain in our comfort zones, even when we're not necessarily happy in it (yes, I'm coming for you...unapologetically but with lots of love).
We love to dream but we cringe at the reality of having to make changes. Whether that's at a spiritual, emotional or mental level, our physical environment, our social circle, finances... you name it.
Change is intimidating because it involves uncertainty and you may not always have the tools necessary to achieve your desired outcome.
But that's part of the learning journey. With goals (and change) comes learning and unlearning of skillsets, beliefs, habits, values, etc. It requires personal growth. And this is something to embrace rather to run away from.
The truth is...you won't get anything done for yourself or get yourself to that next level if you don't get started on the things you want in life.
So, let’s confront these fears through 4 pivotal steps to begin our journey towards goals and aspirations.
#1 Identify Success in Smaller Doses to Unleash Your Goal
Negativity often overshadows success. We all suffer from limited mindsets from time to time and when we don't see results right away, our brain tends to focus on everything that went wrong or could go wrong moving forward.
The bigger the goal, the more steps you may need to take to be successful. That in itself can feel exhausting, especially when burnout seems to be the norm these days.
To stay focused and motivated, it's important to not only define what your overall success looks like for the specific goal that you're working on, but also define what success looks like each step of the way.
In my mentoring and coaching experience, this step is often missed or ignored. Little steps are still goals and they count. To help you identify success, ask yourself:
What steps do you need to take to get to the big picture?
What does success look like in each of those steps?
As a result of achieving that success, how would that change your current circumstances?
Be clear on what is considered a "win" in your books. When we fail to define success, we cling to other people's ideas of success and this is a huge error because their success is defined by their dreams, values and personal vision. They are not you (and you're not them). You're YOU.
Recognizing your small victories keeps you motivated to keep going. Remember, progress is key!
#2 Stop Settling and Be Intentional
Don't sell yourself short. You can do it!
Many times, we settle for less when working on goals because we fail to effectively describe what we want and how we want it.
Be objective and intentional in your goals. Be clear and specific.
Instead of setting an ambiguous goal, incorporate Who, What, When, Why, and How in how you describe or identify your goal. For example, "I want to make more money to go on vacation abroad" is not clear or intentional
A clear goal would look like this:
"I aim to earn $5000 through a side hustle by December 31st to schedule a 1-week vacation in Greece for next Spring."
When breaking it down, you should be able to identify the Who, What, When, Why, and How.
Who: You
What: Earn $5000
When: By December 31st
Why: To spend 1 week in Greece next Spring
How: Working a side hustle
Asking yourself the W's and H's will allow you to get very specific on what you want for yourself so that you're not settling for less. This technique will allow you to truly focus on what you want and how you want it.
Continue to streamline your goal until there is no room for ambiguity. For example, the goal above still has opportunity to be more specific. "Working a side hustle" can be clearer. What is the side hustle? How are you going to do that side hustle?
Related: The Productive Way to Goal Setting
When you are intentional in how your goals are defined, you reduce the risk of settling for less in the future. This is because it will allow you to clearly see what you're working towards and it will minimize the opportunities to deviate away from what you truly want.
#3 Take Control By Getting Organized
Progress demands effort. To commit to your goals, you have to work on a realistic plan that will allow you to work through achievable steps.
Set Clear Mini-Goals and Deadlines:
Break down your goal into smaller, more manageable mini-goals (or milestones) and assign deadlines to each. This helps you track progress and stay focused.
For instance, if your goal is to start a small business as a side hustle, milestones could be securing a location or website, obtaining permits, purchasing equipment, and marketing. Assign deadlines for each milestone, making the larger goal more attainable.
This method helps you take control by only concentrating on steps necessary in the moment. Doing so reduces overwhelm and burnout in the long run.
Use a Planner or Project Management Tool:
Tools like planners, apps, or project management software help you stay organized with all of your tasks, deadlines, and resources. It enables you to visualize your progress and allocate time effectively to complete mini-goals by their designated deadlines.
For example, a detailed planner can help you manage your time throughout the day or week for tasks related to the business setup. This organization prevents tasks or milestones from slipping through the cracks and you gain more control over your time and resources, while allowing you to better track your progress.
Sprinkle of Care's has a great tool to remain organized in your goal setting. It contains monthly, weekly and daily templates that helps you stay on track with tasks in an organized manner throughout the calendar year. This planner equips you with additional templates to help you with productivity, self-care and wellness so that you can check-in with yourself when life begins to feel overwhelming.
The best part of this digital planner is that it is undated, which means that you can use it for years ahead.
It is PDF format and clickable so you can upload to note taking apps, such as Notability and Goodnotes. Or print it if you're old school.
The perfect tool to get your *ish together.
Furthermore, the ClickUp software/app stands out as a user-friendly project management platform. Its intuitive interface is easy to navigate and offers a clear hierarchy of project views based on priority. It's designed to to be an all-in-one solution for people who are continuously working on their goals and it contains features for visual thinkers, such as white boards, mind maps, etc. You can sign up for free or upgrade to plans that contain additional features. And, you can use it online, on a desktop, or via iOS and/or android mobile apps.
24me is another great app to stay organized. It has to-do lists, calendar, reminders for tasks and events, and note taking so that you can gather your thoughts throughout the day/week. It also lets you use voice control to take notes and set appointments, as needed.
#4 Reconstruct Your Failures
Failure tends to have such a negative connotation but failure is good for the soul. When you experience failure, take it as an opportunity to learn about your approaches and yourself in the goal setting journey.
Failures is not an endgame. It's a lesson. Learn from things that didn't work out to your liking, recognize your roadblocks and work on a plan to work through them.
Just because something didn't work out the way you anticipated doesn't mean that you can try a different angle.
Figure out the roadblocks that prevented you from achieving the desired outcome and define the steps you'll need to work on to push through your challenges.
Seek resources that can help you reconstruct your failures if you feel like you need that extra support. Reel in people you trust or look for coaching/mentorship that can help you create a plan of action to help achieve steady progress.
Look for tools online and educate yourself on topics that can help you work smarter on achieving your goals.
Lastly, when learning curveballs start feeling a bit stressful, gain access to self-help tools to stay grounded at a mental and emotional level.
Failure is only an end if you allow it. It is up to you to position yourself in an environment that propels you to thrive.
Related: How to Overcome Self-Disappointment
Conclusion:
Overcoming fear is the first step to achieving your goals. Embrace these four strategies—breaking goals into smaller successes, refusing to settle, getting organized, and learning from failure. Begin your journey towards success, even when fear lurks!
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