You can reach your goals

How many times have you heard someone say, “I want to start exercising”  “I want to lose weight and feel better” “I want more time with my family” “I want to get organized” or “I want to make more money”.  These desires or goals are often expressed out loud. 

Yet despite these declarations, many people can’t get going.

Vague statements about what we want

“I want more time with my family”

changes to:

“I will get off my phone between 7:00pm and 8:00pm to sit down and play cards or games with my kids.”

I will create a more flexible work arrangement that will allow me to pick up my children from school each Friday.” Let’s look at the questions you can ask to be more specific. If you’re having trouble, begin with the dissatisfaction, and then switch your focus over to what you want it to look like.  Ask how much, or how often? What will you do with it? When and with whom? What will it look like in more detail?

Another way to gain more clarity and focus is to ask yourself the following… What about this goal is important to me? What am I prepared to give up? What’s the purpose of this goal? What are the rewards I will experience after achieving it? Who can help and support me?  Can I measure my success? 

Once a goal is clear, it’s easier to break it down into action steps and start taking action. Yet there are still many people who get stuck here. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we still resist taking that first step, and it’s not always clear what the first step should be. That’s okay; it doesn’t mean you need to abandon the pursuit of your true desires.  A good friend or paid professional such as a personal coach, personal trainer, or personal organizer, can make a difference. You can work with others to help you break your goal into smaller (baby) steps. Life is a journey, and setting goals and working toward them can be a part of the adventure.  Achieving goals is a process we can all choose to participate in if we’re willing to be persistent and consider a new perspective.