How to Set Goals

We talked about the importance of setting goals last week. If you missed it, check it out here. Setting goals helps you to know where you’re going.

For a long time, I had goals but they stayed in my head. I was mostly going with the flow (existing vs. living). I was not being intentional about what I wanted for my life. I pretty much just accepted what life was giving to me. It was not bad at all, but I was not happy. I was not fulfilled and I knew there was more. I needed a purpose and some direction.

Then, I learned about vision boards. This allowed me to explore what I wanted for my life and document it through images. Through envisioning the result and the law of attraction, I manifested a lot of what I wanted into my life. However, I felt like I needed more concrete, actionable steps to get to the next level.

So I began writing down my goals and taking the necessary steps to reach them. Here are those steps:

1. First, allow yourself to dream. And dream BIG. Don’t limit yourself by what you think is possible or not. Write them all down.
2. Prioritize the list and decide which ONE you want to start with. Don’t over-complicate this or spin in indecision. Just make a decision and go with it.
3. Take that goal and refine it into a SMART goal:
   1. S – Specific
   2. M – Measurable
   3. A – Achievable
   4. R – Relevant
   5. T – Time-Based
      *This step is very important because it gives your brain a specific problem to solve, helping it to get to work looking for a solution. Example: I want to quit my current job and work full-time in my own business as a marketing consultant making $100,000 by December 31, 2020.
4. Determine what your obstacles are. Your brain will give you these immediately. They will be the excuses that come up as to why you can’t do it. (“I don’t know how to build a website, I don’t know how to market my product/service, I don’t like public speaking, etc.”). Write these down as your actionable steps.
   *Example: Learn how to build a website/Hire a website designer, take a course on marketing/branding, research pricing for consulting services, take a public speaking class, etc.
5. Commit to getting these done.
6. Honor your commitment to yourself. Make yourself and your goals a priority.
7. Rinse and repeat for your other goals.

By far, the hardest step in this process is #6. You decide which goal you want to work on, you write it down with your actionable steps, and you commit to getting it done. But when it comes to actually doing the work, your brain will have all kinds of drama. You don’t feel like it. Nobody’s there to watch the kids. You’re hungry. You need to clean the house. You need to go grocery shopping. You have a headache. You’re tired. You’ve worked all day. All of the things that sound like legitimate reasons. They’re all excuses. Recognize that this is your brain not wanting to do the work. Do it anyway.

Set some goals.

Crush them.

You will need to manage your brain in order to take your life to the next level. So reach out to me when your brain starts the drama. Because it will. And I got you. For free. Request your session here.

Gabrielle, The Thought Trainer