3 THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN SETTING YOUR GOALS
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I used to think that goals were more important than anything else in the world…
Like, if I wasn’t working toward achieving a goal, then what was the point?
Can you see how backward my thinking was?!
I’m a BIG dreamer and I LOVE goals. But, I also know that there is more to life than achieving a single goal.
So, I let go of achieving my goals and instead started focusing on 2 things…
The action instead of the outcome
My priorities in life
Here’s what I want you to know about your goals…
They don’t matter to ANYONE but you. And if they matter to someone other than yourself, then they’re probably not YOUR goals.
A few years ago, I learned this the hard way. I had this “goal” of hitting a new rank in my network marketing business. When (or if) I hit this rank, I would qualify for a company-paid-for car and would achieve an income level that would probably more than double my former teaching salary.
It was something I definitely wanted, but I was also feeling pressured to hit that goal in a certain timeline.
And let me tell you, that timeline was short - and pretty unachievable. But, I knew that if I hit that goal, it would not only help me (+ my family - HELLO pay raise!), but it would also help several other people hit their goals as well.
But, here’s the one thing that I would have to do in order to hit that goal…
I would have to sacrifice my family. I would have to break promises I made with them in order to achieve this goal.
And the actions I would have to take to hit this goal in the timeline (set by someone else, mind you) meant doing some things that went against my integrity. It would allow me to hit the goal in the time I wanted to hit it, but it was taking out vital action steps in order for me to hit it - and sustain it.
Ready to know what happened?
I didn’t achieve that goal. And I felt like a complete failure. Like I let down people who were counting on me. I was ashamed.
Friend, let me tell you, your goals should NEVER make you feel…
❌ less than
❌ undeserving
❌ like a failure
If you feel like that after you don’t achieve a goal, then I have a feeling you were focusing on the OUTCOME instead of the ACTION.
Next time you set a goal, I want you to do these 3 things…
ONE || Write down the action you need to take in order to achieve that goal
Your goal is the BIG PICTURE, but there are things you need to do in order to make that happen. If you’re focusing on the goal instead of the action, it would be like getting married without going through the steps of dating, engagement, planning, etc.
Spend less time focusing on your goal and more time focusing on the ACTIONS you need to take to achieve that goal.
TWO || Erase (or delete) the timeline
I know when it comes to SMART goals, they tell you to have a timeline or that it should be time-sensitive. I totally understand that because I am definitely someone who works better when I have a due date. But, honestly, the timeline shouldn’t matter - and really, it’s an arbitrary date anyway.
However, what I DON’T want you to do is think, “Oh, I don’t have a date I need to achieve this by, so I’m going to wait to get started.”
Well, that totally defeats the purpose. Stop focusing on the timeline and start focusing on taking those action steps instead.
THREE || Write down your top 3 priorities when it comes to achieving your goals
I know this sounds a little weird, but I think it’s important that we are focusing on the right things FIRST before we focus on our goals. We live in a world that is all about hustle, busyness, and success… all at the sacrifice of what’s ACTUALLY important in our lives.
If you have goals but you’re achieving them at the sacrifice of your priorities - whether that’s your time, your family, or your sanity - then what’s the point of actually achieving your goal?
Because what is actually going to bring fulfillment in your life…
Achieving your goals - or - Keeping your time and your family your number one priority?!