Goal Realization Its All in
the Follow-Through
Goal setting is one thing, following through is
quite another. How many of us have set New Year's resolution to eat
better, exercise more, and become all-around more dynamic and
healthy people? We start off with high hopes and loads of
motivation, but soon enough the minutia of everyday life seem to
interfere and make our goals increasingly difficult to achieve.
The truth is that articulating your goals is an important first
step, but actually achieving them is the real stuff of life. There
is no feeling quite like setting a goal, and then setting upon
steadily achieving it. In fact, most people who have been
successful at setting and achieving their goals will tell you that
the process is more important than the final result. That old
saying, it appears, rings true: the journey really is more
important than the destination. For it is in
the journey, process, or whatever you would like to
call it, that you learn how to work. In the process of achieving
your goals, you will confront your greatest strengths and
weaknesses, you will find out who your friends are, as opposed to
people who would prefer to see you languish. If you're ready to set
off on your own personal journey to achieve your goals, here are a
few suggestions to get you started.
Perhaps the first thing you can do to set off on realizing your
goal is also one of the simplest things you will do. Take out a pad
of paper and pen and write down your goals. Be specific. Do you
want to lose ten pounds by March? Open a new restaurant? Go to
graduate school? Make a list. Be bold and think big. Remember that
no one will see this list except for you. This simple stepwriting
things downcan be a surprisingly powerful tool on the road to
achieving your goals. Most people have goals, but they are usually
rather hazy, hovering at the margins of their minds, never quite
coming into fruition. Writing your ideas down forces you to
confront your desires, to be specific about what you want, and how
you can go about achieving your goals. Simply articulating your
goals is quite powerful, but that is only the first step on your
journey.
In order to realize your goals, you will have to master the art of
commitment. Commitment is not something you can decide to do.
Rather, it is something you cultivate through the steady process of
your work. If you pursue the right kind of goals, commitment will
be less of a problem. What are the 'right' types of goals? The
right kind of goal for you is the goal that you have carried with
you for a long time, maybe all your life. It is something you have
always wanted to do, but resisted pursuing because you were afraid
of falling flat on your face, or maybe you considered yourself too
busy, too short on resources. The truth is that no matter how you
rationalize it, there is no truly validating excuse for not
pursuing your goals. Once you come to terms with your goals, you
must consciously decide to pursue them. With this decision comes
the work of commitment. If you are pursuing goals that truly matter
to you, the commitment part should come a bit easier.
Even the most committed dreamer will come upon roadblocks. For
those moments of doubt, confusion, or just plain tiredness, there
are certain tricks you can use to get you over these rough patches.
One of the most important things to remember is that it really is
just a rough patch. Everyone goes through periods where his or her
goals appear insurmountable. One of the easiest ways you can get
past these moments is to give yourself a deadline, especially if
you tend to procrastinate. Giving yourself an allotted amount of
time to achieve your goal can be a great motivator. Many times, the
pressure of having a deadline hanging over your head can be just
enough to keep you moving. That being said, you must be specific
about your goal. Don't say, "I will go back to school sometime in
the next five years," or "I will lose ten pounds by summertime." Be
specific! Take out your calendar and choose a date that gives you a
reasonable amount of time to accomplish your goal. Tell yourself,
"I will go back to school in the fall semester," or "I will lose 15
pounds by June 1st." You are much more likely to realize your goal
if you are specific and give yourself a reasonable but firm
deadline.
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