HOW TO SET AND ACHIEVE GOALS THAT HONOR YOUR IDENTITY

Knowing who you are and what you like (your passions) backed with your circumstances, experiences, knowledge, resources, and skills;- play a fundamental role on the type of goals you set.

In this blogpost, we will discover together, how we can set and achieve goals that honors your identity using the following strategies and tools;

• Journaling (Write down your goals )
• SMART framework (make your goals, Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound)
• Vision Board (Make your goals visible)
• Action Plans, (develop a plan to break down your big goals into smaller more achievable steps)
• Pain points, identify potential obstacles and keep a balanced perspective
• Take action (Build positive habits and upbuilding routines that enhance the possibility of achieving your goals)
• Be accountable (seek support from family, friends or a coach)
• Meditation (Reflect and adjust)

Quickie: LEARN HOW TO SET SMART GOALS WITH MY VIP 1:1 GOAL-SETTING COACHING PROGRAM.

Now let us put into practical use the strategies and tools listed above, with a simple exercise;

What are your top 5 goals?

Take a moment, pause, let your mind ponder on this thought-provoking question;- While you reflect on the answer, think about what you want to accomplish and why.

JOURNALING

Journaling is the practice of writing down your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in order to understand them better.

So, grab a pen with a notepad, and put down the thoughts that come to your mind about the goals you want to achieve…

At this point, you may realize that your goals are more than 5 and you’re having difficulty choosing the only ones that matter or you may have written a bunch of generic goals that can be summarized into one big goal, or goals that may not align with your longterm objectives of who you really are.

Whatever your current struggle may be, not to worry… this is the point we apply the SMART framework which can help you set or refine your goals. By using the SMART framework, you can ensure that your goals are well-defined and aligned with your overall mission and purpose. Thus, increasing your motivation and focus which amplifies efforts, with the likelihood of success.

Let’s break down the SMART framework to understand each of its components.

• S – Specific: Ask yourself, what do I want to accomplish, how will I feel about the outcome and why do I desire that outcome? Your goals should be clear and specific, with a clearly defined outcome that helps provide a clear direction for your efforts.
• M – Measurable: How will I know when I have achieved my goal? Your goals should be measurable, with specific metrics that you can use to monitor, track and evaluate your progress.
• A – Attainable: This desired outcome I seek, is it attainable? How can I accomplish this goal? Your goals should be achievable and based on the resources and capabilities available to you. This helps to ensure that the goals you set are realistic and can be accomplished within a reasonable timeframe.
• R – Relevant: Is this goal relevant and worthwhile, does it align with my longterm objectives? Your goals should be relevant and aligned with your longterm goals and objectives.
• T – Time-bound: How long will it take me to achieve this goal? Your goals should have a clearly defined timeframe, with specific deadlines for completion to ensure that progress is tracked and that the goals are accomplished within a reasonable timeframe.

Next, create a visual representation of your goals, and my favorite tool for this strategy is a VISION BOARD.

This is why during the @msjlifestylevisionboard Annual Party that held in December 17th, 2022, I created a vision board to help me stay focused and motivated in achieving my own goals.

Quickie: MSJLIFESTYLE ANNUAL VISION BOARD PARTY is a group coaching event created to encourage personal development and community bonding of like-minds through GOAL-SETTING.

WHAT IS A VISION BOARD?

A vision board is a collage of images, words, quotes and affirmations of a person’s aspirations, dreams and goals designed to serve as a source of inspiration and motivation towards attaining a person’s goals.

Now that we have built a visual representation of our goals, the next point of action is ACTION PLAN

WHAT ARE ACTION PLANS?

Action plans are like roadmaps containing detailed strategies, routines, patterns, methods and habits that outline specific steps and tasks which guide you towards achieving your desired outcome efficiently and effectively. Action plans basically make it possible to break down your larger goals into smaller manageable steps.

During this process of breaking down your larger goals into smaller steps, you will be able to identify potential obstacles that can prevent you from achieving your desired outcome, and these obstacles are known as PAIN POINTS.

COMMON PAIN POINTS THAT CAN THREATEN YOUR GOALS

In my coaching experience, the most common pain point that occurs frequently with my clients are; lack of motivation due to doubt, fear, procrastination, lack of clarity and resources, unrealistic expectations, poor planning and lack of accountability.

LACK OF MOTIVATION DUE TO DOUBT, FEAR AND PROCRASTINATION ; Doubt can make it very challenging for a person to stay focused and committed, the fear of failure can also creep in and prevent you from taking risks or trying new things, leading to procrastination; gradually putting off tasks and actions that may be necessary to achieve your goal.

LACK OF CLARITY; Goals that are unclear and poorly defined, or lack specificity to you as a person can make it difficult to know what actions need to be taken to achieve them.

LACK OF RESOURCES; Insufficient resources, such as time, money, skills and technical know-how can make it very challenging for you to achieve your goals.

UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS; Setting goals that are too ambitious or unrealistic can lead to frustration and disappointment.

POOR PLANNING; Inadequate planning, including a lack of contingency plan can lead to unexpected obstacles and delays.

LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY; Without clear accountability and responsibility, progress towards your goal may stall or be abandoned altogether.

Now that you’ve identified some of the common pain points that can possibly hinder you from achieving your goals, what will you do about it?

TAKE ACTION

Taking action involves, willingly making a conscious decision to take steps towards eliminating the common pain points that can prevent you from reaching your desired outcome, such steps can be as simple as maintaining a healthy routine ( morning and night ) building positive habits, acquiring necessary resources, learning a skill, joining a mentorship program, or even hiring a coach.

BE ACCOUNTABLE

Accountability involves you taking responsibility for your actions and staying committed to achieve the goals you have set. It is important to remember that staying accountable is a key component of success, as it allows you to track your progress and help you make any necessary adjustments along the way… turning your goals, ideas and plans into reality.

Finally, it is time to reflect on your goals through Meditation.

MEDITATION

The practice of meditation can improve your mindset, boost your ability to relax and commit to your goals, it brings a greater mental focus to your goal setting program that can yield more transformative results.

At this point, you should reflect on all the information and strategies you’ve gained through this blogpost, use it to ponder deeply on what goals you would like to achieve.

Quickie : Read about FIVE MISTAKES YOU MUST AVOID WHEN SETTING GOALS

You cannot achieve your goals, however small or big they may be, if your goals are not SMART and you do not have a clear pathway to reaching the desired outcome… because;

A dream written down with a specific timeline becomes a GOAL

A goal broken down into steps becomes a PLAN

A plan backed by action makes your dreams come true.

I hope these strategies help you set Goals effectively and efficiently with Action Plans that will enhance your life and business with time.

Quickie: In a later post we will talk about how knowing your identity affects the choices and goals you make in life. Join our subscribers to stay updated.

Remember;

Listening to or reading research is not going to change your life, Applying the research is what will.

Mel Robbins

How can we work together?

I can help you uncover possible ways to tap into your INNER STRENGTH and WISDOM. Together, we will identify your unique strengths, challenges, and create a personalized plan to help you overcome obstacles, thrive and ENHANCE YOUR LIFE & BUSINESS.

Take your first action and utilize my gift to you by submitting your answers to our SMART DISCOVERY QUESTIONNAIRE and discover how we can work together.

If you find this post helpful, please feel free to share with your friends and loved ones to increase our visibility.

Please share your thoughts or any questions you have about this post or any of our previous posts in the comment section.

Until another share,

Slainte…✨🍃🌹