Commit to Your Goals

 

   “As simple as it sounds, the question, what are goals, is a very important question to answer if making the best out of our daily lives is something of great concern.

     Anyone will assume they already know what goals are, they’ve probably been setting goals all their lives. However, when we get too familiar with certain concepts, we tend to forget their real meaning and essence. Hence, it is not surprising that people set many goals but achieve too little.

     When you don’t understand what goals are or what they are meant to be, you might scribble anything on paper and call them goals and then get frustrated when you fail to achieve them.” https://www.lifehack.org/863723/what-are-goals   And so starts the article: “What are Goals?  Achieve More By Changing Your Perspectives.”  You may want to read more of it at the link above.

     However, have you ever set a goal and not achieved it?  Most people have.  In fact, it’s quite common for people to get stuck in an endless cycle of setting goals and then quitting them shortly afterwards – and accomplishing nothing at all.  You may be familiar with everyone making those “New Year resolutions.”  How many of those are ever kept beyond a few months (if that)!

     Why do people do this?  One of the biggest reasons is a lack of commitment to their goal.  Without commitment a goal will gradually shrink in importance, and the temptation to quit will seem much more attractive, especially when obstacles cause setbacks and delays.

      On the other hand, if you make a serious commitment and then continually remind yourself of it, you’ll be much more likely to persevere and achieve the goal.  This applies to ANY goals whether they are large or small!  But how can this be done?

     Here’s how to commit to your goals:

1)         First and foremost, you have to make sure that every goal you set is of VITAL importance to you.  This can be tricky because we so often fool ourselves into thinking we want one thing when we want something entirely different.  Take some time with this part of the process, and be sure that you get to the heart of what you really want.  Why do you want it?  What will it do for you?  What positive things will it bring to your life?  How will it help you?  How will it make you feel when it’s accomplished?  There may be many others questions you will want to consider regarding your personal goals.  Make sure you spend the time to think about what they might be

     Then, write them all of this down, along with your answers, and keep them handy so you can refer to it as often as necessary if you feel your commitment beginning to slip. 

     Also ask yourself if your goal is worth the effort and sacrifice that will be needed to achieve it.  If you can honestly answer yes, you are on the way! 

2)         Think about what will happen if you don’t follow through.  Would nothing much happen if you don’t achieve your goal?  If not, then you need to raise the stakes!  You have to make your goal the most important thing in the world, and if you don’t do it, you’ll deal with negative consequences.  Even if you have to indulge in a bit of “make believe” in order to do this, do it.  For example, play up the fact that you’ll lose respect for yourself if you don’t follow through; or you might agree to give up something you love if you don’t make it happen.  You want to conceive of the circumstances that will result if you fail to achieve EACH of your specific goals.

3)         Then, each and every day, renew your commitment.  It’s easy to be committed when your goal is new and your motivation is high, but you need to be able to STAY committed – no matter what!  That is so often the problem with those “New Year resolutions” that are at the top of our list of accomplishments come January 1^st, but by the end of February, they are forgotten. Each day when you awaken, read through the goal you wrote down on the first day, and stress again how vitally important it is to you.  Promise yourself that you’re going to do as much as you can to work on your goal that day, and every day until you achieve it.

     When it comes right down to it, no other person can achieve your goals for you.  If you want to achieve them, you’ll have to find the determination necessary to keep going.  Inactivity and procrastination are usually nothing more than bad habits.  Turning those habits into something more positive and productive is as simple as taking it a one day at a time and working your hardest to change your life.  The more committed and determined you are to making your goal happen, the more likely you’ll do just that.  However, we always have that self-doubt working against us, because we’re only human! 

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"If you don't know where you're going,

how will you know when you get there?"