Write It down | Personal Goal Setting

THE GIOIA WELL TEAM

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln

WRITE IT DOWN

Every day we have so many thoughts racing in our minds. We also have lots of responsibilities in life with work and family obligations. It can be overwhelming and stressful. Instead, we put a lot of things on the back burner and live life on autopilot.

Is there something you want to accomplish, but you don't know where to begin? Does it seem impossible or unattainable? Are you worried about what others will think? Are you concerned about failure or about being in the spotlight? The hesitation is understandable; it can be uncomfortable stepping outside of your comfort zone, but we also feel that it's more painful knowing that you want to accomplish something in life but don't due to fear or a lack of confidence.

Writing down your goals creates a picture in your mind about how you want your future to unfold. It helps you to gain clarity and understand the difference achieving the goal will make in your life. When you see something clearly, it will give you direction. With this in mind, we are more likely to be productive and creative as achieving the goal will transform our lives. Writing your goals down is essential regardless if it’s big or small. Direction and clarity are golden.

Writing down your goals is effective because there is a brain-to-hand connection that happens. It helps anchor the goal to your mind, and once it’s there, it takes root. You are setting yourself up for success.

DON’T GET CAUGHT UP IN THE MINUTIAE OR OTHERS OPINIONS

Let's address this now, as it can put up significant roadblocks and hamper any attempt to set up your goals and accomplish them. Are you concerned about how you will achieve your goal? Are you worried about what others will think as you are trying to achieve your goal or when you accomplish it? Don't. Just don't. Don't let this stop you from going after what you truly want to better yourself or your quality of life. Don't worry about the details on how you will accomplish the goal or what others will think. Remember, this is about you and the quality of life you want for yourself.

The truth is, there isn't and will never be a perfect time to start something. There will always be an excuse you can use not to fulfill your goal when you think about it. Another truth is, regardless of what you do in life, you will always have someone who likes to voice their opinion and be hypercritical of your choices. Usually, when someone is critical of you, they are insecure, and this criticism is really about how they feel about themselves; it's on them, not you. You don't need their approval or permission to move forward in life.

There is zero shame in wanting better in life. If you are concerned about your abilities in accomplishing your goal, remember, if you earnestly want to do something, you will find the resources or information needed. You will find them. Writing down what you desire makes your decisions more straightforward. When you are clear, your path unfolds.

There are a lot of different opinions about sharing your goals or keeping them to yourself. We feel it depends on your unique situation. If privacy is of concern, and you do not have a positive support system in your life, it's more than acceptable to have boundaries and keep your goals private. It's better to avoid negative comments that could hurt your success.

GETTING STARTED - BRAINSTORM

If you want to set goals, a great way to get started is to write them down. It doesn't have to be complicated. You can begin the process by brainstorming; get out a notebook or journal and start jotting down what comes to mind - don't hold back. You don't need to worry about your grammar or having it written in a specific format; write out everything you would like to accomplish. Also, at this stage, don't worry about the priority of the goal. Simply writing it down at this stage is good enough.

Once you have your list written, start to look for common themes. Did you write down several goals that share a similar topic? Decide if you should group them into the same category. For example, if you wrote down a fitness goal and a nutrition goal, they could be placed together under the health umbrella. If you have a job goal and an education goal, they could easily fall under the topic of career or finances.

Keep your brainstorm list, don't throw it out. It will come in handy later on in your journey, and it's fun to look back on your goal-setting process down the road.

EASE YOUR WAY IN - PICK FIVE GOALS

When starting, selecting five goals from your list is an excellent way to get started, and it will help you gain confidence. It's a great way to ease yourself into doing something new. When reviewing your original brainstorming list, look over it carefully and determine what you want to focus on right away. What would help you feel better about yourself or improve your life at this very moment in time? It doesn't matter if it's a small goal; if it's something that would make you feel better about yourself, then it is just as important as a bigger goal. Put down your top five goals in your journal. Prioritize them accordingly.

When you have made your selection, work on refining your goals, making them measurable and actionable; assign a due date if needed.

REVIEW YOUR GOALS ON A REGULAR BASIS

Record your goals in your journal and review them regularly. This frequency can be once a day or once a week. Whatever keeps you on track or accountable. You might want to tweak your goals from time to time as you are tracking your progress. Since these goals are new, you should be open-minded with your plans or timelines. You could quickly uncover further information on accomplishing your goal more effectively or find that you need more time to complete it. That’s fine and to be expected. Remember, it's essential to be firm on your desired result, but it's also necessary to be flexible on how you get there.

As you accomplish one goal, replace it in your journal with a new one; keep it going!

CHANGING YOUR MIND IS A SIGN OF PROGRESS TOO

If you review your goals regularly, you might find one you no longer want to accomplish. You had initially liked it, but for whatever reason, you decide after planning; it’s just not for you. That is a sign of progress. If you are in the middle of accomplishing a specific goal and decide through the process that you want to go in a different direction, that is also a sign of progress and success. Stop, and adjust your goal accordingly.

The wonderful thing here is that you are learning and growing. This is your life, and when it comes to your goals, you have every right to change your mind if you decide they will not serve & enrich your circumstances. Please don’t waste any more time focusing on it; cross it off your list and focus on your next goal.

Do you write your goals down? If so, are there any tips you'd like to share? We'd love to hear. Comment below to let us know.

Bene Vivere!

Gioia Well Team

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