With 2024 about to begin, I’m going to explore the idea of setting goals. Being a life coach, I find it inherent to set short, medium and long term goals for myself. It’s interesting how we are all so unique in our approach to them. For some clients, the beginning of a new year represents the most powerful time to consider goal setting. Some individuals feel they can only set new goals on a Monday, at the start of week and if they divert away from the goal, they give up on it until the next Monday comes around. Naturally, each one of us are shaped by our mindsets and there is a spectrum of goal setting approaches.
Is there an ideal time for setting new goals? I encourage individuals to connect with their thoughts and feelings around their goals as there are, in my experience, several factors to take into consideration.
I tend to blend goal setting theories by Zig Zaglar, Lock and Latham and Smart Goals when working with clients to fit their needs. Timing is one element to consider for the success of your goal and sensing when you’re ready to go will set you up to achieve.
Initially, there is an important stage of contemplation. A period when you take time to explore your goal and clearly identify it. Pausing to find clarity and allowing the concepts of the goal to grow in your thoughts which will begin to embed them in your mind. How do you feel about it? When can you apply it? What obstacles are in the way? What new skills may you need? How important is the goal? Brainstorming around your goal will help you to visualise the outworking of it along with the feasibility and tasks involved to make it happen.
The next step can often be to list all the benefits. Most of us struggle with doubts and fears. Our internal critic will always find a reason to prevent us from achieving and gaining mastery, which is a blog for another day.
By listing all the benefits, it will support you to focus on the reasons, increasing your desire, motivation, and resilience. I invite clients to daily repeat, reflect and list these reasons to reinforce and develop the new thought patterns, leading to the thoughts feeling more natural instead of intentional.
Aligning your goals with your values is not a step to be missed. Does your goal fit in with what you hold as important and support your beliefs? Being congruent and true to yourself will align your goal. An example of this could be if your goal is to lose weight, will you follow a strict controlled diet, reconnect with your body and its natural rhythm of hunger and fullness, or follow a fasting approach? If you would like to start a new career, does the line of work match your values? Establishing your goal upon your values, will set a strong foundation.
Checking that you are following the Smart Goals theory will consolidate your ideas so far.
Get creative and put together your plan of action. This may involve booking onto a course to gain the skills you need, joining a club, applying for a new job and much more. Linking all the thoughts you’ve processed into actions, will give you mini action goals for your journey.
Be your own coach and celebrate each milestone en route. Give yourself feedback and measure your achievement. If you are unfamiliar with successful goal setting, then seek guidance from others who are.
Whichever path is right for you, be sure to do it. Procrastination can rob you of happiness and satisfaction, deterring you from your dreams and sense of fulfilment.
There is a verse in the bible which says, ‘Hope deferred makes the man’s heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life’ (Proverbs 13:12).
Hope leads to dreaming what is possible, which in turn can lead to ideas, to goals, and to actions. Without hope, I believe depression and unhappiness can creep in.
