Goal Setting

Setting personal goals is an important step in your journey of purpose. Once you have discovered what you would like to work toward it is important to note how you are going to get there.

The first step to goal setting is to define your goals. One example is to use “The Miracle Question” to discover your goals. Think about what you would like your life to be like in one year from now, 2 years, even 5 years from now. Write it down and describe how others will see you and what will be different. From that description you can define your goals. For example in one to two years you may want to be promoted in your company or finishing college or more personally have developed a relationship with your family, spouse or children. Be descriptive on what those goals look like. Write each of your goals separately.

Once you have written your goals, take each of them one at a time. Think of the steps you require completing to reach your goals. Break these down into daily, weekly, monthly or perhaps tasks to be completed within a year. Write down the tasks to be completed beside the goal starting with your shortest term, such as daily, listing them all the way to the longest term for that goal. Make sure they are doable. For example, taking the goal to finish college: your daily tasks may be to attend all classes as scheduled and complete assigned homework, your monthly goal maybe to meet with a teacher or mentor to discuss your progress. Do not put too much on yourself in a short time such as: writing your thesis in one month – make your tasks realistic and doable given the responsibilities you already have in your life as well as taking into account the rest of your goals. Sometimes it helps to make a list of easy things to achieve in a day such as take your vitamins, make someone smile or connect with an old friend. Make these lists every day so you can check off the tasks as you go through them. Add the other tasks to your daily list as they are due.

The next step is to continually review and modify your goals as you see fit. Leave a space or column for this. If you are having difficulty completing your daily or weekly tasks, evaluate what is happening. Perhaps you have too little time to accomplish all your daily tasks or you are spending too much time on some things and not enough on others. Break down what you are doing, prioritize again and revamp your tasks and goals. Your goal timelines may require adjustment or some of you may decide to put some goals on the back burner for a while. Some tasks may have to be rolled over to the next day week or month. Don’t feel badly if you have not reached a goal – this is what re-evaluation is all about – ensuring that you are moving in the right direction.

Lastly, you may have a long term goal that you are unsure of all the tasks and timelines to complete. It is okay to be unsure of all the tasks as long as you know how you must start. Write it down with your goal under the task section. State the action steps you do know to start toward your goal then write a statement that although you are unsure of all the steps they will become apparent as you begin to work on the beginning phases of your goal. Remember your goals may change as you grow – be flexible.

The journey toward personal growth takes actions such as goal setting. People who write down their goals are much more likely to achieve them. Take time to discover what you would like to work toward and how you will get there. Remember your goals are not the final destinations but many steps along the way in our journey.

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