Last week I talked about how to clarify your goal, how to put your focus on what the end goal will really do for you, and to put your attention on the steps that will lead you to success in my 7-step Foolproof System for Achieving Your Goals.
Sometimes getting what you want isn’t as easy as knowing what you want though. Today I’ll share steps 4-7 and teach you how to shift your mindset, acknowledge any objections, how to grow from setbacks, and who to enlist for support.
The 7-Step Foolproof SYSTEM for Achieving Your Goals
4. Shift your mindset. Many people believe that when they get a new job, when they lose 10lbs, when they move to a new home . . . then they will be happy. Usually unconsciously, their brain is saying “Until X happens, you don’t have permission to feel you’re good enough, worthy enough, pretty enough, smart enough, etc.”
Reality check: the grass isn’t greener on the other side. You have the power to be happy right now. Life isn’t about being perfect. It’s natural and necessary that we desire to be better. Make a conscious shift from your self-assigned ‘perfection ultimatums’ and come from the place of being the best you that you can be. When you do you’ll take a lot of stress and pressure of yourself.
5. Acknowledge what is. There may be part of you that doesn’t feel it’s safe to reach your goal and it’s OK if there are parts of you that object. Acknowledge these thoughts and feelings when they come up. They have really good reasons for protecting you so ask yourself “What might be in jeopardy if I followed though?” By bringing awareness to what’s at risk, you’ll identify the things you need to resolve in order for you to feel good about moving forward.
6. Embrace your new motto: Failure is only Feedback. It’s true that if you go for it, you might fail trying. That’s OK! Some goals are easier to reach than others. Often we can do it on our own (Hooray Personal Power!), other times we have great difficulty making it happen.
Don’t be discouraged. It’s hard to say exactly how many attempts Edison made before he figured out the light bulb. But obviously, because he never gave up, he eventually did. He had a vision for electric light and let nothing stop him. He used his failed attempts as feedback as to what didn’t work and kept trying something different. You can do the same.
7. Enlist support. If you’re not sure what steps you need to achieve your goal or if you need someone to hold you accountable, enlist support. You can ask a family member, friend or colleague for help and often times that works out very well. Make sure you choose someone who believes in your dream and will inspire you to stay committed. There’s no reason to go it alone. Life is more fun when you’re with people who love you and want to see you grow.
Keep in mind that the more challenging the goal is, the more you may benefit from working with a skillfully trained coach. Part of the coach’s job is to train and educate, but it’s also to provide support and accountability. A really good coach will ask you the right questions so you can come up with the right answers yourself. Hey, who doesn’t like to be right?! We usually like our own ideas best so working with a coach is often a perfect solution because they help you stay motivated from within.
If you experience resistance to any of these steps that could be an indication that that particular area really needs your attention. One of my core beliefs is ‘What you resist, persists.’ Stop resisting and go for it. I know you can do this!