Goal Setting for Personal Growth
Setting and achieving goals for personal growth can be very satisfying. But setting and failing can be quite frustrating and discouraging, causing us to turn away from setting any future goals. Before committing to your goals, you’ll want to know a few important considerations about your goals that you want to achieve. So ask yourself the following questions and then get quiet and reflect on the answers that come up for you. If you can get connected to your true spirit in this process, you can set the stage for reaching ultimate success!
Is it really your goal?
Are you pursing this goal for some personal reason, and not because it’s what someone else wants you to do? A major cause of goal failure is that we take on the wishes of what other people think we should have, be or do. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with getting input f rom valued family and friends, but it’s important to make sure that when you decide on a goal, it is a goal that you want for yourself.
What are your reasons for wanting to achieve this goal?
Is there clarity for you around why this goal is so important? Do you really know what it is that you hope to gain from achieving this goal? Consider the benefits of your goal in terms of how you’ll feel when you achieve it. Lock that feeling in your mind so you can call it up when you have a s etback or feel discouraged.
To what extent does this goal get you energized?
Goals that are too easy or too hard really don’t work to motivate us. Yes, it’s important that we stretch ourselves with what we think we are capable of achievi ng; challenging is still doable. You will know if a goal is doable because when you imagine the goal and visualize yourself there. If not, the goal may be too difficult or too easy. If it’s too difficult you’ll get easily discouraged by lack of progress and probably give up. If it’s too easy, you may be likely to put it off thinking you can start working on it l ater.
To what extent can you imagine yourself reaching this goal?
A goal that is challenging but achievable, has clear and attractive benefits and is truly your heart felt goal, will be easy to visualize. You should be able to see yourself achieving the goal and enjoying the benefits. If not, change the goal, set an interm goal or go back to step one, reflecting on whether it is really your goal.
