Are you setting conscious goals? Look closely at the present you are constructing. It should look like the future you are dreaming of. Everyday you are choosing your destiny. You already started choosing your destiny this morning. Did you begin the day on autopilot or by conscious design? Checked out? Or intentional? That choice is leading you somewhere. Ten years from now make sure you can say you chose your life and didn’t settle for it. 

Are your goals aligned

with what’s truly

meaningful to you?

It’s important to get clear on the WHY for your goals. You need to set meaningful goals in order to stay engaged with them. Aligned goals are based on your values, who you want to be and what you want your life to look like. Often, we choose goals that aren’t grounded in our values. And more often than not, what keeps us from moving forward is our lack of knowing what we truly want for ourselves.

What are your

true values?

The first step in setting long-term goals that you’ll be motivated to hit is to define your core values. Choose a few values that are most important to you and connected to your heart. Here are some examples of values (you can choose values that are not on this list that fit you better):

  • Responsibility
  • Faith
  • Honor
  • Trust
  • Freedom
  • Honesty
  • Achievement
  • Boldness
  • Compassion
  • Creativity
  • Knowledge
  • Learning
  • Leadership
  • Recognition
  • Stability

It’s easy to say you want to save more money or that you want to plan for retirement. But unclear comments like that won’t get you the desired results you are looking for. If you want to create real change, you need to get specific. Start by identifying a clear outcome that you want to become more intentional about reaching. 

Ready to set new goals for yourself and actually follow through with them? Below are tips to help you along the journey.

Set the right goals

for yourself & ask

yourself these questions

when setting goals:

  • What exactly do you want?
  • What would be the outcome of achieving this?
  • What will get in the way of achieving this outcome?
  • How will you work through these obstacles?
  • What do you want your life to look like?
  • What do you want to be known for?
  • What’s most important right now?
  • Why do I want to achieve this?
  • Is this a should?
  • Is this in alignment with my values?
  • Will this matter in 1 year?

We also recommend using the SMART Method:

  • Specific: Is my goal specific?
  • Measurable: Can I measure my progress? How will I know when my goal is achieved?
  • Attainable: Is this actually something that can be achieved?
  • Relevant: Is this relevant to my life and in alignment with my overall vision?
  • Timely: Can I set a due date?

Seeing your goal in writing makes it real. Write down your goal and store it in a place where you’ll be able to look at it. Make it your phone wallpaper or put up on your fridge with a magnet. 

Once you have defined your long-term goals that are in alignment with your true self, break your long-term goals down into short-term tasks. Breaking large goals into smaller, makes them feel more realistic. It also gives you direction instead of making you feel overwhelmed.

Find a way to track your progress. You’ll be more likely to stay motivated when you’re tracking the progress you’re making toward your goals. 

Be adaptable and keep the big picture in mind. When an opportunity presents itself to you, ask yourself if it will help you reach your goal. This can ensure that you’re staying open to new opportunities that might not have been part of your original plan. 

Becoming intentional you run the risk of missing the opportunities right in front of your face because your head is down working on your goals. People sometimes sabotage themselves because they want to reach their goals according to the exact plan they had pictured. So while it’s important to be focused on your goal, it’s equally important to look at the big picture.

Avoid perfectionism by getting comfortable with uncertainty. Being comfortable with feeling uncomfortable is key to hitting your goals. One of the biggest reasons we give up on working towards our long-term goals is that our inner communication gets in the way. Perfectionism and your inner critic can kill your motivation. To keep moving towards your goal, you need to realize that you won’t have all the answers on your first effort and you’re going to make mistakes. Mistakes mean you are learning and growing, embrace the mistakes. Working towards a big goal often means embracing some level of vulnerability. The consequences of mistakes and failure aren’t as extreme as we make them out to be. Reframe the fear of uncertainty as excitement and use the beginner’s mind. As a beginner, you’re excited and open to all paths. Approach the goal as a beginner would. Ignore your expectations and embrace the process.

As you encounter roadblocks on your journey to success, think back to these tips to overcome obstacles and stay focused. You have everything you need inside you already. Good luck from your friends at Vision Martial Arts!

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