Effective Tips For Goal Setting; The Keys for Self Development
Self-improvement and self-development are vital parts of our existence. And there is a constant need to strive for both. There are numerous ways to work on self-improvement and self-development. Still, goal setting is one of the most effective ways to actualize success. Having a goal gives you a compass to navigate the challenges and obstacles that life would dish out occasionally. When you have a goal, you have a map you can revisit and get your proper bearings.
Goals also act as a source of motivation while ensuring you stay focused and stick to your plans. Although goal setting can be a bit stressful, it has its rewards. It is a useful guide that is needed in every aspect of our individual lives.
In other to make goals work for you, it needs to be clear, precise, and specific. There are five effective goal-setting principles. They are task complexity, commitment, clarity, feedback, and challenge.
What Is Your Motivation?
When it comes to goal setting, formulating them, keeping them somewhere in your head is not enough. Actualizing your goals comes from writing them down and visualizing them daily. This brings us to the aspects of motivation and goal setting. There are times when you set a goal and quit before you actualize your targets. In such situations, motivation, willpower, and willingness come into play. These three factors will help you change, track your behavior, and give you the push to go for it.
These three factors play a crucial role in helping you create SMART Goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely) goals.
How To Determine Your Goals
Goals are not specific to one stage of your life. You can set goals at any stage of your life. From broad goals that revolving around relationships, health, and career, to smaller goals involving learning how to ride a bike, each is important in its own way. So this begs the question, how can one determine their goals.
First things first, you have to identify your interests and passion. Often times you can look back on your childhood to get a clear picture of some of the things you liked growing up. Look back on some things that always excite you and things you’ve always wanted to do. These ideas would help you generate ideas that will help you identify your goals.
Next is to ask yourself the ultimate question, “WHY?”
Why is this goal important? Why would it be beneficial to me? For example, if you want to lose weight, setting reasonable goals that answer the question “why” will help you actualize your ultimate goal much faster. To identify your why, ask yourself these questions:
- Why is losing some weight vital to me?
- Why is that point important?
- Why do I want to do it?
The why would show you if you can apply the SMART strategy to your goal.
Strategies To Reaching Your Goals
- Set your goals with positive words
- Start with the end in mind, but do not ignore the process
- Make a personal deal
- Visualize your results
- Create a specific plan
- Have a support system
