What is your goal in life?
Do you have a sense of direction?
Sometimes we move through life without stopping to ask ourselves these questions. We wake up, go to work, take care of our responsibilities, pay our bills, and go to sleep. Then we wake up and do it all over again.
But are we actually moving toward the life we want?
Goals can give us something many of us need: clarity and direction. Goal setting is the process of deciding what you want to achieve over a particular period of time (Cambridge Dictionary, n.d.).
Imagine Your Best Life
Let’s try something.
If you can, close your eyes.
Imagine that you have a magical wand that can create the life you’ve always wanted.
What would your life look like?
Where would you live?
What would you be doing?
Who would be around you?
How would you feel?
Maybe you see yourself living in a beautiful log house in the mountains.
Maybe you see yourself traveling the world.
Maybe you see yourself owning a successful business.
Maybe you see yourself in a peaceful home, surrounded by people you love.
Or maybe your dream isn’t about money or possessions at all.
Maybe your greatest goal is simply to have peace.
Whatever you imagined, that vision can become the beginning of a goal.
Turn Your Vision Into a Plan
Having a goal is only the beginning.
To move toward that goal, you need a plan.
But achieving something we truly want often requires more than simply deciding that we want it. Obtaining the things we want in life can be challenging and may require hard work, consistency, and sacrifice. James Clear (2013) explains that setting a goal is only part of the challenge; achieving it also requires being willing to accept the sacrifices and trade-offs involved.
Think about that log house in the mountains.
You probably can’t wake up tomorrow and magically have the house.
There are steps between where you are today and where you want to be.
Maybe you need to save money.
Maybe you need to increase your income.
Maybe you need to pay off debt.
Maybe you need to research where you want to live.
Maybe you need to learn new skills.
Those are the smaller goals that can eventually help you reach the larger goal.
Big goals are often accomplished through small steps.
Give Yourself a Deadline
Another important part of goal setting is giving yourself a reasonable deadline.
Instead of saying:
“Someday I’m going to do this.”
Try saying:
“I will accomplish this by this date.”
Then break the goal down.
By this date: I will complete this step.
By this date: I will complete the next step.
By this date: I will evaluate my progress.
Writing your goals down can make them feel more concrete and give you something specific to work toward.
But remember: a deadline should motivate you, not overwhelm you.
Give yourself a reasonable amount of time.
What If Your Plan Changes?
Here’s something important to remember:
Plans change.
Life happens.
You may lose a job.
A relationship may end.
Your financial situation may change.
Your priorities may change.
You may discover that what you thought you wanted isn’t what you want anymore.
That doesn’t mean you failed.
It means you may need a new plan.
When your circumstances change, reassess your goal.
Ask yourself:
Is this still what I want?
If the answer is yes, create a new plan.
If the answer is no, give yourself permission to create a different goal.
Changing your direction isn’t necessarily failure.
Sometimes it is growth.
Don’t Be Afraid to Dream
Sometimes we limit ourselves before we ever give ourselves the opportunity to try.
We tell ourselves:
“I can’t do that.”
“I’m too old.”
“I don’t have enough money.”
“It’s too late.”
“People like me don’t do things like that.”
But what if you stopped telling yourself why you can’t and started asking:
“What would I need to do to make this possible?”
You may not be able to accomplish your goal overnight.
You may encounter setbacks.
You may have to change your plan several times.
But that doesn’t mean you should stop moving forward.
Take it one step at a time.
One day at a time.
One goal at a time.
Your Life Is Still Being Written
You may not be where you want to be today.
That’s okay.
Your current circumstances do not have to be your final destination.
Take some time to imagine the life you want.
Write it down.
Break it into smaller goals.
Create a plan.
Give yourself reasonable deadlines.
And when life changes your plans, don’t give up.
Create a new plan.
Your journey doesn’t have to look exactly the way you imagined it.
You just have to keep moving toward the life you want.
So I’ll ask you again:
What is your goal in life?
And more importantly:
What is one small step you can take today to get closer to it?
Start there.
One step.
Then another.
And another.
Your future is built one decision at a time.
References
Cambridge Dictionary. (n.d.). Goal setting. Cambridge University Press.
Clear, J. (2013). Goal setting: A scientific guide to setting and achieving goals. James Clear.