Have your goals been elusive? Setting and achieving goals is as much about persistence as it is about creativity. As the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Taking a step or two each day toward your goals and objectives will go a long way toward helping you achieve them.
Whether your goals and objectives are major life-changing ones or simple incremental improvements, be sure to achieve your goals by taking a step or two each day using these easily implemented goal setting tips.
To-do List, a Basic Goal Setting Tool
The ubiquitous to-do list is a wonderful tool for achieving today's goals as well as making small, daily steps forward toward big, future goals. List your goals for the day, then rearrange them putting the two or three most important, must-do, goals at the top. Skip a few lines to emphasize your top goal's importance, and arrange the remaining goals in declining order of importance.
When an item is completed, cross it off or highlight it to signify it's completed. This feedback is satisfying and important to successful goal achievement. At the very top of the list, place your intention word for the year (see Intention Word below)
Intention Journal for Daily Goal Achievement
Emily van Sonnenberg describes a goal setting tool she developed, the intention journal ("Ready, Set, Goals!" Positive Psychology News Daily, January 3, 2011). The intention journal is a basic version of the to-do list, with a couple of wrinkles.
van Sonnenberg's intention journal instructions follow:
- Immediately upon awakening—even before putting on coffee or using the bathroom—quiet your mind with a brief meditation.
- Once your mind is quiet, ask yourself, "What do I want to achieve today?"
- Write the desired achievement in the journal by completing the sentence, "I intend to (your intention) today.
- At the end of the day, review your intention journal and mark a plus or minus sign by the intention based on whether you achieved your intention (+), made progress (+), or failed to achieve it (-).
In van Sonnenberg's research studies, she found that students who set specific, difficult, and achievable goals and gave themselves feedback each night achieved their goals ninety-two percent more often than others.
Intention Word to Retain Focus on Goals
Author and motivational speaker Jon Gordon ("Jon Gordon's Weekly Newsletter," January 17, 2011) suggests another basic goal setting tool which can be combined with the to-do list and intention journals described above.
Gordon describes a tip called "just one word," a goal setting process by the authors of Wisdom Walks (Summerside Press, 2010). Just-one-word is a goal setting tool to focus your intentions for an entire year. The originators of just-one-word suggest coming up with one word each year which will give meaning and focus to your life.
Keeping this one word in mind throughout the year keeps you focused and helps you return to that intention throughout the year as you deal with everyday life's events and problems. Write your intention word at the top of each day's to-do list and intention journal page.
Positive Affirmations for Goal Achievement
Positive affirmations are powerful tools that will help you achieve your goals and objectives. A properly formatted powerful positive affirmation can serve as a daily intention in your journal. Or use an affirmation incorporating your intention word to strengthen your focus on this year's intention.
For maximum effectiveness, affirmations must conform to a specific format. Improperly crafted affirmations can actually sabotage your goal setting efforts. Use the free workbook, Positive Affirmations to Power Your Goals, to learn the proper format for powerful positive affirmations.
Jerry Lopper - IPPA member, business and engineering degrees. Jerry's passion for personal development shows in 5 books, hundreds of articles & ...
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