8 Goal Setting Strategies

1. Get clear on the What and the Why
   • To decide What you want to do create a Vision Board. To do this grab a stack of magazines and cut out pictures of all the things you want to do or be in your life - all the dreams and desires you can imagine and stick these on a large piece of paper. Once completed hang on a wall for your continued inspiration. As you do this think about Why you want to achieve these. How will you feel when you achieve it? What will be different in your life? How will it benefit you? Write this down.
   • If you don’t want to do a Vision Board then just write down all the things you want to do and achieve.
   • If you are unsure what you want then here are some questions to start:
   • What would make me happy in my life? What do I want more of?
     What is it that I want to have said I’ve done before I die? What currently makes me annoyed or unhappy - and choose the opposite.
     
     
2. Put pen to paper - from your own ideas or a vision board select just 1 or 2 goals for the next 3 months. Write goals in a special journal or put on the wall to look at daily. Write these in a specific way. For example - lose 3 kg by end of June 2010 measured by bathroom scales.
   
   
3. Be realistic - make sure the goals are achievable. There is no point in stretching yourself too far or the opposite not stretching far enough. Make sure you believe the goal is achievable but you know there is some work involved.
   
   
4. Buddy support - share the experience and get some support. You don’t have to do this alone. You could find someone to achieve the goal with you especially if it’s a sporting goal. Joining a club is a great way to get support. Or ask a friend to support you. Arrange regular meetings to discuss your progress and keep you on track.
   
   
5. Feel it - emotionally connect - what will it feel like when you have achieved your goal? This is probably the most important aspect of achieving goals. Take some quiet time and really feel into what it will feel like and look like to achieve your goals. Smile and feel the success.
   
   
6. Deal with Resistances - take the time to explore what is happening, why the apathy, sabotage or avoidance etc. This can be tricky. And this is where your support people or activities can really support you through this.
   
   
7. Create a plan of action - bite size steps with celebration points along the way. Decide what are the steps to creating this goal? Break it right down in detail. Nothing is too small to write up. In this plan put dates by each action. Break the dates into days and weeks. At the end of each week or fortnight write down what part of your goal you have achieved. For instance by end of week 5 have lost 1 kg in weight.
   
   
8. Visualise and Feel your desired outcome daily. It’s about following your plan and every day visualising and feeling your success. Choose a set time each day to do this.