‘Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success ‘ Pablo Picasso
Goals determine our actions and the course of our lives. Our goals are like a satellite navigation system directing us to our destination . Sometimes there can be detours and rerouting on our journey however it’s important to continue and trust the journey The journey is rarely linear so don’t be surprised when obstacles arise .Successful Individuals continually set goals as this allows them to grow, learn and achieve their potential in life.
Setting effective goals consist of using the project management strategy of curating SMART goals:
Specific -Specify the actions you will take, when and where you will do so and who or what is involved. A specific goal would be booking a holiday by the end of the month within my budget of £3000.
Meaningful- The goal should be guided by your values rather than trying to please others. Identify what your values are in the domains of life such as work, health, family, education and Spirituality/Religion.
Adaptive – Does the goal help you to reach a direction that will improve and enrichen your quality of life?
Realistic – Is the goals realistically achievable? Please consider time restrictions , your health , resources and financial status.
Time-framed – Ensure that your goal is time limited . Set a day , time and date when you expect to achieve it by .’A goal properly set is halfway reached ‘- Zig Ziglar
If you’re struggling to achieve your goals why not try the following strategies:
1. visualise Yourself achieving your goals as this is a form of imaginal exposure which can identify potential blockages and allow you to prepare for them. Visualization can reduce your fear and apprehension in taking steps toward achieving the goals.
2. Be accountable and share your goals with someone close that you can check in with regularly
3. Evaluate your goals regularly to ensure they’re realistic , attainable and precise . If not readjust the goal and maybe reduce it to smaller more manageable goals
4.Identify what thoughts or images are barriers to goal attainment and reframe these alongside identifying thinking biases such as jumping to conclusions or catastrophizing
5. Identify what emotions are averting you from achieving the goals and practice tolerating and accepting the emotional distress
If you are struggling with achieving your life goals and would like assistance in gaining clarity feel free to get in contact or send an email on info @raphatherapyservices.com
Martina Witter
Accredited Cognitive Behaviour Therapist