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Goal Setting And How To Achieve Your Goals
Tips From A Life Coach
Richard Gumsley
Goals - we have a love-hate relationship with goals. We
love them because they are such a great idea and are a superb
way to motivate us to achieve and then to evaluate our progress;
but we hate them, because for much of the time, they go unattained
and simply frustrate us. This isn't what goals should do!
Having been a Life Coach for many years now I would like to
suggest some straightforward and practical techniques on how
you can set goals you can achieve! After all, what good is
a goal if it isn't something you can achieve?
• Life Coach tip no 1 - You have to want it!
Firstly - do not bother to set goals for things you don't
really want. For example: if your partner says they want you
to quit smoking or lose weight but you do not want to, why
even bother setting this as a goal. If your goal(s) are not
something you personally want to accomplish, and they are
not relevant to you, you are unlikely to succeed - because
deep down you don't really want to.
State your goals in a positive way - a goal should always
be something you want to have, or change. Not things you or
someone else think you should.
Always ask yourself on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being totally
committed and 1 being zero commitment. How committed are you
to reaching your goal? If it is less than 8, you might want
to reconsider the goal.
• Life Coach tip no 2 - Focus
Start small. Pick two or three areas that you want to work
on. Too many people say to themselves, "I want to do this,
and this, and this, and this……" and they end up achieving
nothing! Most of what you do throughout your day can be done
without a lot of mental effort, but change isn't one of them.
So try to keep your focus down to a couple of things. This
way you can get success in your identified areas. Here are
some aspects of your life you might like to think about: Physical,
Intellectual, Emotional, Spiritual, Financial, and Relationships.
Now, which is the first thing on your list? The others can
follow later, but for now, you should focus on two or three,
no more.
• Life Coach tip no 3 - Goals - the long and
the short
So you want to lose 50 pounds? Good. Long-term you will. But
for now, think short-term. Don't think about losing 50 pounds
by February. Think about losing 10 pounds by October 1st.
This does two things. First, it makes it pressing and urgent.
Instead of saying, "I still have 6 months to lose the 50 pounds"
(6 months quickly disappears into 2 months, into one month
- with the 50 pounds still securely in place!) your first
goal is only a few weeks away, so you have to get started.
This is far more successful in terms of reaching your goal.
Secondly, as you reach these smaller goals (your mini-milestones!),
you achieve a success, which gives you regular motivation
and encouragement to keep going.
• Life Coach tip no 4 - Make it manageable
Instead of saying, "I am going to quit my 20 smoking a day
habit straight off" change this to: "I am going to smoke no
more than 15 a day for a week, then 10 the next week and so
on." Give yourself small victories a little at a time. It
is far easier to accomplish many smaller goals that make up
a large goal - rather than trying for the large goal straight
off!
• Life Coach tip no 5 - Reward yourself along
the way
When you lose the 10 pounds by October 1st, go and order yourself
large mocha with cream from Costa's (just the one though!),
then get back to your goal for November 1st. This puts a little
fun back into the process of self-control and self-discipline.
You will look forward to and enjoy the reward and when the
going gets tough, you will say things like, "two weeks to
go, and only two more pounds to lose" etc - I can do it, then
I can enjoy my mocha guilt free!
• Life Coach tip no 6 - Be specific with your
timeline
Don't just say, "I am going to lose 10 pounds." Say, "I am
going to lose 10 pounds by December 1st." This way, when you
start being tempted into Thornton's Chocolates in the middle
of November - under the guise of buying early Christmas presents
for other people, you can say, "No way, only 5 more pounds
to go in three weeks and I am not going to blow it now."
• Life Coach tip no 7 - Post it where you can
see it
Keep your goal in the front of your mind at all times. Instead
of allowing yourself to 'forget' that you are trying to lose
weight by ordering a big slice of cheesecake, your visual
reminder will help you to choose something a little on the
lighter side but at the same time keeping on track - having
your cake and eating it! This will help you beat your desire
and stay focused. Post your goal anywhere you will see it
regularly, like maybe the fridge or a mirror, on your wardrobe
door - you know where is best, you must be able to see it
regularly throughout the day.
• Life Coach tip no 8 - Encourage, respect,
and accountability
Explain to a friend or family member what your goal is, including
the timeframe, so they can help you with it.
This person should regularly ask you, how you are doing etc?
They should hold you accountable, but at the same time keep
you motivated and encouraged. Obviously they must be the encouraging
type! (If not, ask someone else who is) If you are blowing
it, they can tell you so, but at the same time gee you up
and say things like "Well, that's okay, it's done now, don't
sweat it, just get back to it tomorrow." If you are doing
well, they can say, "excellent, well done etc" and make you
feel great.
• Life Coach tip no 9 - Write (and then reap)
the benefits
If you are trying to lose weight your benefits might look
something like this: Feel better, better self-esteem, longer
life, clothes are more comfortable, a bigger choice of clothes
shops to shop it, your husband says you look 25 again and
so on. For quitting smoking, it may look like this: Fresher
breath, no more brown fingers, less wrinkles on my face, no
more red eyes, no more smelly clothes, longer life, and the
wife won't make me spend two hours a day on the back porch
in the pouring rain anymore! By making a list you will be
able to you see what you will benefit from accomplishing your
goal.
Again it is a good idea once you have thought of these benefits
to write them down with your goal (On the fridge, mirror etc)
so that when you review your goal everyday, you'll also see
the benefits to achieving it.
• Life Coach tip no 10 - You have succeeded
- reward yourself!
This can be anything - large or small. If you dropped the
fifty pounds, really treat yourself, plan to go out and buy
yourself that size 12 dress you have always longed for - and
then wear it with pride.
Make a deal with a partner or friend that if you reach your
goal they will take you out for a meal or and spoil you.
Whatever it is you plan, make it personal, enjoyable and desirable
to you, so you will look forward to it.
Do not miss this part out - it is one of the most important
bits. It will help to keep you motivated when you're struggling
and give you something enjoyable to aim for.
Make sure you reward yourself for all your hard work!
Remember folks - goals aren't just for footballers! They are
for us real people too!
Rich Gumsley is a full-time freelance Life Coach
from the UK. For more information check out his Life Coaching
website www.startliving.org.uk
or alternatively take a look at his Life Coaching Blog at
www.startliving.org.uk/blogger.html
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
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