GOAL ACHIEVING: FROM THIN AIR, TO MIND, TO PAPER

According to the Harvard Business study, 83% of the population do not have goals, 14% have a plan in mind but their goals are unwritten, and actually, only 3% actually have planned and written goals.  This is striking because that very same study found that the 14% with a “plan in mind” are 10 times more successful than those without goals and the 3% with written goals are three times more successful than those with a “plan in mind”.  

Goal setting and achieving is a process that is more complex than simply planning in the mind. There are tangible steps to crafting a goal that will have impact on your well-being. In my experience, the most effective goals are written in the SMART format. SMART is an acronym that you can use to guide a concrete and actionable goal writing process.

S=Specific

Be clear and concise with your intention. For example, instead of saying, “I would like to be healthy” you might say, “I want to create a healthy lifestyle that involves fitness, mental well-being, and overall mindfulness”. The more defined and specific the goal will then allow for the ability to create more defined steps to achieve it.  

M=Measurable

How will we know if you need to make adjustments or have  attained your goal? For example, if your goal is to create a healthy lifestyle, you might want to identify key indicators that will demonstrate you are living a more balanced life. If fitness is an area of focus then we can measure that by how many days you successfully complete a workout or how many days during the week you participate in a mindfulness break.  Creating performance indicators allows you to adjust or evaluate your progress.  

A=Achievable
Can you achieve this goal with reasonable effort? One of the biggest roadblocks for clients is when they set too lofty of a lifestyle change. Set goals that are achievable and that have the ability to scaffold and make more challenging as you make progress. You are more likely to stay motivated as you see success!  

R=Relevant

What is your “why” behind the goal and does it have relevance to and meaning to your life?  I truly believe that passion drives progress and a client must truly believe in the life they aspire for themselves. Will the goals that you set for yourself align with your future dreams and plans? How will this goal support future and even larger goals?  

T=Time

What is the end-date for your goal? An end-date will help you plan your mid-point assessment of your goal attainment and make crucial adjustments to stay the course. Make sure to pick realistic time frames and make adjustments moving forward.

Example SMART goal using the previous example

By the end of 1st quarter, I want to create a healthy lifestyle that involves some type of regular fitness three to four times per week and three mental well-being sessions every week where I participate in either clinical counseling, journaling, a personal hobby, or mindfulness activity.

As mentioned, only 3% of the population actually plan and write down their goals, so just sitting down to write puts you ahead of the curve. Do not wait for the New Year, identify those areas that are holding you back and create new life meaning. I would encourage you to commit to sharing your goal with an individual in your inner circle as you are more likely to achieve a goal when there is accountability.  At Luminary Solutions, I will partner with you to write SMART goals that will be integrated into your everyday life. Live the life of your dreams today!