"If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail." ~Benjamin Franklin
#noplan #overwhelmed #goalfail
I tend to believe there are three main reasons that we want to obtain goals, but we keep missing our mark. One, we live in a perpetual state of optimistic procrastination. We perceive there’s always more time. Two, we’re overwhelmed by all the goals we “could/should” go after. Three – we fail to plan. (also, how do you even realistically go about goal setting?) Your life isn’t something that you should just let happen to you. Your life is YOUR choice. For the most part, you get to decide, and setting and achieving goals is the road to get there. So if you’re not currently headed in the direction you want and goals overwhelm you, then what I have to share here is for you! I’ll share three elements that make up a GREAT goal setting & goal getting foundation. Using this framework continually helps me find clarity, focus, and build momentum toward creating and living the life I desire.
Goal Setting ----> First:
CREATE 12 WEEK CYCLES
Often with goal setting we want to wait until the beginning of each new year. This can make us feel we have a ‘WHOLE YEAR’ to make it happen. When you perceive ‘there’s always more time,‘ you become prone to putting off action.
I gave up yearly goal setting almost as soon as I set out to create my first annual plan. It immediately felt overwhelming to try to project that far into the future. What if things change? What if what I thought I wanted shuffled? It seemed that every detail depended on things going perfectly, and it was discouraging to feel that if I made just one slight misstep, the whole plan would crumble.
That’s when I discovered the idea of quarterly goal setting or creating 12-week cycles instead of yearly. It answered my overwhelm yet still allowed for intention, focus, and structure to make things happen.
I’ve been planning this way for a little over 20 cycles now. Instead of guessing where I’ll be a year in advance, this has given me the ability to experience real-time projections and create a more deliberate plan that aligns better with what matters most in my life.
You want to create a sense of urgency and support your ability to maintain excitement around your goal. Keeping them at the forefront by shortening their achievement timeframe will be a pivotal move.
Goal Setting ----> Next:
DETERMINE WHAT MATTERS MOST RIGHT NOW
Raise your hand if you can quickly become overwhelmed by all the goals we “could/should” go after.🙋🏽♀️
I bet you’re pretty busy too? We all love to use terms to define how busy we are. “What a busy day I’ve had.” “Life’s just busy!” But are you busy doing the things that really matter? How do you honestly even know what matters most?
Likely, we don’t know, or if we’re able to name a few items, we force ourselves to keep going and doing ‘all the things.’
You can confidently know – you’re on the right track to achieving the life you desire – and that you’re living in alignment with who you want to be – and you’re protecting what matters most.
Spend your time on these things. Decide and create a plan to get there. But here’s the hard truth: we often won’t accept— we can’t do it all at once.
We have to determine to let go of everything but the next right thing. We have to learn to recognize, in each new season, what that is.
Short of therapy or hiring a huge team of professionals and advisers to dive in and straighten it all out, here’s a quick answer to finding what matters most –for you– next.
Over the past 5 years, I’ve prioritized assessing where I am in 10 key areas of life to ensure that I am focusing my attention well. Each time, before I launch into my next 12-week cycle, I work through self-reflection prompts that guide me to consider what area needs my attention the most. Then I set that area as what matters most.
If you’re interested in the free assessment I use, check it out here.
Be sure to set aside some time and get alone in a quiet, comfortable place. Read through, reflect, and do your best, to be honest with yourself.
I’ve gone through this assessment many times before launching off into goal setting. I’ve noticed that there have been times I unwittingly misguided myself, but doing it on a continuous basis has brought at least 1 degree of greater clarity each time. Imagine, and comfort yourself with the idea that you will become more aware of who you are and what matters most each time you work through it. This is how you will replace overwhelm with confidence.
GRAB YOUR ASSESSMENT >>> HERE
Goal Setting ----> Finally:
MAP OUT YOUR PLAN
Here’s one way I recommend to map Goal Setting:
- Determine three goals you would like to obtain to support your “What Matters Most” over the next 12 weeks.
- Establish clear targets to meet in order to attain each goal.
- Define key steps that will help you reach each target.
THE BIG PICTURE
There you have it!
Three elements to easily plan for and achieve goals that matter most to your life’s desires.
Do you feel ready to tackle goal setting and create your first 12 Week Plan? I hope you can use this as a guide and jump right in! Ultimately YOU know you better than anyone does.
The most important thing is to learn to take the time to listen, cycle back around, and create a plan. Keep it simple and focus on meaningful goals around what matters most. When you do, you take control of your life, and that’s exciting! I have zero doubts you’ll be walking in confidence and peace soon!
