The beginning of another year is here, which is a perfect time to make some goals for the New Year. Okay, now before you feel overhwlemed thinking about an entire year ahead and knowing you have to write some things down, take some time after reading this to step away and give it some quiet thought. Don’t feel worried or nervous about your goals NOT happening; feel excited and pumped of what it will feel like when they DO happen. When you are thinking of these future goals, only have positive thoughts surrounding them and GET EXCITED! This is your future! You’re paving the road for your life in 2014 and beyond, right now.
“A goal is a dream with a deadline.”
GO FOR IT – BELIEVE
Don’t be scared of your goals! Goals are your friends; they’re with you all the time! Embrace them. Believe in them! The hardest thing to do for some people is to put what’s in their mind down on paper, because then it already starts to put your goals in motion and become a reality. So be prepared for it! If it’s something that you really want, it will come your way! If you feel deep down it’s the right time to write down a goal maybe you’ve been putting off a couple of years, GO FOR IT! Timing is important, and if you feel good about it, don’t ignore that feeling. Have confidence in yourself and believe that what you are writing down WILL happen.
“Dream so big that it’s obnoxious, so big it feels like a lie. Be angry that its a dream. Then make it real.”
WRITE THEM DOWN – IT STARTS NOW
I encourage you to actually write them on a sheet of paper (or if you are like me, write them on a napkin), not just type them on your phone. There’s something different about an actual connection with WRITING that happens to your brain, versus just typing with your fingers. Write, write, write, don’t be scared, you can do it! Once you write your goals down, they are officially in motion of you achieving them! How cool!
“If you don’t know where you’re going, you might end up some place else.”
NO TIME TO WORRY ABOUT SOMEONE JUDGING
Challenge yourself to set your goals high…and most importantly make goals that are YOUR goals. Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks your goals should be. There should be NO JUDGING. You don’t have time for someone who has negative opinions about what where you’re going this year. If you feel like someone is not going to believe in your goal, don’t tell them! You don’t need that negative energy, it will only slow you down.
“Believe in your abilities…confidence will lead you on.”
ENROLL OTHERS
Just as much as you don’t care for the negative opinions of others, I encourage you to enroll people around you who you know care and will be supportive. You want to tell people who have positive energy and are only going to send positive vibes your way. Tell people who you know will encourage you and help keep you accountable/on the right direction to achieve your goals. When others believe in what you’re doing, it can only give motivation and fuel your fire!
“The more intensely we feel about about an idea or goal, the more assuredly the idea, buried deep in our subconscious, will direct us along the path to its fulfillment.”
GOALS CAN BE ABOUT ANYTHING
You can make a goal about absolutely anything. When I make my goals, I put on there work goals, financial goals and personal goals. It can involve relationships, sports, school, saving money, friendship, travel, something about your house or a routine. The possibilities are ENDLESS. That’s the cool thing about goals is that you can make them anything that you are FEELING. Don’t feel forced into doing anything – this definitely won’t help you achieve goals. If they’re forced, then they’re not even really goals because increasing the level of forcedness will only make you work in the opposite way. They are YOURS and nobody else’s – remember that!!
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”
FIND A WAY TO MEASURE MOST OF YOUR GOALS
When you write your goal down, make sure that there is something inside of it that has a form of measurement, so you know for sure if you are achieving it or not. Example: Someone might write, “Practice more” or “Work harder.” That’s a GREAT start of a goal, but go ahead and add something behind it like, “Practice pitching 3 times a week.” Or “Work harder – have 1 central focus every time I go out to practice.” To add that measurement, it makes it a little more specific, thus giving you more direction throughout the year to achieve those goals. A measurement can even be an amount of time.
IT STARTS NOW
Understand your passion. Realize your motivation. Manifest your dreams and make them a reality. This is your year, and it starts now!
“Begin with the end in mind.”
WHERE TO PUT THEM
I like to throw out choices for this one because everyone is different. A lot of people say to put them in a place where you can see every day, but I don’t think that works for EVERYBODY (because honestly, I don’t do that). When you’re thinking about where to put your 2014 goals, it’s important to understand and know yourself. Think: where do you think would BEST benefit you to have your goals?
a) Put them somewhere you can see every day
To me, this is best for people who need that motivation every single day that they wake up to stay on the right path towards those goals.
It’s important for these people to see it and every day visualize where they are going with the goals ahead of them.
For others, seeing the goals up every day can drive them a little crazy and make them worry about not achieving the goals
b) Have them at a place where you can occasionally sneak a peak at them as a reminder
Are you a person who is generally pretty motivated, but can get some down days where you need a little pick me up? This is the place for you.
On a day where you are confused or need a little direction, go check out your goals to give you a little energy and a pick-me-up.
c) Put them in a completely hidden place
Do you work really hard and have a lot confidence?
You are probably the type who always has the goals in the back of your mind, and you don’t need to see them to be able to remember them and work towards them.
Make it a surprise at the end of the year to see just how far you have come by looking at your goals list at the very end.
Don’t forget where you hid them at!!
d) Give them to your friend or someone close to you
Your friend can serve as a hiding place or…
You can have a friend you count on give you little reminders throughout the year as to what your goals are
Some people respond better to someone holding them accountable like this.
Let your friend help you stay on the right path to achieve your goals.
What is one of your goals in 2014?
