A New Way to Think about Goal Setting
Goal setting is an important step in working towards achieving something in the future. In modern culture, however, we often overemphasise setting and achieving goals without considering what we truly need. Without this alignment, we end up taking a path towards achieving a goal not understanding why it’s proving to be incredibly challenging or even worse, reaching the goal and realising we don’t feel any happier for it. We often view goal setting as a way of being more productive and focus on things like getting ahead, making money, or some other form of what could be viewed as “success”. While making progress on your goals is important, we want you to take a few things into consideration so you are serving yourself on a deeper level and finding what is truly important to you. This is the pixie dust that is going to make reaching your goal much more achievable.
Think about your values.
Taking time to think about your values allows you to consider what is actually important. For instance, if you are being called to be more creative, is creativity being reflected within your goals?
It’s also important to consider what might not come as naturally to you. For instance, maybe you are a perfectionist or overachiever that values productivity - it might be worth considering if your values are balanced and reflect what you need to achieve a healthy equilibrium in your work and personal life. Is there a value of wellbeing or self-care that needs to be considered here?
On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you are a person that values relaxation and me-time, but is spending too much time relaxing and not reaching the working goals you are being called to, getting more specific and clear on your goals might be the solution.
Consider what YOU want.
Many times you can wander down a path and realise the goal you have set yourself is not really what you want, but has been set by outside influence or cultural pressures.
In the original self-help book, Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich, he outlines the need for goals to start with DESIRE. Goals which are born out of desire, ensure you are much more likely to have the passion and commitment to stick to it.
It is easier said than done, but take some time for yourself. Get quiet and listen to your inner voice. Allow yourself to explore your wants, needs, and the why behind what you’ve been doing up until this point. Making regular time to reflect rather than asking for external answers might just help you find the clarity on your goals you have been looking for. Self-reflection tends to be undervalued across the board in this modern age where we have stimulation and on-demand content at every turn.
Get clear on your MISSION.
Talking about a mission can sometimes throw people off, but hear me out for a second. This doesn’t have to be some kind of super-human mission to solve all of the world’s problems.
When have you felt most lit up in your life? What’s the REASON behind the desires you have begun to uncover? Having a clear view of your values, and exploring your desires presents a key insight into what your mission is. Ultimately you have unique gifts that can be expressed into the world.
At Canderry, our goal is to bring the transformative benefits of coaching to the world.
Taking some time to consider your values, desires, and mission are not only going to help you define what your goals are, but are key to ensuring you have the motivation to achieve the goals you’ve set.
If you need help with goal setting and progression, you are certainly not alone. Coaching is not only a way of helping you to set and achieve your goals, but it enhances self-confidence, increases life and job satisfaction, improves performance, and so much more. Find out more here.
