New Year is fast approaching and this is the time when lots of people set goals commonly known as New Year’s Resolutions. According to research losing weight, getting organized and financial gains were the top 3 New Year’s Resolutions in recent years. The sad part of this research revealed that only 8% of people who made these resolutions actually went on to achieve them.
Further research uncovers that the majority of people even forget or reset their New Year’s Resolution before January 21st. This practice of making resolutions and then not keeping them till achievement is getting more common with every New Year and the phenomenon is becoming “New Year’s Syndrome from New Year’s Resolution”. What would make 92% of non-achievers stick with their goals?
It’s the pre-requisite that majority of goal setters miss out. I would name it the “Pre Goal Setting Phase”. Yes, goal setting should be done in 3 phases in order to be efficient and result oriented. These phases are:
- Pre Goal Setting Phase
- Goal Setting Phase
- Post Goal Setting Phase
In this article I’ll bring the important elements that make the Pre Goal Setting Phase so vital.
- Don’t be a “SHEEPLE”
Sheeple (a portmanteau of “sheep” and “people”) is a term that highlights the herd behaviour of people by likening them to sheep, a herd animal. One must not set goals on the influence of trends, friends and family. We all are unique and we all need unique goals. Aristotle said “Humans only get happy when they are doing something that is moving them toward something that they themselves want.” So think about what you want, and not about what other people expect you to want!
- Align your goals with your “Purpose of Life”
Knowing and living life with purpose moves us away from the “Sheeple” dilemma. The more your goals are aligned with your purpose, the more fun you’ll have and the more easily you’ll move forward in manifesting them. When one works in alignment with their own truths and purposes, the universe supports such actions. This is also very important as goals ensure you are getting the best out of your defined purpose and your accountability to your own purpose. Ultimately, it takes you on the holistic journey of “life alignment” that leads ordinary people to become great.
- Assess the point X before setting out to achieve point Y
Goal setting is about progressing from point X to point Y. Like using GPS, we need to assess our current position before setting the destination. The more clarity we have about our current situation, the more we will be clear about the future we want to reach. This includes knowing the current status of relationships, finances, spirituality, health and entertainment happening in our life. Assessing and evaluating all these key aspects of life will make us aware about the priority area in which we need to set goals.
- Distinguish between your Desires, Wants and Needs
All three seem to be similar but infect there is vast difference between them. Needs are something absolutely necessary – something you can’t live without. A want on the other hand is a feeling for something you lack. A desire is the craving to apprehend your want. Always set goals with a strong “need like association” as if it is really important for you and you can’t live without it – you will find a way, otherwise you will find an excuse.
- State of Mind
When your mind works right, you work right and when your mind is in trouble, more often than not you are into trouble. Never set any goals in a negative state of mind. Subconsciously, emotions are the main driving force behind us setting any goal if we want to achieve it. The reality is, while setting goals we’re not after what we think – what we’re REALLY after is a certain FEELING. Put yourself in peak state of mind. Be in a state of expectancy while thinking about setting goals. The feeling should be of anticipation rather than of apprehension.
Internalize the pre-goal setting phase until I share more elements of goal setting in my next article.
