Set Your Goals and Achieve Them

Set Your Goals and Achieve Them

Both large and small goals can be the cornerstone of a happier life. The way we set them can make a significant difference in achieving them. Having goals in our lives that we want to work towards is an important part of being human. The path to our goals may not always be smooth or easy, but having goals, whether big or small, is part of what makes life worthwhile. It gives us a sense of meaning and purpose, guides us in the direction we want to go, and keeps us engaged— all of which are good for our overall happiness. Over 200 years ago, Aristotle said, “Well begun is half done.” When it comes to goals, he was right (as he seems to have been right about many things). Taking care in how we set our goals makes us more likely to achieve them, and achieving them makes us feel good about ourselves and our lives.

Steps to Achieving Your Goals:

1. Decide:Think of something you want to do or work towards. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it’s something you want to do—ideally something you’re excited about or care about. It should be something you want to do for yourself, not for something or someone else. It can be something big or small—sometimes it’s easier to start with something small.
2. Write it Down Carefully:Writing down your goals increases your chances of sticking to them. Write how you’ll achieve your goals and when you want to achieve them. Ask yourself: What will it look like, and how will it feel when I achieve this? How does it connect to what or who I value in my life? Describe your goal in specific terms and timelines. For example, “I want to plant lettuce, carrots, and peas in the empty spot in my garden by the end of May,” instead of, “I want to do some gardening.” Write your goals in terms of what you want, not what you don’t want. For instance: “I want to be able to wear my favorite jeans again,” instead of “I don’t want to gain weight anymore.”
3. Tell Someone:It seems that telling someone we know about our goals increases the likelihood of us sticking to them.
4. Break Down Your Goals:This is especially important for big goals. Think of small goals that represent steps towards achieving your bigger goal. Sometimes our larger goals are a bit vague, such as “I want to be healthier.” Breaking them down into smaller goals makes them more specific. For example, a smaller goal might be running regularly or even being able to run around the park in 20 minutes without stopping. Write down your smaller goals and try to set some dates to do them as well. Having several smaller goals makes each one a little easier and gives us a sense of success along the way, increasing the chances of staying on track towards our bigger goal.
5. Plan Your First Step:The old Chinese proverb says, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Even if your goal isn’t to walk 100 miles, thinking about your first step will really help you get started. Even if you don’t know where to begin, there’s no excuse—you might start by researching how to get started online, thinking about people you can ask, or getting a book on the subject from the library. Then think about your next step… and the next.
6. Keep Moving Forward:Working towards our goals can sometimes be tough and frustrating, so perseverance is key. If the step you’re taking doesn’t work out, think about something else you can try that still moves you forward, even if it’s just a little. If you’re struggling, ask people you know for their thoughts on what you can do. They may help you see a different way. Thinking of alternative ways to reach our goals increases the chances of success. If you hit a real setback—take a break and then reread the goal you wrote when you started. If you need to adjust your goal—that’s okay too. Then think again about your next small step.
7. Celebrate and Reward Yourself:When you reach your goal, take time to enjoy it and thank those who helped you. Think about what you enjoyed and learned along the way.

What is Your Next Goal or Project?

Every step you take toward your goal is a small achievement worth celebrating. Keep planning and working toward achieving your bigger goals.