How to Set Goals the Right Way

How to Set Goals the Right Way

Goals are a great way to stretch yourself, change, and evolve into a higher version of yourself.

Unfortunately, many people approach goal-setting incorrectly, or don’t set goals at all.

In order to set goals correctly, first you need to understand the impact of goal-setting on the brain, and subsequently the consequences of not setting goals on the brain, as well.

Goal-setting is about more than just personal achievement. It’s about hooking your brain up with your future instead of regurgitating more of the past.

Goals help align your thoughts and actions in a way that serves your purpose in the moment and doesn’t leave you focusing on everything wrong or stagnant with your life and current circumstances.

So, how do you set goals the right way? Let’s discuss. But first, let’s talk about your brain without a goal.

Resources:

How to Set Goals and Achieve Them
Imagine Big: Unlock the Secret to Living Out Your Dreams (this book is SO helpful with goal-setting)
Dream Year

How to Set Goals the Right Way

Your Brain When You Don’t Set Goals

Here’s what happens to your brain without a goal:

You’ll Create More of the Past

If you don’t set goals, your brain won’t know any better but to create more of the same.

You may want to lose weight, save money, or go back to school, but without setting a goal, your brain won’t know to stretch itself and will continue the same old habits that got you the results you currently have.

Habits and decisions made in the moment must be made intentionally in order to see change in your life. Without a goal, you won’t be making intentional decisions that serve your future.

Setting goals and achieving them requires more of you than what your past can provide.

Your Brain will Always Focus on What’s Wrong

When your brain doesn’t have a goal to focus on, it will focus on what’s wrong in its place.

The credit card debt, the job you hate, your struggling relationships, the pants that don’t fit you anymore, etc., will consume your mind daily instead of feeling the motivation for change, which goal-setting provides.

Resources:

You’ll Indulge in Thoughts that Don’t Serve You

All those things you want to change, you’ll just harbor negative thoughts about.

Thoughts such as “I’ll never lose the weight” or “I could never make more money” don’t serve you.

Setting a goal allows you the opportunity to turn negative thoughts into positive ones.

Instead of “I hate my body, I’ll never lose the weight,” say, “I love my body, and because I love my body, I’m going to lose the weight.”

Resources:

You’ll be Focused on Other People’s Agendas

Instead of having a plan to achieve your goals and serve your own agendas, you’ll likely get pulled into other people’s agendas.

If you find your calendar full of commitments you agreed to because you were afraid to say “no”, or simply to fill the time, this is a good sign you need to set a goal for yourself.

There’s nothing wrong with volunteering or helping other people. But many people’s schedules are consumed with these activities, thinking it will make them feel like a “better” person.

The best thing you can do for yourself is carry out your own agenda-especially when it comes to working toward a goal.

Resources:

You won’t Choose What Serves You Well in the Future

A great example of this is a goal to lose weight. If you don’t have a goal, you won’t be motivated to make better food choices or discipline yourself to go to the gym. Losing weight will just be a wishful dream in your head you aren’t taking steps toward achieving.

Another example is saving money. If you keep telling yourself you want to save money, but you don’t set a specific goal and keep eating out on your lunch hour daily, you’re making poor decisions in the moment.

Resources:

The Benefits of Goal Setting

Now, let’s talk about some of the benefits of goal setting.

It Gives Your Brain Something to Focus on in the Future

Having a goal allows you to make better decisions in the moment instead of what feels good, because you’re making decisions now that impact your future.

Just knowing you have a big plan for your future will motivate you to make better decisions in the moment.

It’s a Healthy Dopamine Fix Instead of an Unhealthy One

I review my goals every single morning, and I highly recommend doing this because it is a healthy, completely free dopamine fix (no Starbucks needed).

Goals keep you motivated and create excitement for the future.

Goals Take You out of Reactive Mode and into Proactive Mode

Without goals, it’s easy to remain in reactive mode-simply reacting to everything life throws at you, because you don’t have a plan.

Goals allow you to be proactive and make intentional choices that serve your future.

Don’t allow life to drag you around based off whatever circumstances occur-when you set a goal, you have the control of your destiny.

They Improve Your Self-Confidence

We are limited only by our own minds.

When you achieve a goal you once thought impossible, you improve your self-confidence, which will set you up to achieve the next big goal.

When you write your goals down, it’s really fun and inspiring to look back at what you’ve already accomplished.

Resources:

Things that Don’t Define Your Self-Confidence

It’s Fun

Last but certainly not least, goal-setting is just fun. It’s not necessarily about becoming a “better” person, but showing yourself, you can do amazing things you never thought possible.

How to Set Goals the Right Way

Ok, now let’s get into how to set goals the right way.

Goals Need to be Specific

You must be specific with your goal so you know exactly what you’re trying to achieve.

A common mistake with goal-setting is being too vague.

Many people say their goal is to lose weight, get out of debt, save money, etc., but you need to hone in on the specifics.

How much weight do you want to lose? What steps are you going to take to get out of debt? How much money are you going to save?

You must be specific. Not only does this help you get crystal clear on your goal, it informs your plan to accomplish it.

If you want to lose 20 pounds by April 1^st, then you know you’ll need to devise a plan leading up to then in order to shed the 20 pounds. A vague goal to “lose weight” doesn’t help you devise a plan to do so, and you’re likely to not make the daily changes necessary to achieve it.

Goals Must be in Writing and Reviewed Daily

Another common mistake with goal-setting is to not write them down, or write them down and misplace them at the back of a drawer, never to be seen again.

You must keep goals before your eyes on a daily basis. This is why so many people swear by vision boards. There isn’t any voodoo happening with the vision board, it’s the placing of the vision board where it can be seen daily that keeps the goals at the forefront of your mind that makes it work.

Vision boards aren’t necessarily required, but you do need to keep your written goals within reach. I personally have a goals planner on my desk that I review every morning, but even a scrap piece of paper works.

Resources:

Goals Must be Measurable

This ties in with your goals needing to be specific, but you must make your goals measurable. Measuring your goals helps you keep track of your progress. In my goals planner, I write in the notes section how I’m going to measure my progress.

One great example is keeping track of weight loss. Going back to the example of losing 20 pounds by April 1^st, you could measure your progress by doing a weigh-in every Monday morning.

Goals Must be Achievable

You should stretch yourself, but be realistic.

Setting a goal to make $100,000 your first year with your small business you just started isn’t realistic. Set goals that can be broken down into manageable action steps.

I often set what I call “baby goals,” especially with my business. Baby goals allow you to micro-manage a smaller block of time, and it’s easier to focus on one month at a time versus a whole year.

Resources:

Set a Deadline

Deadlines create urgency.

If you don’t hit the deadline, it’s okay-just create a new deadline.

But when you don’t set deadlines, the sense of urgency won’t be there, and it will affect your productivity.

Before You Go

Goal-setting is an amazing tool to up-level your life-but only when done the right way.

Now that you know how to set goals the right way, what goals are you setting? I love hearing from my readeet me know in the comments below.

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Lisa

Hi! I'm Lisa. I help women live purposeful, fulfilling and joyful lives. I'm happily married and a fur mom to two boxers and two rabbits. I love Jesus, freelance writing, fitness, personal development, reading books, football, cross-stitching, and video games.