Routine activities can consume your day, but it's important to take time to form plans and goals to give your life direction and meaning. You may have dreams and ideas that you want to see come to fruition, but without utilizing the power of goal setting, you may get to the end of your life chanting the most dreaded mantra of all: "I would've; I could've; I should've."
Follow Your Passion
One of the keys to goal setting is doing what you love. Empower yourself by pursuing a goal that involves something you're passionate about, such as playing chess. Perhaps you would one day like to be a national chess champion, so set that goal, and pursue it with passion. In the book "The 8th Habit," Dr. Stephen Covey states, "Passion is the fire, enthusiasm and courage that an individual feels when she is doing something she loves...something that satisfies her deepest needs."
Empowerment
Another aspect of goal setting is the feeling of empowerment. Once you set your goal and take the actions necessary to achieve it, you gain a sense of control of the direction of your life. Covey notes that there is great power in taking responsibility for your own actions, making things happen and moving toward the achievement of your goal. He says this empowerment is the highest level of initiative.
Write It Down
Writing goals is the best way to give yourself a clear, well-defined idea of what it is you want to accomplish. Once goals are written down, it makes it much easier to visualize exactly how you want your objectives to manifest. In his book "Unleash the Champion," Denny Dicke advises writing your goals in the past tense, as if you have already accomplished them. Be very specific about what you want to achieve. Set no limits on your goals, as this is an opportunity to reach for your greatest dreams. Finally, make your goals fun by expressing how great it will feel when you achieve your goal.
Goal Components
Dicke suggests composing your goal in three parts. Part one is the exact description of the goal itself. Part two tells "why" you want to achieve the goal. This is your chance to describe to yourself why the goal is so important, so be very convincing and illustrative. Part three is "action," in which you again are very exact in describing how you will go about achieving the goal. By using this three-step goal setting process, you gain momentum and confidence as you move toward its achievement.
Power in the Process
Now that your goal is written down and you have visualized exactly how you will achieve it, allow yourself to experience the emotion and joy of accomplishment. By doing so, you have established a solid foundation for reaching your potential. Don't make the mistake of thinking that these elements of goal setting are just empty implements of the process. There is great power in these elements, for without them to guide you to your goals, you remain a rudderless ship drifting without direction.
References
- "The 8th. Habit"; Dr. Stephen Covey; 2004
- "Unleash the Champion"; Denny Dicke; 2007
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