What is goal setting?
Do you ever think about where you will be next year or in 5 years time? What drives you to do what you do? Many people would say money but if that’s the case, what is it the money gets you?
Goal setting is simply deciding on something you want to happen or for you to achieve and then working out how you’re doing to do it.
We can set goals on whatever we want, it might be in work, at home, finances, health or relationships or really anything else. The important thing is that they mean something to us and aren’t just something that we think we
should do or because we feel pressured to.
Goal setting is a journey rather than a destination, it’s not about being successful, it’s about moving our life forward in the direct we want.
Life will throw challenges in our way so it’s important to stick with it and understand that achieving our goals can take time, effort, and
sacrifice – it’s worth it in the end.
Is there science behind it?
Yes! The Reticular Activating System (RAS) is a network of neutrons at the brain stem that filters our unnecessary information, so we don’t get overwhelmed by the billions of bits of data in any moment and only the important stuff gets through.
The RAS takes what you focus on and creates a filter for it. For example, if you tell yourself to focus on the colour red you will notice a lot more red things around you. In other words, the RAS is automatically programmed to work in your favour.
With goal setting this works by creating a filter for your goal and your RAS will begin revealing people, information and opportunities that can help.
It’s not magic though, writing yourself a cheque for £1 million won’t just make it appear in your bank account, you will still need to be realistic and do the work, but your RAS makes it much easier.
THE GOLDEN RULES OF GOAL SETTING
1. GET TO THE ROOT OF IT
Your goals need to mean something to you. They should be powerful to you. For example, to earn x amount of money so you can take the family on holiday this year.
2. USE ‘SMART’ GOALS
Your goals must be:-
Specific – Clear and well defined
Measurable – How will you know you have achieved your goal?
Attainable – The goal must actually be achievable
Relevant – It must be relevant to your life and where you want to take it.
Time – When do you want to have achieved it by? Again, keep this realistic
3. GET WRITING
4. MAKE A PLAN
As much as you realistically can, write a step-by-step plan on how you’re going to achieve your goal. This plan can be made up of smaller goals. Often the smaller the steps the less daunting your goal will feel to you.
