Be SMART, or how to achieve life goals

What should we keep in mind before we start planning?

First, we do not plan our lives 100%, because we live in many ecosystems - private, professional, social, where we are subject to influences and processes that we do not always have an influence on. Hence, our life is quite a dynamic journey full of adventures, unplanned events and meetings. Therefore, it is worth determining that I have an influence on the shape of my life, but I leave space for the changeable and unexpected.

Secondly, being on a dynamic life path, my goals may undergo changes and modifications that may be necessary to achieve the intended effect or completely change direction, because I have drawn conclusions and want something else.

Third and perhaps most important, the process of setting goals is for me, so the starting and ending point is within me. And this is where the real adventure begins.

What are the types of goals?

So let's establish at the beginning - with Why do I want to set my life goals?? What's the intention behind it? Is it an imprinted conviction that you have to have such aspirations, because then it is easier in life, because an adult person sets some goals for himself, because it looks better in the eyes of others?

Or do I want to set goals in life because I have a desire to achieve something, I want to do something, or to live according to my needs or principles?

According to Tara Mohr, author of the book “Take the Challenge”, we have two types of goals:

• gift-goal (gift- goal) - comes from knowing yourself, your potential, talents, desires and dreams, is linked to the mission and roles I have in life;
• should-goal is the result of education and socialization that impose certain ways of life or functioning.

The more we are guided by external stimuli, the weaker the motivation will be and will require our constant reinforcement.

The role of imagination and the assessment of its potential in planning

Another thing worth doing in the process of setting a goal is Imagine - how will I feel when I achieve this goal? So for a moment I move to the moment when the goal is realized and I feel... - and here it is worth entering it. Emotions have an incredible power that gives the body and mind a sense of what it will be like, which causes them to be properly prepared to act for this very purpose.

We are still in the realm of self-awareness, because to achieve a given goal we also need Defining all the resources we have — both our qualities, skills, talents, achievements, knowledge, as well as external resources in the form of contacts, people or groups, which can be our support, which are worth reaching for, especially when we get stuck or lose motivation.

It will be easier for us to go for a given goal if The path we plan for ourselves will be connected to our daily lives. Which means that we will create as few additional, hindering activities or tasks as possible that will knock us out of the routine. According to James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, goals must be clear and simple, and the actions that lead to them should be associated with something we like to do, with people who think, act or share a similar value system.

Very often, on the way to achieving our goals, we place a lot of hope in our self-discipline, for which no specific center in our brain is responsible, so its formation is quite difficult. In addition, self-discipline no longer, by its definition, encourages action. “Alone” means we are on our own. “Discipline”, on the other hand, has negative connotations, being associated with regime and tension.

Together it is easier to reach the goal

Therefore, an inherent part of reaching your goals is support grid, that is, the term:

• Who will be the person with whom I will be able to discuss the progress of the action?
• Who will be my inspiration? Who achieved the goal and succeeded? When it is difficult for me, motivation will decrease, then the image or story of this person will remind me that it is worth continuing on this path.
• What other sources will I be able to use when I have a hard time? Maybe some support group, some association?

After all, the fact that difficulties may arise during the implementation of my goals is rather certain, therefore in the planning process It is worth reaching for a higher goal Remember, why do I want to achieve this? Mission, vision, values, feelings, sense of influence — these are the areas that are of great importance in setting and achieving long-term goals.

What do we do when we are in doubt about our goals?

When we limp, when we lack strength or desire, we usually push, we force ourselves to act so as not to stop in our efforts, which we often occupy with exhaustion and even greater discouragement. Instead it is worth turning on curiosity and asking yourself a few checking questions, for example:

• What is it that I don't have the strength right now?
• What can this momentary pause mean?
• for what reason do I need to stop?

Downtime does not happen for a reason. Sometimes we get lost in action and forget to appreciate our achievements so far. Other times we will deviate from the route, moving away from the destination, and the drop in strength is essential to stop and see if, in order to still be on the right track, if we have adequate resources in it.

Another important technique is the so-called. Zoom out, looking from a greater distance. What does this give when achieving goals? First of all, the perspective of how much we have already achieved, because we are often so involved in the “here and now” that we do not see the bigger picture of our achievements. This is also the moment when we can thank each other for the work we have done so far, feel satisfaction with how much we have already gone along this path, but also potentially correct it.

There are many techniques and ways to achieve goals. The main thing is to define them in accordance with your desires, with what is close and important to us. If it moves the heart, excites emotions, turns it into action, then it is worth going for it. And the fact that along the way there will be moments of goal correction, revision of direction, is quite natural. After all, we learn in the process of experience and draw conclusions. We are part of a larger system that affects us, but our needs change over the course of our lives. Therefore, it is worth using support on the way to the goal, but also to allow yourself an element of the new, unknown as well as modifications and flexibility.