Have you ever created goals for yourself you wanted to achieve BUT failed? Did it happen repeatedly? The reasons for that may be very simple, and recognizing those may lead you to an overwhelming success.
One of many reasons, I discovered, people fail to achieve their goals, is they do not have a reason significant enough to propel them to achieve their goals.
What is your compelling Why? Do you have a burning desire to achieve your goal? What are you willing to do to achieve your goals? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to get there?
If you cannot answer these questions clearly, you need to revisit your motivation to achieve your desire outcome. What is your Why? If asking this question creates discomfort for you, you may not have defined your Why, in which case you need to do it, or you have a feeling of not deserving the outcome.
I had many clients with various “problems” such as wanting to get rid of excess weight and being unable to do what was needed. They often sabotaged themselves en route to achieving their goals – a body they wanted.
I discovered, they often did not feel worthy of having that body. Having it was not congruent with what they believed they deserved or even Who They Were.
The question to ask yourself is – “Do I feel worthy of having achieved my goals”?
If not, some work needs to be done to reprogram the belief you may be harboring about yourself. Good news is, it is really easy to do. We do it all the time.
The second common reason for not achieving your goals is not clearly defining it. Do you know exactly What You Want?
Here is a secret to creating achievable goals. Here it is:
- Make it concise and specific. Saying I want to have a lot of money is not a goals. Specify How Much. What amount exactly is what you want? Write that number down.
- Make it Realistic. In other words you need to believe it inside. Get that gut feeling that “yes” I am able to do it.
- Make it Ecological. It needs to be good for you, for other and the world at large.
- Make it Time Specific. Create the date by which you will have achieved it – a specific date.
- State it in a form of As If Now. For example, if it is December 12, 2012, and now it is only June, still write it down- It is now December 1, 2012 and I have (whatever goals you had created). Close your eye and imagine having achieved it. Feel the feelings, see the things, images, whatever comes to mind, make it bigger and brighter and more clear. Even spin it. Step Into It!
- Make it easily Evaluative. In other words, you need to b able to recognize when you had achieved it. How do you know you have it?
The third reason people miss achieving their goals is fear of the consequences of having achieved it. I often see in my practice clients who are afraid to be different from those they are surrounded with. A typical client is someone who is overweight and surrounded by overweight friends and family. Suddenly becoming svelte is threatening to the position in her circle. “What will happen to me”? they often ask, scared of being abandoned by those who are suddenly different from them. Fear of rejection often underlies missing achieving the goal.
The truth is, a system will attempt to bring a person down to the common denominator BUT when the person perseveres, the system may adapt to this shift and be inspired to change.
Suddenly other people who were overweight will feel inspired by shift their bodies because their friend did it. The question is – Do you want to be a leader?
Another perceived consequence is fear of having to “become a different person”. Do you know what it means in the world of being that person who had achieved their goal? Sudden responsibilities, feedback from others, etc? Be clear about that.
The fourth reason for missing the goal is perceived “hard work” to get there. I discovered many people believe achieving worthwhile goals is “hard work.” That belief had been wired in their minds.
Now, what is it you believe? Is it possible to just enjoy the process of designing your life and achieving your goals? If you have hard time, go back to a time you were child and never thought how hard it would be to walk. You just discovered that new vantage point and were excited to see the world from a new perspective. This is the attitude you need to take on when stepping onto a path toward your dreams.
Most importantly remember – the most complex things consists of tiny baby – like steps. Running a marathon consists of placing one foot in front of the other. When facing a complex task, break it down to small measurable steps and take action daily to get there.
A fifth reason is not knowing what follows after they had achieved their goal? “Will I have anything else to look forward to”?
The good news is that achieving goals creates many new ones. Suddenly the world of possibilities previously obscured by unawareness, becomes available. How exciting is to discover new possibilities, adventures, paths? Imagine again when you were a child. How easy was it to dream and create abundance in the realm of imagination?
Let yourself be free to dream and take steps toward achieving your goals.
You will and by virtue of doing so, you will have programmed your neurology for success.
Success ia habit. Create one.