There has never been a time in history such as our time, where an individual, had within his reach, this vast array of opportunities. It’s never been easier to be different and not settle for a mediocre life. Still, for most, the desire to belong is stronger than the desire to succeed.
You see, we are so conditioned by our society that many of us don’t even know what they want to do with their lives. We confuse what we think we want with what we consider is expected of us. Hence, we often do things because everybody else is doing the same.
It’s impossible to figure out what you want to do with your life, if you do not take the time to think about it. Certainly, it may seem as evident statement but in reality, it’s not so. Look at most people around you, they’re either working at their jobs, on social media, watching TV…etc. Always trying to get themselves busy and their mind distracted.
None of them wants to sit in silence anymore, as if they’re afraid of their own company. As a matter of fact, they are afraid of the incessant negative chatter inside their head. That voice talking incessantly about things we don’t like and stirring emotions we prefer not to feel. I wrote about negative thinking in “How being optimistic can help you live a fulfilled life?“, you may want to take a look at it. It’s a destructive habit and it’s the first thing that you should work on if you want to make your life better. It’s foundational to how to set goals and achieve them.
“Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.”
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
When you are so focused on the outside world, you have no time to contemplate the desires and aspirations you have for your life. You have no time to ask yourself about your dreams or to define a vision for your life.
As a consequence, you tend to follow the same path other people are taking. It’s easier and more convenient to become a duplicate of others. Not many people would stop and really think about what they want to become. Only a few would dare to dream, set goals and take action toward them.
Why is it important to have clear goals?
To define your goals, you must first set a clear definition, in your mind, of what the term success represents to you. When you have your own definition, you’ll know how you want your life to be in the future.
And whether it’s one or several goals, a small dream or a bigger one, the fact that you’ve already set an intention for something, you want to realize, is a feat in itself.
Why?
Simply because knowing what you want is knowing where you want to go with your life. Even though you may not know how to turn your goal into reality but eventually, in time, you’ll figure out how to go there.
However, if you have no destination in mind, you go nowhere. It is essential to have clear goals in your life, if you want to create the success you want. It is as required as having a map to go from point A to point B.
You need a clear plan with step by step details. Without a plan you’ll run in all directions, you’ll lose time and energy and will get nowhere.
Now that you have your goal, what’s next?
It true that when you’re starting a new project, you lack the experience needed. You may not have an idea how or where to start. That shouldn’t stop you.
You don’t have to figure out your definitive plan initially. It’s okay to start with what knowledge you already have. Along the way, you can revise your plan by modifying, adding or taking out steps.
A goal is fixed but the plan is not.
Furthermore, you’ll also want to work on your mindset. To bring your plan into action you need to have the right mindset. Working on your self-development will give you that. It will help you stay motivated and committed to your goal.
“Progress is impossible without change; and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”
– George Bernard Shaw
Achieving any valuable goal, will require patience, self-discipline, repetition and establishing new habits. You’ll have to practice your newly acquired skills to a point that they will come to you as a second nature.
Changing habits and new skills needs a lot of work. Still, if you commit to your goal, daily small steps will bring you closer to success. Failures will build your experience.
Imagine if you started today, where you would be after one year or five years from now?
It true that when you’re starting a new project, you lack the experience needed. You may not have an idea how or where to start. That shouldn’t stop you.
