Goals and Dreams – 6 Successful Tips towards Making them Happen at Any Age!
I heard a statement last week that really inspired me to write this Blog. The statement I heard was “I am way too old now to work on my goals and dreams”! The truth is you are never too old to hold a big vision of of your life and what you want to be, see and do.
Goals and dreams are something we may find ourselves working on throughout life, and are a wonderful way to work on personal growth and development. As we reach the end of January with the festive season far behind and the “summer holiday” adverts already being screened, it may be time to review your own big vision of yourself.
Research from the University of Scranton states that only 8% of people achieve their New Year’s resolutions/goals/dreams or aspirations. Why is that?
Unfortunately, many people set goals but have no clear idea on how to implement them into their lives, and many set goals that are just not achievable for them personally or professionally. So how can we set powerful yet realistic goals and have a higher success of making them happen?
It is a true saying that “if you keep doing the same thing, you will continue to get the same results”. When you have no clarity about where you are going, or what it is you want to do, then you get stuck in a rut. Here is a great way for you to breathe life into your goals and dreams.
Make sure you create space in your day to work on these. Ensure you have let go of anything that is holding you back so that you are full of energy to work on your vision.
1. Values
It is recommended that you have your core values established and this is generally the first place that people stumble because they don’t have a clear idea what their values are. A value is something that holds great importance to you. These may be in the area of:
- Love
- Family
- Relationships
- Health
- Finances
- Travel
- Adventure
- Personal growth and development
- Faith
- Trust
- Security
- Honest
- Integrity
And many more in addition to the above. Once you have established what your values are, you can then place them in order of priority with number 1. being top priority for you and so on. This helps you to get moving on the areas you consider important straight away. Spend some time reflecting on your top values and how they impact your life and how they matter to you. For example having health as a number one value carries over to all other values. Without health some of the other values may not be possible i.e. travel or adventure. Interpret your values personally for you, this has the biggest emotional charge which is a great motivator towards change.
Asking the Right Questions
If you are struggling with goals and values, here are some key questions you can ask yourself:
- What do I truly want?
- What is the reason that I want it?
- What changes do I need to make to my life to make this happen?
- Is what I want in alignment with core values and ethical principles?
- How do I feel when I do things that go against my value system?
It is evident that successful and happy people set goals that are in alignment with their value system. Many also have their own “Mission Statements”. Why not create your own that is unique and personal to you to help get you from where you are to where you want to be. Take a piece of paper and jot down what mission statements “feel” right for you.
Some examples are:
- I want to make a difference to the world
- To be the best version of myself possible
- Live my life in alignment with who I am as a person
- Continue working on my own personal growth and development
- Live a life of truth and integri
Think about seven areas of your life where you would like to bring about positive change and create Mission Statements for each one. This may be in the areas of:
- Relationships
- Health
- Free time
- Personal growth & development
- Career
- Spirituality/faith/connection
- Financial flow
2. Goals
Now that you have written your Mission Statements you have more clarity and will find it easier to set goals and dreams around each one. Create a special time in your day to write your goals. Unleash your imagination and allow your mind to flow with ideas and possibilities. If you hear the negative voice of self-doubt whispering in your when you do this exercise, just stop for a moment visualize yourself achieving your goals and dreams. See it, feel it, touch it, smell it; the taste of success is delicious. Make your visualisation as real as you can within your mind. This helps to adjust your mindset towards a better and more positive directio
3. Action
Some people love to work on their goals visually by creating a Vision Board. I am a huge fan of Vision Boards and create them regularly, and they work! To create a Vision Board collect as many images, quotes and photographs as you can that really inspire you and get you fired up. Place these on a blank canvas. You may wish to section areas off according to your goals. Write in colour on your board. Make sure you place your board somewhere you can see it every day and start to take action every single day towards your goals and dreams. You cannot plant a seed in fertile ground, not water it and expect it to grow. The same applies to your goals and dreams. You may also wish to create some really powerful affirmations. Nurture the seeds of success you are planting.
4. Be vigilant
Be vigilant about what you allow yourself to think in terms of your goals. Being in control of your mindset and staying positive is imperative. Stay in the growth zone as much as you can. This is where the energy is, and this is where the magic happens. Become an expert at turning negatives into positives. Be careful with the words you use in your daily vocabulary. Words such as should, try, and can’t are very self-limiting and keep you small. You deserve to shine your light!
5. Lack of self-confidence
f course you may have a few stumbling blocks along the way. This is normal and natural. One of these may be in the area of lack of belief in your capabilities or your true potential. When this happens, take some time to write down all of your achievements in life in a journal. I can recommend a wonderful journal www.facebook.com/theinsightfulwayjournal Review this list regularly, and acknowledge how far you have travelled, all that you have learned, and how much you have changed and transformed so far.
6. Be with those that believe in you
Not everyone will be thrilled that youare makingg monumental life changes and transformations. Not everyone will share your enthusiasm. Let that be okay. This is your journey, not theirs. You may find that you are “letting go” of certain people or situations. Let that be okay too. You are creating a big and wonderful space for new people, and opportunities to enter your life. Be discerning with who you choose to share your precious time and energy with. Not everyone deserves a seat at your table in life. If people are putting you down, belittling you, do you need these people in your life anyway?
Stay motivated to continue to working on yourself daily. Small steps today lead to big results tomorrow. Keep believing in yourself. You are full of unlimited potential, and you are more than worthy of creating the life that you want to live.
I wish you lots of luck, happiness, and joy in achieving all of your goals, dreams. Remember you are worthy always.
It is time for you to inhale the future and exhale the past
This is your time to shine, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!
