Your Goals ARE Within Reach
When we figure out our “why” and “what,” the sky’s the limit in setting our goals for self-growth. But setting goals is just the first step. Now we have to find a way to achieve those goals. That’s where self-discipline and motivation come in.
Most of us want to become better versions of ourselves, but it’s not easy. It takes hard work, dedication, and usually some risk. Our motivation to meet our goals depends on our willingness to take action that moves us further on our growth journey. And when this means we have to do something we wouldn’t otherwise want to do, we need self-discipline to keep us on track.
So we have two sets of tools to share this week. First, these tips on how to turn your motivation into action:
Get clarity. Figure out what’s right for you.
Listen to your thoughts and emotions. What does your mind/emotions/body want you to do?
Make a decision. A thoughtful decision about a course of action is more sustainable than a response during a crisis.
Question yourself. Continue to check in with yourself. Ask questions like “What do I want to do?” and “What is the right thing for me now?”
Allow your motivation to take charge. Use your enthusiasm to fuel your actions.
Recognize good feelings. Reward yourself for good decisions and actions.
And here are five tools on how to cultivate self-discipline, inspired by this article:
Identify your STRENGTHS (and your weaknesses). We all have them. Increase your self-awareness around them, and reframe your weaknesses as opportunities for growth.
Identify your TEMPTATIONS. Use your increased self-awareness to identify all of your temptations and work to remove them.
Set SMART goals and develop a plan to achieve them. Goals give you a future-oriented mindset and clear direction for where you want to go. (Don’t forget our monthly Micro-Challenge Calendar and SMART goals template.)
Be ACCOUNTABLE. For me, I need an accountability partner for just about everything. Who can help you to stick to your plans to meet your goals? Maybe it’s a trusted friend for personal goals, a colleague for work goals, a coach, or a mentor. Who cheers you on and helps you celebrate success?
Be SELF-COMPASSIONATE. We all stumble and fall. The key is to remember to get back UP again! Don’t give up on yourself. You’re worth it!
The good news is that when our goals are well-defined and we have a growth-oriented mindset that features motivation and self-discipline, we are able to do hard things, and each new accomplishment makes us stronger. So in exchange for a little discomfort that might come from doing hard things, we find that our goals are truly within our reach.
What goals are within YOUR reach?