10 Goal Setting Techniques to Use When Writing Your Goals
Surely at some point you have heard that you should write down your goals. Chances are, you’ve even done it at some point in your life. While the act of writing down your goals is important, even more important is your overall approach to goal setting. It may not be enough to just write down a goal, especially if you end up forgetting it. Below are 10 goal setting techniques to use when writing your goals.
1. Be specific: The more specific you are when writing down your goals, the more likely you are to achieve them. Our subconscious mind is extremely powerful and we all have the ability to guide it. It is for this reason that you must outline exactly what you want. When you write down a goal, think of it as instructions to your subconscious. The more specific you are, the better. If you just write a goal like “buy a house,” you’ve really given your brain very little to work with. The more specific you are, the easier it will be for your brain to accept it, and as a result you will begin to take the necessary steps to achieve it. By providing detailed instructions, such as “Buy a Mediterranean-style house near the beach with six bedrooms, a pool, a large backyard, and a 4-car garage,” your brain will assume you’re giving it directions to achieve exactly what you want. . Simply typing “buy a home” will get lost in the shuffle and pushed aside as you focus on goals that seem more specific.
2. Stay positive: Write your goals in a positive rather than a negative way. Avoid writing “stop being lazy” or “don’t be late for work.” Instead, write “stay active” or “get to work on time.” Your subconscious will not differentiate between a negative and a positive command and will accept instructions in their entirety without judgment. So even though your intentions may be good, your mind will still hear words like “stop,” “lazy,” “no,” and “late,” which have a negative connotation. The more positive you keep your instructions, the more positive your results will be.
3. Take responsibility: Tell people close to you about your goals. This doesn’t mean you should go around telling everyone you know how rich you’re going to be. It means that you should tell a few people close to you about the goals you have set for yourself. By telling them what your goals are, you are making a statement. You are putting yourself and your credibility at stake. It is very easy to slack off and become lazy when you are the only one who knows your goals. When you tell other people, especially the people who know you best, you hold yourself accountable. It’s amazing how many people are willing to go to save face. No one wants to be embarrassed for not doing what they said they were going to do.
4. Make them visible: Put your targets where you can see them. It doesn’t do you any good to write down a goal and then put the paper you wrote it on in a drawer or file where you’ll never see it. It’s like making a shopping list and then leaving it at home when you go to the market. Post your goals in a prominent place where you’ll see them every day. I keep mine on the wall that I see while sitting at my desk. The purpose is simple…repetition is the mother of learning. The more you see your goals, the more you condition your mind to achieve them.
5. Writing is everything: Avoid weak words and use the present tense when setting goals. NEVER use the word try. For me, one of the weakest words in the English language is try. The word, by its very nature, is limiting. It sets you up for failure instead of success. Do not use other words that give you the possibility of postponing the achievement of your goal. Writing “I’ll lose weight” or “I’m going to lose weight” implies that it will happen in the future but is not urgent. The subconscious mind believes that it can postpone a goal that does not seem urgent. Write your goals in the present tense, in the first person, as if they were currently true… like “I’m losing weight” or “I lose 2 pounds every week.”
6. Visualize: Part of conditioning your subconscious mind is the conscious act of visualization. Once you’ve written down your specific goals, take time out of the day to focus on seeing them happen in your mind. If you want to travel to the Bahamas, for example, think about being there. Imagine sitting on the beach enjoying your favorite drink or sailing on a yacht in the crystal blue water. The more detailed your visualization, the better. It’s best to do it in a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed, but you can really do it at any time of the day. Think of it as a constructive daydream.
7. Divide them: You should divide your goals into daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals. I prefer to use this method instead of using the short or long term because it is not specific enough. By setting specific dates for your goals, you are telling your subconscious when you want to achieve them. It will also allow you to have some order in your objectives, so that they do not mix with each other. Obviously, daily goals are going to be very different from goals that will take a year or more to complete. Think of this practice as a way to maintain control over your goals. It makes sense to do this, since any profitable business sets goals in the same way.
8. Make an association: After you have written down your specific goals, find something that will inspire you to achieve them. Find an object or image that reminds you of each specific goal. For example, if you want a car, find a picture of that car and post it next to your written goal. Even better would be to find a physical object to represent your goal. If, for example, you want to buy a new house, you can find a knocker that represents that goal. Then, when you achieve that goal, you can use that same caller in your new home. Get creative with this technical goal setting!
9. Rewrite: You should rewrite your goals regularly. Just as we as people change over time, so will our goals. Get in the habit of rewriting your goals as often as you can. Take this opportunity to update your goals and make them even more specific. Feel free to rephrase any goals you have yet to achieve, as sometimes that makes all the difference.
10. Read, read and read: The last technique is arguably the most important. You should read your goals EVERY DAY. By now, you should realize that setting goals is really about conditioning your subconscious. By reading your goals (preferably out loud) you are literally telling yourself that you must achieve them. I cannot stress this enough. When you read your goals, you’re not just reminding yourself of them… you’re commanding action. If you just remove this rule, I’ve done my job. Read your goals every day and I assure you that you will have great results.
If you follow all the above rules, I’m sure you’ll start taking the necessary steps to achieve your goals. Remember, goal setting isn’t complicated…it just has to be done the right way!