Your Goals
In terms of your goals and what that might mean, my first question is, do you have any? My second question is, why not?
If you have come to the point of realising that it is time for change in some aspect of your life, that realisation usually comes after a feeling of discomfort, boredom, depression, frustration, irritability, resentment or other similar feeling.
Notice that all these feelings would be labelled as "negative" by most people and negative thoughts are supposed to be avoided...right?
Negative thoughts only become toxic and damaging if they are ignored. Nobody I know likes being ignored and feelings are no exception. If you ignore your own feelings, you are ignoring your own body's intelligent navigation system. If you do that it is to your detriment as you are dismissing a symptom that is there for your personal, professional or relational growth.
If feelings remain unacknowledged, sublimated or just disregarded, they gather energy. Feelings are like a small child wanting your attention and will become louder and louder until addressed. A part of yourself that is wanting or needing expresssion and is being ignored or pushed away instead, will create depresssion or some other psychological or physical symptom.
So your feelings then, are your friend and the first indication that some aspect of your life is ready for change. This is where setting your goals becomes an important next step.
The steps leading up to setting your goals are as follows:
- How am I feeling?
- Am I feeling comfortable and my life is in flow?
- If I have some negative feeling what is it wanting me to know?
- I'll sit quietly and explore this or these feelings and sense what is wrong. What isn't working in my overall best interests?
- What needs to change?
- Am I motivated to change?
- What are my new goals to be?
- What resources do I already have?
- What further resources do I need?
- What is my action plan?
Setting Your Goals
Are your goals S M A R T?
- S - Specific or Significant
- M - Measurable or Meaningful
- A - Attainable or Action-oriented
- R - Relevant or Rewarding
- T - Time bound or Trackable
Published on May 22, 2014
Learn more at www.decisionskills.com. When setting or evaluating goals, consider using the acronym SMART. Using SMART provides structure that helps ensure goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound.