What is Involved in the Goal Setting Process?

When you begin to work out your goals you need to make them as specific as possible. A vague idea or generalization will not excite your imagination and get your subconscious mind behind it, so you need to be as specific and vivid as possible. You can always refine and change your goals as time passes and situations change. You can always add to your goals later too, so don't let some uncertainty stop you making a goal initially. Just go for it!

Try to make your goals realistic and achievable. Don't set a goal which is too difficult, but likewise don't set a goal which is so easy that it will fail to excite and inspire you. Set lots of small, achievable goals and work step by step to achieve your road to success. Stay positive. Believe in yourself and your abilities to succeed, even if other people doubt you or try to put you off your goals.

Here is a step by step process to go through when setting your goals, to ensure that they are practical, achievable and recordable.

1. You may want to begin your goal setting with the big picture. Start with a general theme of what or where you want to improve.

2. Assess your current situation. Where are you now? What don't you like about it? What could happen if things don't change?

3. What do you want instead? Identify what goal you are moving toward because that should be your final, ultimate outcome.  This is very important in goal setting. If your mind doesn't have a picture of what you are moving towards, how can you get there?

4. Are you capable of achieving this goal? Are there things that you need to learn or skills you need to acquire? Do you need other people to help you if you are going to successfully achieve this goal?

5.  How have you progressed? Compare how much better it is now with a benchmark in the past. This step is almost always missing in goal setting directions. Take the time to celebrate your movement towards a goal. By noticing how far you have come, and allowing yourself a small reward for progress made, it gives you a renewed impetus to move forward again.

6.  Where, when, how, with whom will you achieve your goal? You should adjust your goal to make sure that it fits.

7. Make your Goal Multi-sensory. Engage all of your senses in the description of your goals. This works by employing more of your brain and nervous system and investing more power in the achievement of your goals.

What will you see, hear, feel, etc., when you have achieved your goal?

What is the evidence that you've achieved it?

8. What steps are involved in Reaching your goal? Take things one step at a time and you can achieve your goals.

9. Be specific about what you want in terms of your overall goal.

10. List all the resources (people, psychological states, time, capital, equipment, or material) necessary for you to achieve your goal and think about where and how you will get those.

11. Name all the possible obstacles to overcome and try to think pf them in order of importance or severity.

12. Based on the obstacles listed you identified think of all the necessary actions to overcome those obstacles.

13. Make sure you put your goal into a format which you find compelling.

When you see your goal, make sure you see yourself having obtained your goal.