What does goal setting mean to you, and what role does it play in your life?
It seemed a bit of a contradiction for my second blog to be about goal setting. The truth is that I had set myself a goal to achieve by May 17th this year, and I did not achieve it.
In fact I got back from a holiday to Bali at the beginning of June, and I was further away from achieving any of my fitness goals then what I had ever been before.
Well that was four weeks ago and a hell of a lot can change in four weeks.
So why didn’t I achieve my goal of May 17th?? It all comes down to MINDSET. Mentally I was not switched on to achieve it. I was lost, and hopeful, and I thought that somehow just by saying I had a goal, that all other things would fall into place, somehow that would make me switch on. It’s the difference between saying “I’d like to look good in a bikini this summer”, and saying “I AM going to look un-freaking-believable in a bikini this summer.” Saying that you would “like” to is wishful thinking, telling yourself that you are going to, and believing yourself when you say it, now that sounds a bit more like an action plan!!
Since my rude awakening following my return from Bali, I have had four solid weeks of good clean nutrition and hard training. I am happy to say that the calliper results are reflecting the work and effort I am putting in. I feel that now more than ever in my life that my fitness goals are achievable, and that they and within arms reach. I’m not even half way there yet; but I can still feel it within my grasp, eight more weeks of hard, consistent and unfailing work away.
Here are six steps that I believe will help flick your motivated switch to ON :
1. SET yourself a clear goal.
2. DEVELOP habits and strategies that will support the achievement of this clear goal.
3. Seek ADVICE from people who can assist you to reach your goals - get yourself a coach. I could not do it without mine.
4. Make yourself ACCOUNTABLE – plan when you are going to exercise, prepare your meals a day in advance and keep a personal food diary to ensure that you stay on track.
5. VISUALISE and positive REINFORCEMENT –Envisage yourself achieving your goal and continually reinforce to yourself that you ARE going to achieve that goal.
6. Continually REASSESS – take measurements and keep a record so that you can track your progress. For the past four weeks I have been doing a fifteen minute Biosignature with my coach at the same time every week to monitor my progress. This ensures that I am staying on track, and that each week I am that bit closer to achieving my goal (for more information on what Biosignature is please feel free to email me).
7. Apply SELF-DISCIPLINE – You can surround yourself with positive, encouraging and supportive people who all want to see you achieve your goals, but ultimately the final responsibility rests with YOU. You need to consistently organise yourself and work with determination and commitment if you are to achieve the success you truly deserve.
For some mid week reading here are two of my favourite articles written about goal setting:
1. http://www.goalmaker.com/whyset.html
2. http://www.sportscoachingbrain.com/the-psychology-of-winning-how-to-develop-a-winning-attitude-in-high-performance-sport/
At the end of the day, when I look back and reflect on my life I don’t want to think of all the dreams I had. I don’t want to think about what could have, what might have, what should have been. Rather when I reflect on my life I want to be able to look back and think of everything I have accomplished – everything I did, everything I have done. Knowing that instead of hoping and wishing for dreams to come true, I was ambitious. I acted with purpose, I planned and I executed – I achieved my goals.
So what are you waiting for? Go set some goals people!!
