Have You Overlooked Something?

The year 2024 has swiftly passed its midpoint. If you've been diligently pursuing your objectives, bravo—you're among the select 9% of goal-achievers globally!

However, if you're like the majority, the question above might have prompted you to recall your New Year's resolutions for the first time in ages.

Do you recall the enthusiasm and anticipation you felt when setting those goals?

Your determination and clarity of purpose were evident, with a clear vision of the transformations you wished to enact.

It's likely that your desire to take control of your life and enact those changes remains strong, so it's not a question of wanting less.

So, what's the hindrance? It's the same obstacle that impedes most of us when we attempt to learn something new or venture into the uncomfortable:

RESISTANCE.

Resistance manifests as self-doubt, fear, unease, anxiety, procrastination, lack of dedication, complacency, and more.

Reflect on the initial months of 2024. What obstacles of resistance have been hindering your progress towards your goals?

The downside is that half the year is almost gone. The upside is that you still have six months to make 2024 your most successful year yet.

There's still an opportunity.

Many individuals need to become more adept at setting realistic goals.

Annually in January, people typically jot down two to three goals in each of the following areas: personal finance, relationships, career/business, spirituality, and personal development.

In fact, this year, the top six New Year’s resolutions were to enhance physical fitness, financial health, mental well-being, weight loss, dietary improvements, and spending more quality time with loved ones.

But here's what typically occurs: We're advised to prioritize our goals, set deadlines for achieving them, and compile a list of tasks to reach those goals by the specified date.

Unfortunately, this approach to goal-setting often results in failure.

Consider how many Januaries have come and gone with you writing down goals; by June, you've barely glanced at them; by December, they remain unaccomplished. This happens because they seem overwhelming and unattainable.

Setting goals is more than just fantasizing about the life you desire.

It's about crafting a life vision where you successfully reach your goals without being bound by strict deadlines.

The idea of not setting a time limit for your goals might seem unconventional.

However, by imposing a time constraint on a goal that you're unlikely to achieve, your mind may perceive it as unattainable, leading to feelings of being overwhelmed and a decrease in productivity.

Conversely, if you set your goals for a distant future, your mind might convince you that there's ample time to start working towards them, leading to procrastination and inaction.

When you envision a life where you've achieved your goals or are reaping the rewards of your efforts, you're more likely to work towards those goals and avoid failure.

Next, establish "process tasks" that guide you towards your vision and its realization.

It's almost a cliché, but become enamored with the journey, not just the destination.

The gap between where you stand and where you aspire to be is spanned by a series of habits and tasks that will lead you there.

These tasks should have a timeline and strategies, which you should initiate and monitor using any time management and productivity tools that you find beneficial. Failing to regularly assess your progress will result in stagnation, and next year you might find yourself in the same position.

Achieving your goals is about keeping them at the forefront of your mind and consciousness, ensuring that you make consistent progress in your task list daily to maintain momentum, much like staying close to a fire to retain warmth.

Setting goals isn't just about identifying tasks; it's about uncovering your true life aspirations and the person you aspire to be, and mapping out a route to the destination that unlocks your best life.