Three myths about goal setting that everyone should know.
It's that time of the year when everyone and their dog are setting new years resolutions, goals, and plans for the rest of the year. Some people have jumped straight into it come 1st January. Others have taken a slower start to the year and are working up to it. But, wherever you're at, according to Strava, by the second Friday in January, you could be one of the thousands of people that will have given up on their new year's resolutions.
Here are three myths that might be holding you back from getting to where you want to be.
Creating a SMART goal is enough.
Ensuring your goal is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound will help immensely. But you need more than that for you to succeed. So before you even get to that point, exploring what success looks like for you regarding this goal is essential. How will you feel when you've achieved it? What will be happening to you? How will achieving this goal impact your life? How will not achieving this goal have an impact on your life?
Also - does the goal need to be more than just achievable? I think so. If it's already within your reach, you're not going to be excited by it or feel any real pull to try to make it happen.
Once you've set the goal, you can't change it.
You're not writing these goals in stone; even if you were, that wouldn't matter. YOUR GOALS CAN CHANGE. Because you change all the time - probably without realising it. As you encounter new people, have new experiences, and your values evolve, your goals will likely change too.
So don't feel bad or guilty if the goal you set for yourself six months ago isn't happening and doesn't light you up anymore. By all means, change it, but make sure you delve deeper into why you're making the change. If it's just because 'it's too hard and I feel overwhelmed' - try to break your goal down into bitesize actions for you to take, and don't overthink the end goal.
All you need to do is write down your goal.
Writing down your goal doesn't mean it's going to happen. That's not how goal setting (or manifesting, for that matter) works. However, writing your goal down does mean you're 42% more likely to achieve it. It also gives you a chance to get clear on what you want to achieve and why (see point one), but it's more than that. Once you've got the goal down on paper, it's time to work backwards, plan, and then get someone to hold you accountable! Then, get ready to take intentional action every day to get you where you want to be.
What other myths do I need to explore regarding goal setting?
Let me know in the comments! If you need help navigating these pitfalls, get involved with On Track - the 90-day accountability and goal-setting programme starting on 23rd January.
On Track Programme
Starting on 23 January, 2023, this goal setting and accountability programme will help you set goals and actually achieve them!
