Be Brave - Set Some Goals!
Fear comes in many shapes and sizes. From “normal” fears such as heights or public speaking to less visible fears related to plunging into the great unknown, many of us struggle in our day-to-day lives with things that scare us and we sometimes don’t even realize it.
Are you in a rut in your personal or professional life? Are you standing at a crossroads but not sure which way to go? Self-doubt, indecision or even constructs like the infamous “golden handcuffs” cause you to freeze in place. Sometimes it’s easier to stand in place than it is to move forward – even when standing in place is the worst thing you can do for yourself. When you’re stuck, you’re not moving forward; when you’re not moving forward, you aren’t growing. Finding ways to get “unstuck” may seem difficult, but it’s not impossible.
Set your goal to be brave and move forward!
Setting goals is a strong first step to getting unstuck. If you’re not setting goals, perhaps it’s time to consider them. (If you aren’t clear on how to set goals that work for you, a life coach can help.) If you are setting goals, it’s time to revisit them. Are your goals SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-based)?
Specific: Goals shouldn’t be ambiguous. It’s far better to say, “Consolidate personal library to fit on three bookshelves” instead of “Clean out the library and get rid of some books.”
Measurable: How will you know if you’ve achieved your goal? Set a metric for yourself: “consolidate library to fit on three shelves,” “remove 10 bags of old clothes,” “schedule at least one networking activity per week” or “exercise three times per week” give you something specific to shoot for.
Attainable: Can you do it, or does the goal require another person? If half of the books in your personal library belong to your roommate, are you actually going to be able to remove their books to achieve your goal of consolidating the collection to fit on three shelves? Remember: The only person you can control is yourself.
Relevant: How does this goal fit into your life? While it’s not uncommon to have a “stretch” goal (and that’s great – they just take longer), sometimes the best goals to work on are the ones that are relevant to where you are in your life right now.
Time-based: Setting a time frame for reaching your goal gives you a deadline and helps you be accountable.
If you’ve never set goals for yourself, it can be daunting. But remember that even the smallest steps can be just what you need to feel enough forward movement to shift out of your rut or to turn a corner. Giving yourself permission to celebrate small successes can give you a boost of self-confidence. Little wins add up to big wins. And everyone deserves big wins!
In the words of Seth Godin, “If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try.”