Now that you've had a chance to reflect back on last year, let's see the intention to make the changes you want or that you've been putting off and have a think about how to turn it into reality. If you've missed the reflections article, it's not too late to go through it now (click here) before taking part in the exercise below.
What are your 3 goals for 2018?
I'm currently working with my clients on achieving a variety of goals including having better health, managing stress, getting better quality sleep (or just more sleep!) as well as living a more meaningful life just to give you a few examples. Perhaps they resonate with you.
"I want to improve my health" is a great goal and in my sessions with clients, we talk about what that actually means as the definition of "good health" is different for everyone. Visualising a life where you have good health will provide more clarity as to what you're specifically trying to improve on. It also brings more awareness to your specific challenges in reaching that goal.
To keep that motivation going, knowing the reasons as to why you're trying to make those changes and what it would mean to you and those around you is helpful. Keep reminding yourself of the reasons especially those days where you just don't want to get out of bed early to exercise. It's also nice to share your goal with a supportive friend or loved one. They not only help kick your butt but share in your successes when you achieve your milestones.
Having good health is a process and not something will happen overnight. Be specific in your goal and then set realistic mini-goals to get you there. So a general goal like "I want to improve my health" could become "I want to improve my health so that I can play with my son". Mini-goals could include going to the gym once a week for the first month then gradually increasing that by setting 3 month, 6 months etc... goals. Remember to give yourself a pat on the back for sticking to the plan to make long-term changes.
If you are still finding there's a great leap between having goals and achieving it, there could be some subconscious blocks that are keeping you from your success. I also work with clients on understanding the root causes of these difficulties whether they are negative self-talk or beliefs. By working through these things, it opens up a lot more space to reach your goal.
I love giving exercises for clients to try and here's one for you. Along with coming up with the 3 goals and the mini-goals as stepping-stones, have a think about what in your life depletes and replenishes you. If you need some inspiration, feel free to check out mine below:
Deplete
Fear Of Missing Out #FOMO
Gossip
"Energy Vampires"
Replenish
Asking "is this serving my best interest?"
Be more laser focused at work
Be involved in something you're passionate about
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