FAILING TO PLAN IS PLANNING TO FAIL

Are you ready to make a plan for yourself?

Now that New Year has started, have you established some realistic goals for your future?

Are you thinking, how do I get started?

How can I create significant results?

If you’d read my last month’s blog topic on “In With the New and Out With the Old,” you’ll have a keen understanding of how important it is to set yourself up for measurable success in meeting your intended goals. Intentions are just that; what you “intended” to do but not what actually did. Everyone has intentions but not everyone takes actions. What happens is based on the choices you make plus the actions you take, plain and simple. The old adage “Actions speak louder than words” is apropos here. 

If you give yourself the gift of some quality "down" time to carefully reflect on the changes you feel the most strongly about, then you are ready to create a plan for this year. By tapping into your inner most self or what I refer to as your “inner work,” you will have most likely generated a mental list to build upon. If you feel stuck with this portion and feel unable to move forward, ask yourself this provocative question and see what spontaneously bubbles up to the surface. Sometimes one must first come up with the powerful question before an answer will appear. A simple way to effectively stimulate your thinking is to ask this question:

            What do I want that I am not getting?

The three differences between having a tangible goal and a visionary dream are accountability, a definite timeline and lastly measurable results.

To become accountable, to establish a chronological timeline and measure your results utilize these steps:

·      Visualize and create a documentable list of things you wish to accomplish in the next month, next 90 days and by this time next year. Your items can be categorized into short, middle and long-term goals. Post this list where you will be able to refer to it regularly. As a suggestion, have your list displayed on your bathroom mirror, on your personal computer monitor or even on your phone. The key is to allow it to be a constant visible reminder to follow through and not slack off or quit altogether. You have now made a serious commitment to yourself to execute your desired goals to benefit your well-being.

·      Make an action plan with multiple steps to begin to fulfill each of your listed goals. The metaphorical question: "How do you eat an elephant?" The answer is "in small bites." If a goal has become unattainable, too difficult or unrealistic, then re-evaluate it to better fit your expectations. If necessary, re-negotiate your plan, as needed. You can always add another goal and raise your aim higher, once you have accomplished the preceding ones. You are now in the position to better manage yourself and hold yourself fully accountable for the outcome(s) you foremost wanted.

·      Lastly, check in with your results. Have you accomplished what you intended to do? What is solid evidence that your actions have succeeded in providing the outcomes you wanted? A life coach can assist you to indentify your challenges, help you with strategizing a concrete plan and hold you accountable to your chosen personal vision.

In order to get anywhere, we must learn to walk before we are able to run. It’s very important to always reward yourself for your efforts. Research has shown that heavy doses of self-criticism and self-doubt re both counterproductive to increased motivation and self-control. By being both self-supportive and compassionate you are being kind to yourself. Even with occasional setbacks, you can re-adjust your plan's outline and be self-forgiving in the process. It will bring you more satisfaction in receiving what it is you really want.  Both small and sizeable action steps bring you that much closer to attaining your personal goals. You have led yourself that much closer to manifesting what it is you wanted to achieve in the first place! Congratulations to you! Keep up your efforts by investing the time and energy in yourself. Don’t give up easily – you are really worth it!

As always, I invite your comments.