3 questions that help you set meaningful goals today

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So, we’re almost done with this pandemic year-2020. Pretty much everyone is looking forward to the new year – Awaiting some medicines to cure, some power to pick up the new normal, some determination to restart our lives, some miracles to happen, and so on.

Basically, a fresh beginning is what everyone is thinking about hoping it would bring some amazing stuff alongside.

A new year brings so many hopes, happiness, new aspirations, and many many wishes. More or less, every new year we pack our journals with loads of resolutions and goals. But, at the end of the year, many of us would realize that we have not achieved many and not even touched a few of them.

I should confess that for the past 2 – 3 years I’ve copied the same resolutions from the previous journal 😆 But this year I made up my mind and came up with a plan which I feel can lead me to effective results. 

A brainstorming session before finalizing your goals should be the foremost step in achieving them. Digging deeper into yourself and finding answers for each and every why’s and how’s can help you find your meaningful goals. 

Why should we ask questions?

Because questions have the power to stimulate your innermost conscience and help you identify the right goals. Setting the right goal is crucial to fulfilling it and these questions can ensure whether you’re on the right track.

Ask yourself these upcoming questions before settling down on your goals.

1. What’s the purpose?

Before anything else, you must know why you’re following this particular goal. You need a profound reason why you wish to achieve it. The reason should come from within and it should revolve around you and only you. 

Which means, you should not set goals based on the external factors concerning the outside world.

Drop those goals if you set it

• because of peer pressure

         (OR)

• because it seems glamorous to you

         (OR)

• barely to seek validation from others 

         (OR)

• only for money.

And now, the below examples may tell you, why reasoning a goal is crucially important.  

    “I wanna learn painting” –  Goal without a reason

    ” I wanna learn painting because many of my friends are doing that” – Goal with a flawed reason

    ” I wanna learn painting as I already have an interest in arts. And learning this would enhance my knowledge in arts and would expand my opportunities” – A goal with proper convincing reason.

Now, you can notice the difference, right?

A goal without a reason cannot take you anywhere. It’s like a bus without fuel. There is nothing to drive you towards your goal. Without a purpose, there is a high risk of you procrastinating and not doing it at all.

So, if you can’t give a reason, it’s not meant to be yours. Better not to include them in your list and feel demotivated at the end.

A goal with a flawed reason is like a cat on the wall. It may go either way. As in this example, if you joined a painting course just because your friends are doing so, what are the chances of you becoming successful there? 

Success is secondary. You may not even have fun with it if you don’t have a true interest, right? A goal, instead of making you find your better self, may end up being frustrating and unachievable. 

Only if you start to like painting on your way there, you would become happily successful. And nobody can assure you that. So, try to avoid setting up goals based on others’ choices.

A goal with proper convincing reason can attract you towards it. Reason can stand above the excuses and guide you thru the journey. 

There may be failures or downs on the way. But whenever you feel like quitting it, you need to remind yourself why it’s important to you. And having clarity on the reason can serve the purpose.

2. Does this dream seem to be realistic?

Can you believe that you can achieve this particular goal? Belief, being the most important factor, can help you avoid unnecessary impediments while aiming for heights.

You’d attain it, only if you can see it clearly. Only when you can break the whole idea into smaller chunks. Only when you think you can spare your time and energy towards it. Only when you’re determined enough to call it your own. 

If the idea threatens you, If you feel lost on thinking about the process, If you’re not sure on how to measure your result, If you see a lack of commitment, and if you see the chances of procrastinating the process, IT’S NOT YOURS.

Avoid those overwhelming dreams out from your list. Because they’re just going to lower your self-esteem for not accomplishing them.

Say, for example, If you’re a newbie in the art field and your aim is to have your own art exhibition this year.

If you’re 100kgs and aiming to lose 10 kgs within a month.

Look at the distance you have to travel, the disappointment you’d get and the depression it carries along. 

Instead, aim for learning a new art form and completing 2 or 3 of your own sketchbooks.

Instead of aiming for 10kgs weight loss per month, aim for 1 to 2 kgs per month.

You should also think about your limitations, your strengths, and your weaknesses while writing your goals. If all the above-said things are not in harmony, you may have to revise or change your goal.

3. What are the challenges I may face and how can I overcome those? 

When we set our goals, we would be super-excited about the results that we might sometimes forget to expect the challenges. Most of our goals were not achieved because we have quitted it too early. Soon after we got hit by our first obstacle.

The first failure seems to be more intense as we would be too naive to address one then. If we can respond to it the right way, we’re already halfway there. For that, we need ourselves to be prepared.

Start listing down the challenges you may face. Give time and load it with as many as possible. Now, put yourself in those situations and observe your responses. If you don’t know how to face a problem, you’re most likely to get stuck there. Invest more time and come up with solutions.  

Having said that, you may bump on some “out of the blue” setbacks. Life is about expecting the unexpected, right? So, think of those hidden unexpected surprises, you may experience on your journey. Ask yourself if you still have some real power that can drive you towards this goal. BTW, A meaningful goal has to thrill you and amaze you at the same time. So, don’t set a goal that has no challenges. I don’t think there is one. Still! 

Thoughts put together:

 Goal setting is a power-packed process for planning your future. You can own success only if you can define your goal precisely. By answering these 3 questions, I hope you can set goals that are self-assured. Taking time to arrive at the plan that best suits you makes it more orderly.  So, invest time and do it at your own pace. Don’t rush thru. Be clear, this is not a RACE. GOAL is for BETTER TOMORROWS that should not hinder YOUR TODAYs. 

Good Luck!

 Oh, wait! Meanwhile don’t forget to be grateful for what you already have. These can be someone’s long-term goal too!  Happy goal-setting! Loads of Gratitude,Sri💗

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