4 Easy Ways to Achieve Any Goal You Want

— Dream big even if that feels impossible right now.

Anyone can set a few goals, it’s not that difficult, but how do we achieve them?

We’ve heard about setting short-term and long-term goals, write them down, and voila! — we’ve achieved them.

Not always the case, but why is this?

I think most of us can honestly say that setting goals sounds easy in theory, but when it comes to something we really want, it just doesn’t seem to happen. It’s because we are approaching it in the wrong way.

There are 2 views on goalsetting, one that they are the answer to everything and the other is — what’s the point?

In the past, I didn’t consider myself to be a goal-setter. My brother, who works in the corporate world used to say, ‘What are your long-term and short-term goals?’

I would look at him like he’d gone mad and think ‘He’s surely been brainwashed by those Americans!’

But, a few years later, out of curiosity I trained as a life coach. I thought, ‘Maybe there’s something to this goal-setting thing, after all? Could I make it work for me?’

The first question I needed to tackle was if goal-setting was meddling with my destiny. Was I forcing things to happen that perhaps, were not meant to be?

Does goal-setting interfere with our destiny?

What I discovered was that goal setting is just a tool we use to help us to get to our destination, as it helps us to focus and get in alignment with our purpose. You can be flexible with it.

If you set your intentions, you will be directed as you move forward. If your goals are not good then how can God bless them?

When you have integrity and seek the good of others, above self-gain, you will be blessed.

So, why not give it a go?

This is how I learned to set goals that keep me moving forward however slow that may be. You can go at your own pace by setting time frames that work for you.

So I take time to consider what I would like and how that would be fulfilling for me. Would it bring me peace and happiness?

I take into account my responsibilities. Are there people I need to care for and what are my financial responsibilities, etc?

When I look back on things I’ve done and enjoyed, they all started with a thought. I would write it down and then put it into action.

For example, when I decided to write here on Medium. It started as an idea, then I researched it, and step by step I got myself here. It didn’t just happen. I had to think first and then take action.

We could say that goal setting is thinking on paper.

I was chatting about this with another writer here on Medium and he said, “We don’t even know what we want, so how can we set goals?” I thought it was a good point, I don’t always know what I want either, but I have an idea. And that’s the only place where we can start.

What do you think you would like to change or improve in your life?

You may need to do some digging to discover or uproot your hidden desires.

Start with small wants and build up to bigger ones as you gain more courage, faith, and confidence.

Gifts, talents, and skills

What gifts and talents do you have and enjoy that could be used for a higher purpose and also provide for you financially?

What about your relationships? Are they healthy? If not, why not, and can you improve them? Or how can you attract more suitable people into your life?

Goal setting is ultimately about change

When we feel trapped or stuck, we can develop a bad attitude. This usually happens because we don’t know where we are going and our life lacks meaning and purpose.

Other people seem to be getting ahead, but you feel stuck and wonder why.

We can feel powerless when we find ourselves in this position. We don’t know how we got into it, and we certainly don’t know how to get out, so we just stay put, while resenting others who are moving forward.

Really though, we are just mad with ourselves.

Set goals that inspire you

To achieve a goal, you need to consciously decide that you want it, that it’s important to you, and be willing to make a daily commitment to achieving it.

Goals bring clarity, focus, motivation, purpose, direction, meaning, and movement.

Your goals need energy, so if you set goals that are too small and easy to achieve, it’s not as exciting.

Goal setting is about setting targets for the future that you can only dream of right now. They must inspire you!

What do I mean, they must inspire you? They must be more than you can see right now. You must dig deep to find what’s stirring within you that wants to live.

It’s an act of faith to put your dreams into action. Don’t let your dreams lie dormant within you. You can make them a reality by just taking small actions every day.

Maybe you think, what if I set goals and then when I achieve them, I don’t want them, or it’s not as good as I had hoped?

This could happen, but you will feel good for having tried, and then you can turn around and move in a new direction.

God can only direct our steps when we are moving, however slowly that may be.

You are more likely to succeed if the goal is connected to who you are. Every goal is about a feeling. An emotional connection drives the goal.

Harvey Mackay states that,

‘Goals give you more than a reason to get up in the morning; they are an incentive to keep you going all day. Goals tend to tap the deeper resources and draw the best out of life.’

— Harvey Mackay

So, here goes…are you ready?

4 Easy Ways to Achieve Any Goal You Want…

1. Have a strong reason or purpose

Is it what you want deep down? Ask yourself, not being influenced by someone else, society, or culture. This is to give the strong emotional support needed for achieving your goal.

Why do you want it?

What if you don’t achieve it?

Why does it matter?

What difference does it make if you indeed achieve it?

Be clear about what you want and why you want it. Have a sense of purpose, with a target to aim for. Then stay focused on this goal.

2. Find a meaningful measurement for your goal

Look at how many tasks or things you do that move you towards your goal, regardless of whether or not they are successful.

For example, you may have researched 3 business ideas for your new business venture, and made 5 phone calls. This is progress regardless of the actual results. You have started.

To accomplish anything worthwhile means experiencing many small successes and failures along the way.

So long as you keep going, keep trying, keep making progress, keep working on your goal, you will eventually achieve it. It requires persistence.

3. Focus on spending enough time on your goals

Spending time on goals is crucial. Have a notebook just for this. If you don’t write it down, it’s just a wish. Commit to the time required to bring about your goal/s.

We tend to underestimate the amount of time it takes to accomplish something we want — we get impatient, we tend to lose heart when we don’t see results sooner.

Eventually, this kind of impatient state of mind will sabotage your goal. Ask people who have achieved goals, how long did it take?

4. Form a habit of reviewing your goals every day

Be consistent with putting action steps in towards achieving your goal. Keep reviewing your goals daily. You must write your goals down. It helps to inform your brain that things are going to change. Put them in a place where you will look at them every day.

You may refine them each time you look at them, this is good. The more specific and simple your goal is, the easier it will be for your mind to process the information and move you in the direction of achieving that goal.

— Takeaway

So, achieving your goals in life is possible!

For you to feel excited about your goal, you must choose something that you’d really like.

We don’t always know what we truly want, but this is part of the process. You must love yourself enough to take the time to think about what you want in life.

The reason I say your goals must inspire you is that you won’t achieve the goal without being emotionally connected to it. A rational thought alone won’t do it.

You must first see yourself having it and enjoying it. Visualize yourself having it, living it, being it.

The higher your goal, the more positive emotion you will need. So, spend time imagining yourself having it. Dream of it and connect with the emotions you feel.

Do you feel happy? accomplished? content? powerful? free? peaceful?

Remember, it is a process and you must be willing to go through the different stages to achieve it. Start with small goals as that will motivate you towards going for the bigger ones.

I wish you every success in making your dreams a reality.

Goal setting is an effective tool for helping you to achieve your goals if used correctly and properly understood.