With the air of optimism in the air, the start of a new year often has us setting new year’s resolutions, goals, and intentions for the year ahead, but according to research, most of us have given up by February. So how can we use this opportunity for reflection and reinvention to set goals and intentions we’ll actually stick to? Positive psychology coach and neuro-linguistic programming expert, Rebecca Lockwood, offers her expert advice on giving yourself the best chance at achieving your goals this year.
“When setting goals and outcomes it's important to ensure you are doing it in a way that supports you and in a way that will embed into your subconscious mind, this makes them not only more achievable but you are more likely to maintain them,” explains Lockwood.
“If you are setting goals for the new year or have already set some goals and outcomes you are working towards you can take this list and go through each of your goals individually and ensure you have met all of these steps to support you to achieve your goals.”
1. STATED POSITIVELY – FOCUS ON WHAT YOU WANT
“A lot of people know what they do not want. They don’t want to be unhappy; they don’t want to put on weight, they don’t want to be single. Most people do just focus on what they don’t want without even realizing it.
“The unconscious mind does not process negatives. If I say to not think about a blue tree, what are you thinking about? You must ensure that you are focusing on what you do want instead. For example, “I will find a partner” instead of “I do not want to be single.”
2. SELF-INITIATED & SELF-MAINTAINED
“Is this down to you? Are you at cause for your goals and outcomes? If you’re not, then you need to evaluate. This means that you need to feel as though you are in control of making them happen, and even if something goes wrong or it takes a little longer you are still able to make it happen.”
3. FULL & SPECIFIC SENSORY-BASED DESCRIPTION OF THE OUTCOME AND THE STEPS TO ACHIEVE IT
“When I write in my diary about achieving my goals, I write about what I will feel, what I will see, what I will smell! Paint a picture in your mind of what you will experience when you achieve it.
“This creates a compelling pull for your subconscious and you will be more likely to take action. Allow yourself to visualize this often; daily for goals you want to achieve fast.”
4. ECOLOGY
“Ask yourself: How does it impact the individual? People around you? The society? The planet?
“How is this going to affect those around me? How will this impact me, my close family, my extended family, my community, and the world? Tapping into this is important to ensure you are aligning with the world around you.”
5. IS THERE MORE THAN ONE WAY TO ACHIEVE IT?
“Don’t be too stuck in one way of making it happen. Allow yourself to be open to achieving your goals in a natural way so you don't feel stuck in a certain method. If things don’t work out then you can just change your approach and try again.”
6. THE FIRST STEP IS SPECIFIED & IS ACHIEVABLE
“Sometimes our outcomes and goals can seem so far away from where we are now. All you need is the first step. Achieving your goals and outcomes is a series of steps in the right direction consistently.”
7. WILL IT INCREASE CHOICE?
“Will having this goal increase choice for you in your life? Thinking about this is important as you never want to limit yourself and your abilities.”
8. GET GOAL-DIGGING
Save these questions for the next time you’re reviewing your goals, and go forth to achieve your wildest dreams yet!
