“The starting point of all achievement is desire. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desires bring weak results, just as a small fire makes a small amount of heat.” (Napoleon Hill)
There are more and less positive situations in our lives. In every stage of life, we have some desires to change, to grow, we have a dream. We set goals. Sometimes these goals are small in everyday life (e. g. wash the dishes) and sometimes goals are more extensive (e. g. finish school). Any discrepancy between the real/current and the ideal/desired state has a motivating potential.
How to set and achieve your goals:
- Think about what you want and need, find out what areas you are competent in! Many times it is enough to think about yourself and your potentials, and also you can find different tools to get to know yourself even better. However, it makes sense to ask yourself:
- What are my characteristics? Am I more outgoing/energetic or more solitary/reserved? Am I more friendly/compassionate or more critical/rational? Am I more inventive/curious or more consistent/cautious? Am I more efficient/organized or more extravagant/careless? Am I more sensitive/nervous or more resilient/confident? Depending on our personality, it makes sense to set goals, that suit us and also we need more or less time to achieve them (e.g. someone, who is outgoing, usually needs less time to achieve goals, related to public speaking than someone, who is reserved)
- What are my values? What are my beliefs that guide or motivate attitudes or actions, e.g. beliefs about work, family, health?
- What drives me forward? What are factors that encourage and guide my behavior? They can come from myself (e.g. satisfaction for a job well done) or from the environment (e.g. payment for work done).
- What interests me? What are tasks, that make me happy? Which activities I do with enthusiasm, invest all my love, energy and creativity in it?
- What I know and I can do? What are my abilities to do something and actually do it in a given situation (e.g. English language competence may mean that you know how to have an appointment with an English-speaking person in a work environment)?
- Explore the opportunities in the area! It makes sense to think: What resources from the environment can help me to be more successful in studying, working, looking for a job? I may study together with a colleague from the year, find an interesting challenge at work and make contact with the employer with whom you have always wanted to work.
- Set your goals correctly! Ask yourself: Is my goal SMART (Specific - what I want to achieve; Measurable – how do I check progress and goal achievement, Attainable - work towards a goal that is challenging, but possible, Relevant – what I am are capable of, Time Bound - give myself a deadline)?
- Cope with stress effectively! It is important to think: Do I use problem-oriented strategies (e. g. looking for solutions) and fewer ones that serve only emotional relaxation (e.g., seeking emotional support from friends)? The latter should serve you only as a bridge to the initial crisis, and then they must necessarily follow the activities that lead you to the goal.
- Define the steps to the goal! Ask yourself and write it down: What I have already done to achieve my goal and identify what else will I do?
- Adjust the plan according to the situation! Think about: Do I check over and over again, how close am I to reach the goal and depending on the progress, adjust the activities that still need to be done in order to really achieve the goal?
- And I am at the finish line! Be proud: When I reach the goal, I am proud of myself and reward myself.
It seems that a lot of work will have to be put in to achieve the goals, on the way there, failure can happen to you, so remember:
“Most great people have achieved their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.” (Napoleon Hill)
If you run into obstacles on your way to the finish line, then don’t give up. Try again and again and again.
Literature:
Gabor, P. in Dolinar, B. (2012). Kaj si želim in v čem sem dober. Ljubljana: ZRSZ
Reeve, J. (2009). Understanding motivation and emotion: 5th edition. NJ: John Wiley & Sons.