Often when we set goals, we inadvertently set ourselves up for failure before we even begin! Now, does that make sense to you? Of course it doesn’t but in our haste to have it all, many people set goals that have no basis in reality and are quite simply unattainable. And so you are in trouble before you even get off the ground.
Goal-setting is an incredibly important (and useful) part of the process for anyone who wants to achieve more success and have a richer, more fulfilled life. Realistic dreaming is the precursor to effective goal-setting. Let me explain what I mean by this…
The whole reason behind setting a goal is to accomplish something that is bigger, better, or more advanced in some way than what you have now, or where you are in your life at present. The trouble is that if you set a goal that is simply too big, you will know subconsciously, if not consciously, that you are going to struggle and this creates negativity at the onset, because you will likely be in a state of overwhelm before you even begin! A goal that seems unattainable may very well be that so you need to be aware of this.
Or, it may simply be a case of breaking this big goal into smaller interim goals as guideposts along the way. This is a good practice to get into whatever the size of the goal as it gives you a clear roadmap.
Dreaming realistically sets the tone for the big goals. A bigger home, expensive car, personal bests in any area of your life – those are the big goals, the be-all and end-all. The ultimate prize. But instead of only dreaming of the big stuff, allow yourself to have some goals that come after the initial start, but before the ultimate finish as these are the milestones that will keep you embraced in the journey.
So, if you set a goal to lose 100 pounds, and that’s the big, ultimate accomplishment, set smaller milestone for 10 pounds, 20 pounds, 50…you get the idea. Going from zero to 100 seems like it will take a lifetime and can cause you to doubt that it can be achieved. But going from zero to 10, on your way to 100, seems a much more realistic and attainable scenario.
Realistic dreaming isn’t negatively stating to yourself that you “can’t accomplish a goal that big”, or that “you’ll never be able to do that”. Rather, realistic dreaming is starting from the beginning with logical, realistic smaller goals that will help you to take the action you need to take to achieve the big end goal, while enjoying and learning from the process, as well. This will ensure that you are much more likely to stay the course and reach your eventual big goal.
And don’t forget to reward the small goals you reach along the way. Small successes turn into big achievements, so they shouldn’t be downplayed. In fact, just the opposite – even the small successes should be celebrated big time!
Start your goal-setting from the very beginning with realistic dreaming, and you’ll find that you reach your end goals easier, and you enjoy the process that much more.
