Stop focusing on just the goal …
Now don’t get me wrong, we all need goals. Goals give us hope and direction on the path we want to go on. They are essential in our everyday lives to get things done. But is there anyone else who gets overwhelmed with their goals because they have so many? I can write a two-page essay with my list of long-term, and short-term goals front and back. Giving you every detail on what I want to accomplish and why. I have goals for every area in my life — I’m extra, I know. I’ll even ask about your goals on a first date. But life isn’t all about goals. Adulting has made me realize that structure is more important than just having goals.
You can write out as many goals as you want, but in order for goals to become a reality, you have put in extra work. We often lack in accomplishing our goals because the work to do it becomes overwhelming from lack of organization. Case in point, myself. I have a goal to create an e-book — I have all the material I need, I just have to sit down and create it. Where I lack in accomplishing my goal is in my approach or structure. You can write out as many goals as you want, but in order for goals to become a reality, you have put in extra work. How can anyone even reach their goals without the effort? It’s a “duh” moment that we all sometimes let slip our minds. We want more than we put in work.
“Without effort, a goal is just a dream.”
This past week has been emotionally one of the hardest weeks of my life. Certain situations amplified my need to accomplish my list of goals immediately — which ultimately overwhelmed me when I finally looked at them. I started to become discouraged. Goals aren’t supposed to overwhelm you — they are there to excite you.
So I asked myself, “why am I so anxious?”
I had to take a minute and realize that I was anxious because I now have more on my plate then I can handle at once. How can I get all of this done when I don’t even know where to start? I never wanted my goals to become a burden for me. So, I let go of the thought of accomplishing my goals and focused on what I could do to reach those goals. We sometimes focus on the end before we begin which turns most off before they reach the peak.
Sitting down at my ghetto homework office aka my bed — I laid out my goals and steps I needed to take to reach them, or get close to them. As I wrote down these steps I realized that they had a common theme in the steps. I decided to turn that theme into my focus and it helped me get started with my journey to my goals instantly. No, this isn’t a magical way for you to accomplish your goals. This is a different way of thinking so that you can accomplish your goals and achieve that success you know you deserve.
3 Intentions to focus on instead of goals …
A schedule: I cannot stress enough how much a planner or content calendar will save your life. I have a notebook planner and I use my phone planner. Scheduling days off and days you work on certain aspects will help ease anxiety, give you structure, and limit your time wasted. There have been many days where I wake up and wanted nothing to do with social media. Having a schedule helped me on those down days because I know exactly what I need to do and when. Everything I need is there, I don’t have to think of what I need to do. Focus on making your life easier and not stressful.
Discipline: You can write out your goals and have a schedule for the week ready by Sunday, but it’s all about your discipline in doing what you said you would. I sometimes fall victim to discipline — I’m a rebel and like to do things on my own time, but my time will not get me where I need to be. Focus on disciplining yourself and holding yourself accountable. Discipline will help you reach your goals faster than you’ve ever imagined.
Happiness: Will your goals bring you happiness? As humans, we desire many things. Not knowing if those things will make us happy, we just HOPE they will. What’s the point of reaching a goal that isn’t really a goal you specifically wanted? Your happiness should be the main focus of your goal-reaching. Your goals are for you — no one else. Focus on your happiness first before making any plans or goals. Write down what will make you happy and what makes you happy right now. Compare the two and create a goal that will bring you pure joy. Always remember your happiness is key.
Goals are our dream realities — sometimes you have to stop dreaming and focus on the journey rather than the destination to accomplish what you desire.
xox Black Daria