Goals can be exhilarating or overwhelming. Some live by lists and check marks. Others take one look at the list and give up before they start. Goal setting is like a great game. We need a plan and a realistic look at our opponents and some coaching for victory.
Suit Up for Our Opponents
As we pursue a goal, we may come against opponents. They may be people, circumstances or our mindset.
Unbelief or fear can keep us from reaching our goal. According to psychologists, there is a direct link between a goal that seems impossible and our brain’s role. It is known as low systolic thrust and results in little action. Yet, goals - even if they appear tricky, yet attainable - produce a boost to one’s systolic blood pressure resulting in action.
In addition to our mindset, an absence of support can impact our goal journey. Every person is on a team. Yours may help or hurt you. Our family dog is considered overweight. For a positive change, each family member has to be on the same page with our dog’s with diet and exercise. If one person isn’t a team player, we lose … and so does our dog.
Another opponent is our lack of knowledge. There are resources aplenty on goal setting. Which is the best way? Where do we start? We need a strategy … a game plan.
The Game Plan
Before we discuss HOW to effectively set goals, first we need to ask: “What is our WHY?” Goals matter but the why matters most.
Asking the WHY forces us to take an authentic look at our goal and decide how much we really want it. The same goal may look different for 2 individuals. For example, both Kathy and Susan want to be strong. Being a ranch owner with multiple animals, Kathy wants to gain strength to successfully lift and carry 50-pound feed bags on her property. With an autoimmune disease, Susan desires to become stronger for a healthier lifestyle. Reminding ourselves about our WHY is vital, especially if it gets hard or we lose momentum. Fitness professionals may have a client like Tammy, who shares, “I want more muscle mass”. It is vague, not specific and more probing questions would be needed to get to the WHY. More muscle could be for strength reasons or it could be for body composition such as fat loss. Some goals may require a few more dive deep questions
To keep our goal at the forefront of our mind, it is a good idea to write the goal on paper like a 3 x 5 card. Once we have the WHY, we are ready to sharpen our pencil on the WHAT - getting specific on our goal. Taking Tammy’s goal into consideration, if fat loss is her goal it could be to lose 2-3 pounds a week. With a goal, other details needed are the timeline, how progress will be tracked and if the goal is attainable. But first, the WHY must be dialed in for perseverance and motivation.
It is easy to jump ahead of ourselves with setting goals. It is best to take to the time to think through the WHY of a goal and then put a strategy in place. Coaches don’t send their athletes to the court or field without preparation, practice or a plan.
The Way to Victory
With any goal, first look within to the WHY. Next, be prepared for opponents, huddle with your team, make a plan and adjust as necessary … one play at a time.
(This blog series, Make Spring Your Season for Change, is a 4-part series. Your comments are welcome. Next week's blog will focus on fat loss.)
Suit Up for Our Opponents
As we pursue a goal, we may come against opponents. They may be people, circumstances or our mindset.
Unbelief or fear can keep us from reaching our goal. According to psychologists, there is a direct link between a goal that seems impossible and our brain’s role. It is known as low systolic thrust and results in little action. Yet, goals - even if they appear tricky, yet attainable - produce a boost to one’s systolic blood pressure resulting in action.
In addition to our mindset, an absence of support can impact our goal journey. Every person is on a team. Yours may help or hurt you. Our family dog is considered overweight. For a positive change, each family member has to be on the same page with our dog’s with diet and exercise. If one person isn’t a team player, we lose … and so does our dog.
Another opponent is our lack of knowledge. There are resources aplenty on goal setting. Which is the best way? Where do we start? We need a strategy … a game plan.
The Game Plan
Before we discuss HOW to effectively set goals, first we need to ask: “What is our WHY?” Goals matter but the why matters most.
Asking the WHY forces us to take an authentic look at our goal and decide how much we really want it. The same goal may look different for 2 individuals. For example, both Kathy and Susan want to be strong. Being a ranch owner with multiple animals, Kathy wants to gain strength to successfully lift and carry 50-pound feed bags on her property. With an autoimmune disease, Susan desires to become stronger for a healthier lifestyle. Reminding ourselves about our WHY is vital, especially if it gets hard or we lose momentum. Fitness professionals may have a client like Tammy, who shares, “I want more muscle mass”. It is vague, not specific and more probing questions would be needed to get to the WHY. More muscle could be for strength reasons or it could be for body composition such as fat loss. Some goals may require a few more dive deep questions
To keep our goal at the forefront of our mind, it is a good idea to write the goal on paper like a 3 x 5 card. Once we have the WHY, we are ready to sharpen our pencil on the WHAT - getting specific on our goal. Taking Tammy’s goal into consideration, if fat loss is her goal it could be to lose 2-3 pounds a week. With a goal, other details needed are the timeline, how progress will be tracked and if the goal is attainable. But first, the WHY must be dialed in for perseverance and motivation.
It is easy to jump ahead of ourselves with setting goals. It is best to take to the time to think through the WHY of a goal and then put a strategy in place. Coaches don’t send their athletes to the court or field without preparation, practice or a plan.
The Way to Victory
With any goal, first look within to the WHY. Next, be prepared for opponents, huddle with your team, make a plan and adjust as necessary … one play at a time.
(This blog series, Make Spring Your Season for Change, is a 4-part series. Your comments are welcome. Next week's blog will focus on fat loss.)
RSS Feed
