Setting powerful personal goals gives direction to your life. They make your imagination and vision more tangible, gives you motivation to achieve the same and fills you with confidence. Goal setting is just a plan for future result or possible outcome that you visualize today but if properly done this can become a burning desire that can give whole new direction and meaning to what you do in life.

Most people don’t set goals because either they are scared to put in the labor required to fulfill it or they are very casual about it and underestimate the power of effective goal setting. Whatever be the case they are missing out on this ultimate power as they don’t know the direction to which they need to work. Our brains require clear instructions that are tangible and you can do this by converting your wishes into goals with well laid out plans.

Create A Big Picture

Pool all your thoughts into a journal about the things you want to do or achieve in your life. Remember you have to write down these in your own handwriting as writing gives shape to what is just a vision so far. You are converting intangible into tangible. You are going to create your destiny. Write all whatever comes to your mind. Don’t use generic terms like I want to earn more rather be specific like I want to earn ‘X’ amount per month. Don’t write I want to loose weight rather write I want to reduce 5 Kg in 3 months. Your goals should be clear, specific and measurable.

“Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into visible.”– Tony robbins

Set Big Goals

While writing be very enthusiastic and don’t try to rationalize what you can achieve or not. Plan will come later. It is required that you set really big goals because if you set small puny goals, they won’t have the power to motivate you. As David Schwartz said “Think little Goals and expect little achievements. Think big Goals and win big Success.” Your goals should have power to make you jump out of the bed in morning.

Write your goals for different categories like

Personal Goals: Where you want to be, what qualities you require in yourself as a person. It could be your health goals or some place you want to go. How you want to develop your relations, what you want to study or may be want to get rid of some vices you have.

Career Goals: Where you want to reach, what you want to achieve or may be a second career option. How much money you want to earn or whether you want to retire early.

Possessions Goals: Things that you want to possess. Write all the things you have ever wished for. It may be weird or seem out of reach at present but if it is in your heart write it down.

Spiritual Goals: How you want to contribute to the society, what legacy you want to leave. To connect with your creator and know the real you. What mark you will leave on the planet before you leave.

Put A Timeline

Once you have written all these things put a timeline to it’s completion. Until you set a deadline to each task, your ‘goals list’ will remain a ‘wish list’. Mark various things as per time for completion like one year, three years, five years or twenty years from now.

“A dream is just a dream. A goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline.”– Harvey Mackay

Know Your ‘Why’

Next step will be the most crucial part of the whole goal setting exercise. Below every goal write your reasons. Your reasons or ‘why’ you want to achieve something will decide your drive and determination to complete that task. Write with passion because ultimately your emotions only will give power to these goals. If you don’t feel passionately and find that your reason to complete this goal are not strong enough then revisit the first step and set different and more powerful goals.

Write A Plan

Now for each goal set a plan, write it down even when you don’t understand clearly how you will do it. A broad guideline will be developed on which you start taking action immediately. The key word here is immediately. Don’t wait for some perfect time or situation to start working on the plan, that procrastination will kill the whole thing. Start in a way as it comes to your mind and thereafter remain committed to your goal but flexible in your approach.

Work Consistently With Discipline

Action is a magical thing once you start working your capacity and mental sphere grows and with the constant feedback and review you can tweak your approach and finally achieve what you wanted. As they say if your plan doesn’t work change the plan but never the goal. Work hard with consistency and discipline, and nothing will stop you from achieving your Goals.

Read Your Goals Daily

It is very important that you keep feeding your brain positively about your goals. Keep your goals list at a place where you can read them daily, may be in your journal on your work desk or on your pin-up board. It is vital that they remain visible and you read them daily as that will activate your subconscious mind and will always keep you on track. At night think what you have done today to move closer to your goal. Celebrate when you reach some milestones to get the feeling of achievement. This will motivate you further for your final goal.

Goal setting will make you realize what you really want in life. It will separate the important from insignificant and irrelevant things. Make it a point to keep reviewing your goals from time to time and always keep stretching yourself. Always set your long term goals prior to short term goals.

Goals have the power to transform your life. When you start on this path and even miss some of the goals you will still be a much advanced and improved version of yourself.

Related article: How To Have A Winning Attitude