Faith and religion are some of the few topics that are considered taboo at work, along with politics. In general, we simply avoid talking about faith at work. In most, if not many instances, we also don’t see how faith can integrated with our work, or how it could impact it in any way. We tend to separate our faith with our careers, believing that they are two entirely different areas of our lives.
I used to do the same, until I realized that if my faith is an integral part of who I am, then it also impacts my career and the work I do. Whatever is part of your experience, mindset or worldview, does influence your career as well.
It took me a long time to find a way to accept and integrate my faith and career in a way that didn’t deny either. If you’re wondering how you can also do it for yourself, here are 5 lessons I learnt:
Acknowledge where you stand
One of the most important aspects of integrating your faith and your work is to acknowledge where you stand. Being realistic about where you’re at in terms of your personal and professional growth, as well as in your career, will help you assess the best ways to integrate your faith and work.
Use your faith as motivation to excel
My faith has always been behind my motivation to genuinely and authentically succeed. It’s also been the substance of my hope and resilience, even as I faced professional obstacles and roadblocks. Having faith allowed me to believe in a higher purpose for my existence, which in turn translated into doing the best work I could in whatever capacity I was in.
It’s less about religion than about how you do your work and live your life
When we talk about faith and work, many people often think that it’s about religious expression, which can be perceived negatively in the workplace. However, I’ve found that it’s more about how you choose to live your life than about your actual beliefs. Your ethical values, as well as the way you treat your work and the people around you, say more about what you believe in than any religious symbol would.
Preserve your authenticity
In my instances, I’ve found myself considering whether I should wear a mask at work when it came to my faith. However, I realized that what we believe in is nothing we can really, or should, hide. Part of being authentic, in and outside of the workplace, is preserving who we truly are by not denying our beliefs. This doesn’t equate imposing our beliefs on others. However, it also doesn’t require being inauthentic in that aspect.
Take advantage of what your organization offers
Many organizations and businesses offer places of worship catering to various faiths and beliefs, which is a wonderful sign of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. I have taken advantage of these, and have found that it’s brought a certain level of peace and serenity in my day. It’s ok to integrate your work and your faith in this way as well, and honoring your organization’s efforts and commitment to the diversity of their employees.
All in all, integrating your faith and work is not as complex as it may seem. It can actually help you bring more motivation, peace and serenity in your work, while keeping your authenticity intact.
Now your turn: How do you integrate your faith and work?
Have you ever introduced yourself by saying something along the lines of “I’m a doctor”, or “I’m a professor”, or whatever your profession may be? Is your job title one of the first things you utter when introducing yourself? Do you have a hard time talking about yourself outside of your job?If you’ve answered any of these questions with a resounding “yes”, or have nodded at any of these, chances are you may have been using your career to define you. And so many working women, and men for that matter.
For the longest time, I extracted much of my value from my career and professional credentials. As a Black woman especially, it seems having a viable and successful career, despite the odds you may be facing, may give you added credibility. It’s hard to enter any networking room without letting your career or professional credits precede you. As much as it may be necessary in some settings, it may also prompt us to define ourselves, not by who we are, but by what we do. This became even more obvious to me as I transitioned careers and had the hardest time detaching myself from what I used to do. I literally had to train my mind to think of myself in a different way, to the point of having to ask myself who I had become in the process of getting so absorbed in my career.
The danger is we often get so imbibed with our work that we fail to keep in touch with ourselves as we grow and evolve. This gets us even further stuck into routines and processes that may not be beneficial for us, since we have lost touch with what our current needs, skills, talents and abilities truly are. As a result, we deprive ourselves of fruitful and beneficial opportunities to create the work and life of our dreams.
In a world that’s obsessed with titles and external appearances on glossy Instagram pages, how can one manage not to let his/her career, as successful as it may be? Does it mean that we would abdicate success in our careers, or miss out on opportunities? Actually not. As a matter of fact, it can actually boost your career. The clearer you are about who you are, even as you grow and evolve, the more you’re able to pour into your career, in a more intentional and successful way.
Here are 7 ways not to let your career define you:
Re-evaluate your mindset about your career
Much of our mindsets about our careers and the work we do is inherited. Your parents may have passed on some of their beliefs about work. Or it may have been your family and friends, or even your current or past co-workers. These beliefs may have pushed you to define yourself according to your career. In certain cultures for instance, as in many African cultures, many parents direct their children towards prestigious careers such as engineering, medicine, or other similar professions…
This is why it’s so important to re-evaluate and change your mindset about work, and your career in general. Yes, you need to pay the bills and care for yourself and your family. However, you also need, and deserve, to maximize your potential and be fulfilled at work. Which brings us to…
Learn to decipher your Purpose
There has been a lot of talk recently about purpose and life mission. It seems everywhere you turn, there’s a new slogan about following your purpose and being purposeful. However, the prospect of finding and applying something as big as your purpose can be daunting, and quite frankly, discouraging. It’s much simpler to do the “normal” thing, have a cushy job, climb the corporate or business ladder, pay your bills, and live a regular life.
There was a moment in my own career when I asked myself the question: “Is this it? Is this all there is?” Not that I was ungrateful for the many blessings I had professionally. Yet, as you may have experienced, there was a yearning in me to do more and stretch my potential further, as far as it could go. I just didn’t know how.
The key to learning to decipher one’s Purpose (it’s a process) is to learn to recognize who you are and what you are made of. This often starts with your passions and desires. What do you love to do? What natural skills and talents do you have? What sets you on fire? For me, it was recognizing that I’ve always had a talent and passion for writing. Through this, I uncovered a desire to teach and share as well.
Understand that your purpose can take different forms at different times of your life
What I came to understand is that Purpose can take many different forms at different points in your life. While your ultimate purpose may be to serve women, for instance, in this season, you may have to stay committed to reaching the top of your industry. In the next season, purpose may take you into business creation and expansion.
The point is, while it’s important to understand your purpose, it’s also crucial not to define yourself by where you’re at on the way to where you’re going.
Align your career with your purpose
Yes, this is easier said than done. While we often look at the Oprahs of this world, living and working in the fullness of their purpose, it can be a tad bit more challenging when it comes to our lives. After all, we don’t wake up like Beyonce, don’t have Soul Sundays like Oprah, and definitely need our lives fixed by Iyanla. Yet who said aligning our careers with our purpose meant emulating Oprah’s work? Or being as accomplished as Beyonce right away?
As a matter of fact, it may just be as simple as starting with some subtle changes to our schedules and work. Passionate about writing? Start freelancing on the side. In love with fashion design? Consider volunteering on the side or even as part of your 9-to-5 if possible. Eyeing a top position in a discipline you don’t consider yourself qualified for? Consider internal rotations at your company, informational interviews or getting a mentor in this field.
The point is, aligning your career with your purpose is not an overnight process. However, you can begin with a few small steps, from hustling on the side, to volunteering for projects at work, and even sharing your interests and passions. A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step…
Cultivate authentic relationships
One of the reasons why we may tend to define ourselves by the work we do is sometimes because we lack the authentic and genuine support to help us become the best version of ourselves. You’ve heard the saying, you’re the sum of the five people you surround yourself with. The less authentic and the more superficial your relationships, the more you’ll tend to not show up as your most authentic self.
As a result, you may be looking for any external foundation to define yourself, such as your career. The right circle and networks will push you to become the best version of yourself, which in turn will allow you to do your best work intentionally. Yet, it all starts with you!
Don’t limit yourself
Many of us remain stuck in the box of our careers. If we’ve started a career in a certain field, we feel compelled to stay in the same field for fear of losing the experience and credentials we’ve built over time. I know I was in the same situation. After almost a decade in the corporate world, transitioning careers seemed impossible because I had defined myself this way for so long.
Limiting yourself to your past and current experiences as well as to defining yourself in a certain professional light will keep you from your personal best. Learn to see the many opportunities around you to apply your skills and talents, whether acquired or natural. Besides, you may not realize how much you’re able to re-purpose your experience, even at the personal level, to further professional and personal pursuits.
Be open to opportunities
Along the same lines, being open to new opportunities, as foreign as they may seem, will also keep you out of a restrictive “career box”. In Year of Yes, Shonda Rhimes explains how she committed to opening herself to new experiences by simply saying yes to these opportunities. In turn, she was able to tap into her potential and accomplish exploits, as well as achieve progress, she otherwise wouldn’t have been able to.
For me, it’s a matter of being willing to take risks and embrace challenges I may not always be comfortable with. The point is not for you to leave your job tomorrow. Rather, it’s about starting out by looking for ways to say yes to more opportunities to express your interests and passions, be of service, and ultimately achieve your dreams.
Now your turn: Have you allowed your career to define you?
For many of us, the dream career is a business to call your very own. Making the rules and doing it your way has a certain appeal to a large chunk of the population. Yet, when it comes to leaving Corporate America and creating our own path, deciding when the time is right and how to do it presents a dilemma to many.
Life in Corporate America can be a slog for the free spirits among us. Millions of people catch themselves daydreaming during their corporate jobs of a life of freedom – free of cubicles and boardrooms.
There are thousands of talented and brilliant minds working for the countless companies and firms out there. Why do so many of them stay when they hate their jobs? The answer is not so simple.
Living a life of freedom is alluring, but the realities and obligations of modern life are important, too. Leaving a cushy job with income stability and benefits is no easy task – they call it the “golden handcuffs” for a reason.
Many of us stay within the office walls to keep things stable at home. Regular income and a clear path forward through life are a comfort to most people. Being your own boss with all the responsibility and risk can be terrifying.
A career with a big company and consistently working in an office doesn’t come without risks though – downsizing, takeovers, bad bosses, and bad luck. Overall, it’s a “safer route” for most people, especially when they are afraid to break out on their own and risk failure at the helm as captain of the ship.
People are more comfortable working for an employer who lays out the path forward. Regular promotions, career plans, “progression,” and a clearer vision of the future are enticing to some. It’s all very hard to resist, and most of us never take the jump to strike out on our own.
Who’s Leaving and Why?
Thousands do leave Corporate America to become entrepreneurs every year – professionals of all incomes, career aspirations, and fields of expertise. Leaving the cubicle behind is a common thing today, especially given the opportunities in self-employment and a global online world.
Whether it’s basket-weaving, a hot new app, or a boutique firm to call your own, it is possible to follow your dreams and find success with a little luck and a lot of planning. You have to make sure you are prepared for all of the obstacles that are sure to come your way so that you can have a smooth transition into your new life.
Small and medium business ownership offers countless opportunities in America, the hub of capitalism. Modern technology offers a new way of doing business, and it’s often an advantage to be new, small, and sick of doing things the same as always.
It doesn’t matter what you do – there is an opportunity to shake things up and earn a good living in your industry or profession. The hardest part is finding the courage to jump and the right time to do it.
So You’re Inspired, But How Do You Make the Leap?
If you are serious about making a change away from Corporate America into the world of entrepreneurship and being your own boss, there are a few tips compiled below to help you along the way. Planning, timing, and execution are all important on your path out the door and onto the open road. The details make a difference.
It’s not a binary choice (like most things in life). There are many ways to make the transition from Corporate America to life on your own. Millions of Americans have two jobs including a self-owned business that operates outside of their regular nine-to-five.
You can always take it slow and do two things for a while. Once the passion project becomes a big hit, it gives you options instead of going all-or-nothing with your corporate career. It’s not always the right choice, but try not to frame the decision as two choices: stay or leave.
Conversely, if you’re really feeling inspired, then you could make the giant leap into full entrepreneurship. This is a lot more risky, but it’s also got the potential to be highly rewarding, especially if you need to get ahead with your idea.
What You Need to Start a Business
A big leap into the unknown is a scary thing for most people, but thought and planning makes all the difference. One of the most important traits in an entrepreneur is vision. You’ll need to have a path forward to get the ball rolling.
One of the most important things in any business venture is capital, or money. Seed financing, operating expenses, equipment leasing, office locations, registration, branding, licenses, inspections, and other startup costs are a regular shock to many entrepreneurs. It all takes cash to make it happen. It’s important to think about your finances early in the process.
There are a couple ways to make the finances work. The first one involves you paying out of pocket which is almost always very hard to do. Second, if you have an attractive idea, you could reach out to potential investors who are willing to contribute to your idea, though you may need to give up part of your business. Finally, small business financing from a bank or lender is the next step towards finding capital. Talk to outside professionals or find a mentor if you can. Don’t be afraid to ask stupid questions at this stage!
Needless to say, starting out as an entrepreneur is hard. After all, over 90 percent of startups fail, so you can assume that it will be hard. However, successfully starting a business is the epitome of the American dream. If you can make it as a legitimate business, then you stand to make your mark in the world.
Good luck!
Tom FIRE – Founder of FIREd Up Millenial blog
Tom Fire is a millennial Personal Finance blogger and the founder of FIRed UP Millenial blog. When he’s not working as an engineer, Tom shares his passion for financial independence on his blog. His hope is to achieve financial freedom by the age of 35.
You know those moments when you feel like you can’t do it, whatever “it” may be. Those times when you can’t see the forest from the trees and don’t see a way. Or those instances when you feel like you’re not enough, you can’t measure up, or you simply don’t have what it takes. We all do know these, because at one point or another of our lives and careers, we all have experienced them.
Some of us are better at dealing with these times of self-doubt, or concealing them. The rest of us have a hard time letting it go. All of us must work on it. It’s called self-doubt, and it’s ruined many a promising future, career or business. It’s this implacable sense that who we are, what we have and where we’re headed is not enough. These voices in our heads that keep telling us we can’t be everything we want to be. The fear and negativity that keep us from living fully and enjoying the journey.
As hard as it is for me to admit, I’ve always been plagued by self-doubt. In my career, business and everyday life, I, like so many others, must fight thoughts such as:
“Can I do this?”
“Will people like me? Will they like what I produce?”
“What happens if I fail?”
I’ve learnt a while ago that self-doubt is natural. What’s not natural is allowing it to overcome our lives and take away every opportunity to better ourselves. The point is, it’s not so much that self-doubt will come, because it will.
The point is, we must move forward even as we’re tempted to be paralyzed by self-doubt.
We must keep pushing, even as we’re terrified, scared, and downright ready to quit and run the other way.
I’m still learning to overcome my self-doubt. I don’t believe I will ever be done. Over time, and after so many failures, here are some tips I have picked up to overcome self-doubt and build confidence as a working woman:
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HOW TO OVERCOME SELF-DOUBT AS A WORKING WOMAN
Start with your why
I often mention how important it is to know your “why”. When you’re defying stereotypes and working to rise above societal expectations and norms, knowing your “why” and trusting your values is crucial.
Many times, I have to ask and remind myself: “Self, why are you doing what you are doing?” When I’m reminded of my purpose, most often through prayer, It’s easier to let go of self-doubt.
Allow yourself to feel self-doubt
This may sound counter-intuitive. However, taking the time and allowing yourself to feel self-doubt is actually healing. You cannot fight what you don’t know. Many of us choose to ignore our feelings. Instead, we drown them with work, a busy social calendar, or excessive social media use.
I’ve learnt to sit down with my self-doubt and look at it in the face. “Why am I feeling this way?” “What’s the worst thing that could happen?” “Would it even matter in five years?” All these are hard questions to ask oneself. Yet, they can put things in perspective. It’s never as bad as we may think. Everything is “figureoutable”.
Stop comparing yourself to others
One of the worst initiators of self-doubt is comparing ourselves to others. It’s natural to do so, especially in the age of social media. I mean, how can you not compare the glamorous (and largely made-up) pictures on Instagram with your quiet Friday night at home with your family?
I’ve learnt that comparing myself with others is denying my uniqueness. It’s denying that I’m doing the best I can where I’m at, with what I have. It’s violating my own unique purpose. I know this sounds harsh, but it’s a reality.
Life simply happens, and it’s not a race! Stay in your lane, do your best, and keep true to your purpose in life. You’re already amazing!
Just do it
Once you’ve allowed yourself to feel the weight of self-doubt and deal with it, it’s time to walk the walk. This means that you must do whatever it is that you have decided to do, regardless of the circumstances at hand or the negative voices screaming in your head.
I’ve learnt to put on blinders, shut down social media and distractions, and just work through it. Very often, it doesn’t look anywhere near perfect, but it gets done. The more I do it, the more the self-doubt melts away. It’s not pretty and the process can be downright painful at times. Yet, it’s in those moments when we’re not motivated and still push through, that our best comes out.
Take care of you
Don’t underestimate the power of self-care to overcome self-doubt. Feeling exhausted, depleted and low energy does nothing to help you be more confident. Instead, take some time to be compassionate towards yourself. Do something nice for yourself as often as you can, even if it’s just reading a book you like or taking a warm bath.
I’ve learnt to keep reminders of things that lift up my spirits. For instance, I keep a list of my favorite and most uplifting Bible verses. I also keep a list of the major accomplishments I’ve done throughout life to remind myself of past victories. Pictures of testimonials from happy clients that I can look at when I’m feeling low always bring a smile on my face too.
Share it
As strong working women, we may be tempted to keep our vulnerabilities to ourselves. However, there are times when sharing our self-doubt can not only make us feel better. It can also help us learn from someone else, and help them in the process too.
I’ve learnt that pride does not help with overcoming self-doubt. While I don’t necessarily share all my struggles with just anyone, I do have trusted people I confide in. Writing in this blog also warms my heart and helps me in the process.
Break up with toxic people
There are confidence-suckers out there that will only increase the self-doubt in you. These are people who are experts at making you feel like you cannot do anything right. These toxic people don’t help you become more confident at all. You can tell by the way you feel after interacting with them: unmotivated, low and conflicted in yourself.
I’ve learnt to recognize the confidence suckers in myself and remove them from my life. This doesn’t mean being dramatic or argumentative. However, distancing yourself from those toxic friends and family members who feed your self-doubt can literally save your life. Trust me.
Let go of expectations
You may not have realized it, but you grew up with sets of expectations about our lives. These are timelines, deadlines and aspirations that were chosen for us before we could even decide. Or it’s simply the need to compare ourselves with others and keep up with the Joneses. My mom always wanted me to be a doctor. If you’re from West Africa, most parents want you to either become a doctor, lawyer or engineer. I became neither.
I’ve learnt to release expectations on my life that don’t align with my God-given purpose. I’ve stopped praying for things that are not for me. I’ve also stopped trying to fit in instead of charting my own path.
Release the past
In the same way, our pasts often keep us imprisoned in self-doubt. Our past failures, hurts and disappointments stand in the way of us taking risks and living our best lives. Instead of moving forward and trying again, we play it safe, afraid to get hurt.
I’ve learnt to stop letting my past dictate my future. Every time I’m tempted to retreat because of a past mistake or experience, I remind myself that today is another day. As much as I may be scared, I also know that things will work out differently.
Get inspired!
I love reading inspirational books, articles and posts about people who’ve overcome struggles and achieved their dreams. It may sound cliché, but some things will speak to you in a way that can change your entire life. For me, it’s being inspired by achievers and leader-servants. For you, it may be something entirely different.
I’ve learnt that the right inspiration for you will keep you motivated even when you’re feeling low and unproductive. Whether it’s listening to a podcast, music, watching YouTube videos, or reading a book, pick a source of inspiration to keep self-doubt at bay.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Self-doubt is a normal part of our lives, careers and businesses. However, the better we can manage it, the more we can fight it and build more confidence.
The holidays can be the most wonderful time of the year. They can also be the most stressful, aggravating, and a direct path to financial ruin, in addition to awakening all your past family feuds and your need to hit the gym, but I digress. For many, it can also be a time of grief or nostalgia over far-away family, people they’ve lost, or financially dire situations.
As an immigrant, while it’s a time of joy and family bonding, I’m always reminded of the part of my family that is not with me. The parents, siblings, and dear friends scattered all over the world who don’t get to celebrate with me unless we happen to be in the same geographical area. The loved ones we’re fortunate to see on social media or on Facetime, but can’t hug close. Yet, we still have to find peace with it all…
Sometimes, navigating the highs and lows of the holidays is just a matter of finding peace in the midst of it all. Here are a few ways to create a little more of that, and a lot less of the not-so-good stuff:
Get organized
The holidays are usually a busy time of year. This also means that you will be overwhelmed with so much to do and not enough time to accomplish it all. I used to wait until the last minute to rush and try to get everything done. Something about the adrenaline rush…
Yet, I’ve learnt to actually come prepared and have a plan to tackle the holidays. Whether it’s making a list ahead of time, schedule your shopping activities, or pre-make some meals, find ways to get organized and minimize the stress.
Take care of you
Take some time to unwind and rest over the holidays. Many of us usher in a new year with loads of stress instead of peace and tranquility, simply because we won’t take a break!
As much as we may have a to-do list filled to the brim, it’s ok to stop and observe a pause! This may mean leaving some emails unanswered, skipping social media and not worrying about the house being in tip-top shape. Instead, you will have a chance to recharge your batteries and come back fresher and more energized than ever!
Do something for someone else
I’ve learnt over time that the best way to solve my own problems is to help someone else. There’s something about coming to others’ aid that fills us with peace. At a time when we’re so hurried and stressed out, helping others may just be what we need.
Whether it’s a simple phone call to a relative, volunteering at a local shelter, or offering a total stranger a cup of coffee, try doing something for someone else. Anything.
Let it go!
Do you notice how the holidays can seem to awaken a host of difficult feelings we may have buried inside forever? It may be a sign that it’s time to let go of those challenging emotions and feelings that cost us so much of our peace of mind.
Whether it’s bitterness, resentment, anger or simply confusion, let it go. Opt instead for not having all the answers, and focusing on what makes your soul smile. It’s a win-win.
Forgive yourself for what you didn’t know
As you let go of the internal turmoil that may plague you, also consider forgiving yourself. We don’t often realize how much we hold ourselves hostage to our own expectations as well as those of others. The end result is as debilitating as it is damaging to our peace and progress.
Forgive yourself for what you didn’t know, didn’t do well, or failed at. Turn these into lessons instead, and make peace with where you are on the way to where you’re going.
I used to be a perfectionist. Which also means that anything having to do with failure, or mistakes, ranked very low in my list of favorites. As a matter of fact, failure was a no-no. It was not ok to fail, make mistakes or stray from being, or even worse, looking less than perfect.
This is also the mentality that many working women, especially in Corporate America, are saddled with. In most corporations, or Big Corporate as I like to call it, you’re judged on how well you perform. Whether it’s your sales quota, your performance rate, or your ability to manipulate office politics, there is very little room for failure. When was the last time you’ve heard anyone being celebrated at work for learning from their mistakes? My point exactly…
The turning point for me happened when I started learning about entrepreneurship, and becoming an entrepreneur. The first time I read an article about Sara Blakely, the creator and CEO of the Spanx brand, recounting how her father used to ask daily both she and her brother what they failed at, I was amazed. Yet, she says that it’s because she was never afraid of failing that she was able to go from being a door-to-door saleswoman to building her extraordinary business. Many other entrepreneurs like Blakeley talk about the many failures they’ve had to endure and learn from before ultimately reaching the pinnacle of success.
As women, especially as working women accustomed to carrying the world on our shoulders and doing it all just because we can, failure tends to make us cringe. We tend to recoil at the thought that anyone would know that after all, we don’t have it all together. That we stumble and fall, sometimes more often than we actually have a handle on our lives or careers. Our failures tend to be very private, hidden as shameful occurrences we’re quick to swipe under the rug.
Yet, what if failures were actually incredible learning opportunities we keep missing out on out of a disproportionate and misplaced sense of shame? What if there was really nothing to be ashamed of when it came to our mistakes? And what if they were instead a sign that we were progressing and making strides forward?
A few years back, after failing at my umpteenth Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam, I started keeping a failure journal. I would record every exam I failed, and everything I had to work on to prepare to re-take it. The more I thought about it, the more evident it became to me that I should expand this practice to other areas of my life. Needless to say, in the beginning, the process felt like sucking on sour lemons. Yet, it taught me some of the most important lessons about myself, my career and life I’ve ever learnt. From unearthing my deepest insecurities to exposing the areas I needed to work on, it was an eye-opener, and still is. Today, the word “failure” no longer paralyzes me, which is a far cry from the old “perfectionist” me.
If the very idea of failing at anything fills you with dread, consider facing it head-on instead. This is not about getting complacent about not succeeding in any area of your life. Rather, it’s about leaving society’s misconceptions about so-called failures behind. Anything you’re not succeeding at is teaching you a lesson. You never really lose, you only learn. However, you can only learn if you’re willing to embrace the experience and let go of the shame.
What’s your take on it: Would you keep a failure journal?
It’s one thing to set lofty goals for the future, especially as a year closes and a new one is about to open. It’s an entirely different thing to actually achieve them, and get what you want. So many of us run into this issue every time we set new goals for ourselves, or frankly recycle old goals into newer versions of what we think we should be accomplishing by now, whatever that may be.
While most of us may think that the goal-setting process is not exactly rocket science, it turns out that a large majority of people fail at setting clear goals. As a result, they fail at achieving them. Case in point: how many of us report failed resolutions and goals every single year?
The amazing thing about goals is that, when we take the time to set them well, can help us in creating the lives we actually want. Not the lives we feel that we have to live, but the very existences that fit us best and correspond to our dreams! It’s thanks to goals that we can muster the hope, vision and direction we need to design our lives! However, not having goals that are right for us, goals that inspire us and make us want to hop out of bed in the morning, have the opposite effect. Instead of creating the lives we want, they lead us to being exhausted, depleted, and without direction.
Actually, achieving our goals is much easier than we think, thanks to a few simple tips we can all apply to our goal-setting process, inspired by legendary coach Tony Robbins’ teachings:
Write the vision down!
“Write the vision” – Habakkuk 2:2
From the dawn of day, there has always been power in being able to write down your vision and goals, on pen and paper. Shut down the computer, grab your journal or a simple notebook, and write down those goals that have meaning for you. You will know that they are the right goals for you by the motivation and energy you feel when writing these down.
Act as if you had already achieved your goals!
This may sound a bit counter-intuitive, but stay with me! Having the core certainty that no matter what, your goals are going to come true is the ultimate way to achieve them. You’re not required to know the “how” or the “when”. Most times, the goals you set for yourself, the right goals for you, exceed what you’re currently capable of or your current circumstances.
Instead of trying to figure out how you’re going to achieve your objectives, or give up too soon because you don’t see a way, acting as if you had already achieved your goals gets you closer to them.
Ask yourself why you want to achieve each goal
This is an important part of the process that many, if not most of us, neglect. Instead of focusing on the motive and purpose of our goals, we tend to zero in on the outcome. Considering that the outcome is usually not immediately attainable, we then tend to get discouraged and give up too early!
Instead, ask yourself what each one of your goals means to you? Focus on how obtaining your desires will make you feel, as Danielle LaPorte teaches and recommends in her book The Desire Map. Make sure to write these down as well.
Rinse and repeat!
The goal-setting process should never be a one-time thing. Rather, it should be something you practice regularly. Don’t allow yourself to forget about your goals once you set them. Go back to them frequently, and review them over time. Make sure that you’re spending some time each and every day in the pursuit of these goals.
