Clear Direction

Clear Direction

Although we have access to the most incredible technology nowadays, and have tools we never even dreamed of; many people in our era find themselves stuck in a rut, frozen and unable to progress in life.

If you are in such situation you are most likely asking yourself WHY?

I put it simply, would you embark on a journey (it could be a holiday destination, recommended place, etc.), into the unknown without a map?

Your answer like the answer of many is an emphatic NO! I wouldn’t go to an unknown place without a map, that’s for sure!

So, to head in the “right” direction and follow our purpose in life we have to have a clear idea of what it is we want and what it would take to achieve it. In other words, we have to have goals in place.

Goal setting is the map and compass we need to create a step-by-step, easy to follow plan to help achieve our aims and desires in life.

A goal has to be SMART, it isn’t called SMART because it is an intelligent approach to completing tasks (which it 100% is!); it is an acronym for S, Specific. M, Measurable. A, Achievable. R, Realistic. And T, Time-framed.

Here is an example of Specific in goal setting, I want to earn £2550 a month. The amount of money mentioned is very exact.

The measurable element in goal setting basically means, how do you know you will have achieved it? Following the given example, I will know I have achieved my goal when I see the exact amount of money or more in my bank account. Achievable, can it be done? Has anyone ever earned £2550/per month, or do you know anyone who does? Realistic, are your skills up to date and worth that much money or do you need to improve or learn new ones? And Time-framed, when do you want to achieve this goal by?

Having SMART goals in place is just the beginning. Once we have our map (goals set), we work backwards; we start reading the map and see where we are and what needs to be done to move forward, and even to know when are lost or have had a setback in our journey.

A Gantt chart does just that, we chunk our goals up or down and we see a real and true break down of our goal and see our progress, at this moment we are able to determine whether our goal is too ambitious or unrealistic.

Example of a Gantt chart

Goals, just like affirmations are best set in the present and positively. It is good practice to visualise ourselves already achieving our goals, seeing it, hearing it, feeling it, smelling it and tasting it as if it were real. It is also important that it is written down, a written goal is twice as powerful as a non-written goal.

You know yourself better than anyone. Ask yourself the following questions: What do I want to do with my life? Is there anything stopping from achieving my dreams? If time wasn’t an issue what would I be doing right now? Or… and this is my favourite question: What did you dream of becoming when you were a child?

By questioning yourself, in a positive and constructive manner; you are making your brain think what is and what isn’t important to you.

We can look at it this way, if you want to become a teacher; realising that that is what you want, is like deciding to go on holidays. You then look at your skills, experience, etc., this would be like deciding where you want to go, budget, dates and so on. And finally once you get there having a clear idea of where to go, how to get there, etc., this is nothing more than goal setting, having a clear, accurate and effective way of carrying your tasks out and achieving your desires, wants and dreams in life.

Once you crack how to set goals, you can achieve anything in life. Goal setting or clear direction as I like to refer to it, can be extrapolated and applied to every area of our lives, moving houses, planning a family, buying a new car, starting your own business. You learn to take control of your life and go through the peaks and troughs like present us effortlessly, inspiring people to follow your example, do the same.

By having a clear idea of the general direction you are heading in life, you learn to see options and possibilities, and map your life out for success.

Much love,

Jorge

Note. If this blog has helped in any way, do not hesitate to contact me and share with me your successes. I look forwards to hearing from you.