Anticipate obstacles
Think back on the things you are most proud of in life. They probably didn’t come easily. For most of the meaningful goals that we set, there will be obstacles to our achievement of them. While thinking negatively isn’t helpful, we can be realistic about what some of the challenges will be.
What is stopping you from reaching your goals? These could be external such as other people, events or the environment. They could also be internal, like our own mindset, health or skills. Whatever the obstacles are, thinking about ways to navigate or overcome them can help reduce the impact.
How to increase your chances of success
Write your goals down
You may have heard the quote ‘it’s a dream until you write it down, then it’s a goal’. There has been research that shows if you write down your goal then you are more likely to achieve it. Place the paper somewhere prominent as a regular reminder of what you’re working towards. Bullet journals are a popular method for writing down and working towards goals.
Track your goals
There may be a checklist of items you need to get through to achieve those goals. Keeping a record of how far you’ve come since the beginning of setting your goal can be helpful.
Look for allies
Let the people close to you know you are working towards a particular goal. Support and encouragement from others will help you navigate obstacles as they arise. Be clear with them how they can help you.
If we don’t have a sense of direction it can be easy to feel left behind. Working towards something, even if we never get there, can open up new possibilities. We may end up somewhere that we had never even considered.