Three Questions To Set The Right Goal

If you’ve set goals in the past and have struggled to achieve them, then part of the problem may be the goal itself.  Sometimes you set the wrong goal.  You start working towards a goal only to realize you’re no longer excited by it or it’s not what you really wanted.  It’s so important to set the right goal that aligns with how you want to feel in life.  These three questions will help you do just that.

What Do You Want?

The first step in goal setting is to get really clear on what exactly it is that you want.  Be specific about it.  Your goal should be more than you want to lose weight.  Add an aspect of measure to your goal.  Such as, you want to lose five pounds by the end of the month.  Make sure that your goal has specificity and can be measured so that anyone will be able to know if you’ve achieved your goal.  This clarity in defining your goal will make it so much easier to know what exactly you are working towards.

When Do You Want It?

Next, set a clear deadline for yourself as to when you want to achieve your goal.  This deadline will encourage you to start taking action towards achieving your goal.  If you do not have a set deadline, then you will easily push tasks off until later because there is no rush to complete them.  Setting a deadline will create accountability for you.  It holds you accountable to achieve your goal by a certain date.  It also makes the goal more realist because now it’s not just a dream or idea.  It’s an actual goal with a set deadline that you’ve committed to achieving.  Do not allow yourself to push this deadline farther into the future.  Set your deadline and make the commitment to achieve your goal.

Why Do You Want it?

Lastly, in order to stay motivated to achieve your goal, you’re going to need to understand the reason why you want to achieve this goal in the first place.  Think about what it will mean to you to achieve this goal.  Consider how you’ll feel once you’ve achieved it.  Get in touch with these feelings and really envision the moment when you’ve achieved your goal.  You’ll be so proud, excited, and happy that you put in the hard work to achieve what you said you would do.  Use these feelings as motivation to help keep you working towards your goal.  This is especially important when you feel like giving up.  Connect with the reason why you want to achieve your goal.

Goals without specificity, a deadline, and meaning are easily thrown to the way side and never achieved.  That’s why it’s so important to ask yourself these three questions the next time you’re setting a goal.  First, ask yourself what do you want?  Get really clear and specific as to what exactly you want to achieve.  Then, ask when do you want it?  Commit to your goal by setting a firm deadline.  Lastly, ask yourself why do you want it?  Think about what this goal will mean to you and connect with the reason behind why you want to achieve the goal in the first place.  These three questions will set you up for success and help you to not only achieve your goal but also achieve the right goal that gets you to where you want to be in the future.