Life is filled with timetables and schedules. All of it is, of course, aimed at achieving certain goals. Be it the schoolchildren, entrepreneurs, or CEOs, irrespective of designation and age, everyone has goals in life.
So what is your goal? Lead a team, travel to your favorite destination, achieve a milestone in your career, top an exam, study at a reputed university, pursue a hobby or just simply get a posture right on that yoga mat? Whatever be the goal, it requires some level of thought, planning, and execution. But, the question is how to achieve goals? Let’s delve deeper into how to focus on your goals and achieve them.
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1. Learn the 3Rs of goals – Relevant, Realistic and Reasonable
Relevant: Ensure that the goal you have set for yourself is going to be useful when you achieve it.
Realistic: Setting realistic goals is possible when you make a note of your SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat). Non-fulfilment of unrealistic goals will only demoralize you.
Reasonable: Let’s say your goal is to go to the moon in the next five years. Is there a spaceship that is planned for the general public? Or are you planning to become an astronaut? If not, then don’t set yourself up for disappointment. Aim for something feasible and achievable.
2. Set smaller sub-goals
Goals are long-term with deadlines that are months or years away, prompting you to be lax and casual now. This will make you disorganized and unprepared when you need to show results. Setting smaller targets will help make the main goal seem more achievable. It will also give you a sense of direction and purpose and strengthen your focus on your goal.
3. Cultivate common interest circles
Be in the right environment. For example, if you want to run a marathon, it will help you to join running groups. These groups can share valuable experiences and tips. More importantly, they can pull you up when you are demotivated and disheartened. If you are constantly around people who like sedentary pastimes, you will eventually lose your drive and focus.
4. Reward yourself
Every drop is required to make the ocean. Such is the significance of every drop. Appreciate the small successes, and reward yourself for them. These will help push you to your next target. If you are too hard on yourself, you will find it difficult to pick yourself up from the small failures. Moreover, it will prolong and hasten the downward spiral.
5. Minimize the distractions
Each goal brings along some lateral goals along with it. This can dilute your attention. Prioritize and focus on your main goal without getting side-tracked. At no point in time, will you be able to find time for achieving goals? Your goal should just be important enough for you to make time for it. Resist taking on unnecessary, additional responsibilities unrelated to your final objective.
6. Dream it, but more importantly, do it
A goal begins as a dream. So, it is important that you dream and envision. However, without a plan and some action, it will remain a dream. Remember, that any goal worth achieving will involve some change in you. Also, your best companion through all this is hard work. It will teach you how to achieve your goals.
Ultimately, the effort required for achieving goals is a function of your energy and skill. You will have to discover and draw out abilities within you. And take care of yourself well enough to be able to have sustained energy levels.
Meditation and breath: The magic secrets
Meditation and your own breath can accelerate your journey towards achieving your goals. Here is how.
1. Dodge distractions: Most distractions are in the mind. Meditation helps you have a better say over your mind and dodge distractions.
2. Raises energy:The breath can help you feel more energized. A short round of Nadi Shodhan pranayama can make you feel the difference. Similarly, the research-backed Sudarshan Kriya breathing technique can have a more profound effect on your energy levels.
3.Protects you from stress: Often stress and the fear of failure consumes our energy and restrict us from achieving our goals. Sudarshan Kriya and meditation removes stress from our lives.
4. Improves luck: Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says, "Self effort and perseverance are key to achieving any goal in life. Additionally, you will need energy, skill and providence (luck). Meditation can help you amplify these qualities towards your goal."Walk towards your goals with confidence. Yet, always allow yourself to fail because every failure is a lesson learnt. Don't get perturbed by the success and failures of others. Because as Gurudev says, "This lifetime is just like an act in a play and show goes on forever."
