The Importance of Goal Setting
Hi everybody!!! Hope you all had a terrific week and are one step closer to reaching all your health and fitness goals. Speaking of goals, that is what I want to discuss today; Goal Setting.
I am sure many of us have heard the old saying, “Failing to plan, is planning to fail.” In many aspects of life this is very true and quite often in our day to day living we do plan things out and set goals for ourselves. Yet, when it comes to our health and fitness regimens we often tackle the problem with reckless abandon and no real structure. We may say we wish to lose some weight or gain some muscle, but without a clear idea as to what we are wanting or attempting to do, we are ultimately leaving room for failure.
All the knowledge in the world is useless unless we can focus our efforts well enough to put that information to use and apply it. Knowing about diet and nutrition are vital, but having appropriate goals in place to put that information into action is absolutely necessary. It is these goals that will allow you to stick to your diet and say no to that cheesecake, that will get you up at 5am for that cardio session and that will ultimately allow you to Step Beyond and reach what you desire.
All too often we tend to ‘cheat’ on our diets and have that second or third helping or miss the gym one day, which then turns into two, three, a week!! At one time or another we have all been there. Why??? Not because we don’t want to lose that weight or get in shape, but because we lacked proper goals and focus.
A great deal of the issue lies in our subconscious. I am not some PhD or psychologist, but more an individual who has been around people a long time and has paid attention to them, the things they do and what they say. Listen to people talk who are successful in any aspect of life versus those who are perhaps not necessarily as well along. How often do you hear the less successful individual speak in negative terms? If you pay attention to it starting now, I bet you that you will hear it a lot. Things like, “I’ll never lose that weight”, “This is far too hard”, “My metabolism is just too slow”. All these things, as harmless as they may be intended, seep into our subconscious and sabotage our every effort. Most times people don’t even realize they are doing it and that is a shame. Too often there are many things in our life that we can’t control, but our thoughts are one thing that we can and this is the start of proper goal setting. In order to be more effective in our thoughts we need to get rid of negative language; get rid of things like “I can’t”, “I’ll try”, “I should” and insert more positive verbage like, “I can”, “I will” and “I must”. This is the crux of establishing positive, attainable goals.
As far as setting actual goals, they should be specific and measurable, with realistic deadlines. “I want to lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks”. This might be specific and measurable, but not likely attainable or realistic. You do not want to sell yourself short on your goals, but you don’t want to set yourself up for failure before you even begin. A more realistic deadline will ensure the goal is attainable.
You should also set short term and long term goals. Goals should be made for daily accomplishments, a week, a month, three month, six month, a year and an ultimate long term goal. Goals are allowed to evolve and change as well. As you reach and achieve your goals, they may ultimately affect the others on your list.
It is also helpful to find an emotional reason as to why you want to achieve your goals. It can be whatever suits you; wanting to get in shape for a contest, high school reunion approaching, or health issues. Having an emotional connection to your goals makes them more concrete and gives them more purpose and thus greatly increases your chance of success.
All your goals should be written down and viewed every day, much as you would a daily affirmation. Having them around you constantly will keep them at the forefront of your thoughts and will make you more accountable to yourself and to your mission. Hopefully, all of you have an exercise journal that you write your workouts and diet in (I do, and recommend this practice to everybody - without getting into it at this time, it is vital to keep a journal to help keep you on track). Right in the front page of this journal is a wonderful place to keep your goal list. Every time you make a journal entry or before you commence your workout you can review your goals. Even here in Bodyspace you have an option to enter your goals. Do it and every time you log on, re-read those goals and aspire to them. Also everybody who visits your page will see your goals and ultimately puts more positive pressure on you and makes you more accountable to those goals.
An example of a few goals are, worded properly in a positive fashion are;
- I always carry my goal sheet with me and read it at least twice a day
- I am eating five meals every day and sticking to my calorie allotment
- I deserve to succeed
- I am learning more and more every day about nutrition and exercise
- I am reaching my goal of 12% body fat by Christmas
- I am going to go to the gym five times a week
Know that we know how to set goals and why, what do we do when we reach them? Celebrate of course!!!!!! Treat yourself to something out of the ordinary that reinforces what you have just accomplished. Maybe it’s a cheat meal, maybe it’s a new outfit, a night out on the town – whatever is going to make you happy and feel great about what you have done.
So, there we have we it, a brief examination of goal setting and its importance. I say brief because many people have written volumes about this subject and examined its importance in great depth. By developing goals that are important to you, success will follow. Greatest example of goal setting is on TV every day now with the Olympics. Listen to the interviews, read the bios, I assure you the topic of goal setting will come up.
I hope you have all found it of interest and can take away something from it that will allow you to improve your own goals and mindset. Once you do and can take those goals to heart, you will find an increased sense of worth, vigor, focus and purpose. I guarantee it!!!!
Have a great week everybody and remember; eat clean, lift hard, set goals and Step Beyond!!!!!
August 11, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Very positive and motivating blog-thank you!
Marie
August 12, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Your so right about goals. Many times I have tried to get healthy, but have failed because I did not set and TRACK my goals. Using the BodySpace really has helped me…because I can look back and say, ‘Wow..that is what I WAS’. Plus putting my goals in writing (or on screen) makes me push for it. There is also another saying, if you aim at nothing you’ll likely hit it! Thanks my goal setting brother!
August 16, 2008 at 9:35 am
Thank you for reminding me what "it" is all about.