To accomplish anything, we have to set goals; and setting realistic and/or meaningful goals helps ensure that we don't set ourselves up for failure or accomplish things that, in the end, are meaningless to us. Here are a few tips to help you set goals that you'll achieve:

• Define the goal. What, exactly, do you want to accomplish? This may seem insultingly simple, but you'd be surprised how often people pursue goals that are too vague and can't be articulated, much less accomplished.

• Know why it's important (and to whom). The Land of Unachieved Goals is littered with goals that just weren't personally meaningful. Ask yourself why you want to accomplish the goal in the first place, and make sure it's important to you, not just someone else. We're all much more motivated to achieve something that's personally meaningful, and that, when you think of and envision it, gives you a sense of upliftment and joy.

• Envision and feel the result. Once accomplished, what does the result of your goal look like? How might you be talking about it? How will it feel? How will your life change once your goal is achieved (and is this acceptable to you)? How will you celebrate your accomplishment? Seeing your goal completed will help you define the goal specifically enough to be achieved and decide if it's something that you want to do at all.

• Create visual, audio, and word anchors. Power up your vision-goals by creating symbolic reminders. Whether a single image or photo, a word or sentence written on a note, an audio reminder or guided visualization, a collage or something else altogether (or all of the above!), multi-sensory reminders keep your goal-vision present even as you move through busy days. Review them first-thing and last-thing each day, with a sense of wonder, expectation, and gratitude.

• Allow a realistic timeline. Allow too much time, and it'll be easy to procrastinate; put an unrealistically tight deadline in place, and you'll cause yourself undue stress and set yourself up for failure. Sketch out what it'll take and who else you must rely on to accomplish your goal, then allow just enough time to do it.

• Review your vision-goals each day, and watch for 'evidence' unfolding. Spend a few minutes in your morning planning and reflection time identifying where you are in relation to your goal and noting at least one thing you can do that day to make progress toward accomplishing your goal. Taking some action, even if small, will support forward-momentum. Don't forget to notice the small steps and 'evidence for grace' as your vision-goal begins to construct itself.

• Celebrate the unfolding and results. Too often, we neglect to enjoy the positive results of our efforts. Buy yourself a mocha (including the whipped cream) or enjoy a nice meal with a friend to celebrate your accomplishment. And nothing is more wonderful, or creatively powerful, than counting your blessings and noticing your gratitude for all that graces your life, regardless of specific circumstances.

Don't stop here. Check out our PDF Guide, Co-Creative Vision: Manifesting the Life (and Livelihood) You Desire.

More tips! Go back to Brain Food Cafeteria

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