Goal setting - The habit of successful people.

In this series of blogs you have been looking at how to create goals that you can achieve.

Most other people by this stage in January have already given up on their resolutions, even though they had every good intention. Have you given up on your resolutions?

If so the chances are this is because there was insufficient clarity or lack of cementation to your desired outcome.

So far you have been defining your goal in terms of

• Stating them in the positive
• Making them sensory specific
• Identifying what you need to start and maintain
• Appropriate context

Today you will be considering your goal in terms of maintaining positive by products of your current behaviour

Consider for a moment, what are the biggest challenges you are having in your practice....

Some of the common issues are

• Poor cash flow
• Worries that bills, taxes or staff wages won’t be paid on time
• Gaps in the appointment book
• Staff conflict
• Staff leaving
• Staff not fulfilling their duties correctly
• Insufficient time to do all that you want to do personally
• Failure in health and relationships

Think of just one aspect of the practice our your personal life that you would like to change, personally or professionally

Having described your goal taking the 4 steps we have covered so far it is time to recognise the benefits of your current behaviour. “There aren’t any benefits to smoking” I hear you exclaim, and let’s just consider for a moment if there were positive aspects of smoking what could they be?

Some of the positive by products could include

• Stopping for a cigarette break enable me to step away from my desk at regular intervals giving me time to move and think.
• I find out a lot about what is going on at work when I stop and smoke with my colleagues
• When I am out socially asking for a light gives me an opportunity to start conversations easily.
• I feel part of the ‘in crowd’

And I am sure that you may think of other positives from smoking.

Once you have recognised what the positive by products are of the habit you want to change, the next step is to consider how you can replicate them without smoking. If it is important that you get up and step away from your desk move and think, it may be useful to just get up and walk around your office for five minutes every hour or so.

For many people this is the most significant reason why they fail to achieve their goals and change behaviours, they fail to recognise the positive aspects of what they are doing and don’t develop a plan to replicate them.

As you now think about your goal and the habit you would like to change, consider the following questions

• What are you doing currently that you wish to keep?
• How do your current habits serve you well?
• How can you build these benefits into achieving your new goal?

As you imagine yourself having been successful at achieving your goal and developed a new pattern of behaviour, what have you done to honour the positive by product of your old habits?

In the next posting we will be asking “Is it worth it?”

Meanwhile if you would like any help or support in defining your goals and ensuring you achieve them do call me 07989 757 884 or e mail me Jane@healthyandwealthy.co.uk