Just Do It!
Everyone has goals, but not everyone pursues them. Most people lack motivation or are just so caught up in their daily lives that they forget to pursue what they’re most passionate about. Pursuing goals is hard work. If you find yourself overwhelmed by everyday life and unable to pursue your passion, follow these some steps that will help move you toward your goals.
Visualize. Visualizations are very powerful because our minds react strongly to imagery. According to several studies, imagining a scenario or activity activates the same areas of the brain involved in the actual physical performance of the activity. These brain activities were studied while using an electroencephalogram (EEG), which records electrical activity in the brain.
Physical visual boards are also helpful. Crafting is a plus because you get to exercise your creative juices. But if you’re not into the actual cutting and collaging process, you can create virtual visual boards in websites like Pinterest, We Heart It, and Tumblr.
Tell your friends. This way someone other than yourself can hold you accountable for your actions. Your friends are the most perfect reminders you’ll have. Their support and encouragement are also essential in your success.
Break it into small steps. Some people quit their goals because they get scared of the enormity of those goals. So create a step-by-step game plan. As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry said, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” List all the steps that would get you to your goal. Make each step specific, realistic, and most importantly, doable.
Set a schedule and a deadline.Dreaded as they are, deadlines are actually very important in reaching your goals on time. Deadlines can be used as a prioritization tool. A compass that will guide on what to do first, and a reminder on which particular steps you should be focusing on at a certain time.
However, it is important to note that you should be setting deadlines that are realistic. Too much optimism may lead you to commit a planning fallacy, a phenomenon wherein a person underestimates the time needed to complete a task.
It is also important to note future obstacles you will be facing while setting your deadline. Allow a certain time so you could be able to adjust errors. Also remember to prepare a contingency plan.
Practice self-discipline. None of these things will work if you don’t have self-discipline. You could be stuck in a sea of procrastination or perfectionism and end up squandering your brilliant ideas.
Waiting for everything to “feel just right” or waiting for that “bolt of inspiration” will get you nowhere. Self-discipline is important because it lets you acknowledge feelings of discomfort and fear, while reminding you that you can push through.
One way of establishing self-discipline is through the creation of habits. It only takes 21 days to form a habit. Habits are powerful because after your brain has created the right neural connections, the habit becomes a process of your basal ganglia instead of your prefrontal cortex. The basal ganglia is the part of the brain that keeps hold of your memories and patterns. It means your own brain can autopilot into doing whatever task it is that you need to complete your goal, lessening the time that you allot for contemplation and decision making before starting a certain task.
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