“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.
Live the life you have imagined.”
-Henry David Thoreau
When I came across this quote, I liked it so much I put it up on my office wall. Now it’s right in front of me, inspiring me to continue, even when I don’t feel like it. I know I will have to work hard to achieve my dreams. I’d rather they just come to me easily and quickly without sweat, blood and tears. But that has not been my experience. If you’re like me trying hard to reach a goal that seems out of reach, here are 5 practical steps to help along the way.
1) Find someone you trust to hold you accountable
If you can find a person whom you trust to be there when you need encouragement, it can make all the difference in reaching your goals. Just knowing someone else is aware of your challenge and cheering you on, can keep you from quitting. For me, that person is my sister. She is my biggest cheerleader, encouraging me when I’m feeling hopeless and down, and providing a good “reality check” when necessary.
2) Make small goals that lead you to accomplish your big goal
When you look at the big picture, it can seem overwhelming. So break it down into bite sized pieces, allowing yourself to see each step as an accomplishment. After all, we don’t reach out destination by flying (unless you’re Peter Pan!) we take it one step at a time. So find some quiet time to sit down and write out the small steps you plan to take, in order to reach your larger goal. It can make a big difference in how you view your progress. And it’s fun to check things off your list as you go, making the whole process seem more attainable.
3) Find sources of daily encouragement that speak positive messages into your life (inspirational quotes, books, blogs, articles, podcasts, etc.)
Look for sources of inspiration and encouragement to keep you “filled up” every day. I like to read inspirational quotes from famous women who led amazing lives. It makes me feel like I can accomplish great things, too. Motivational books can also inspire and teach us how to make the most of our strengths and overcome our weaknesses. If we cultivate good sources of positive messages, it can make a difference when things get tough and we’re tempted to give up. We can reach for those sources and find the strength to take another step and keep going.
4) Re-evaluate your goals on a regular basis to make sure you are heading in the right direction
Even with a good map (or a good plan) we can get side-tracked and need to make course adjustments. When you take time to re-evaluate your goals on a regular basis you can more easily catch yourself if you’re slipping, and correct the situation. You can always re-write your goals and make changes as you go. This step is something I’ve really had to focus on personally, as I can easily get distracted and forget where I’m at in the process (…by the way, was that the delivery man at the door? I think I’ll go see if that new book I ordered got delivered…) It’s just too easy to lose focus!
5) Get back up when you fail (because you will!)
We all fail. It’s just a fact of life. A painful one, for me. I’m so tired of falling flat on my face and having to pick myself up and try again. But that’s exactly why I’m writing this blog! To encourage you (and myself) to get back up and try again. And again. And again. Because NOT trying is worse than trying and failing. What we need is TENACITY. Here’s the definition:
TENACITY =
persistence, determination, perseverance, doggedness, strength of purpose, tirelessness, indefatigability, resolution, resoluteness, resolve, firmness, patience, purposeful ness, staunchness, steadfastness, staying power, endurance, stamina, stubbornness, intransigence, obstinacy… NEVER GIVE UP
How’s that for a shot-in-the-arm? I say, give me some tenacity any day! (If someone could bottle it up and sell it, they’d be rich). Here’s one of my favorite inspirational quotes. I think it sums things up quite nicely.
“I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy.
I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.”
-Art Williams
I hope your journey takes you to wonderful places. And hopefully, these 5 practical steps will help you reach your goals, too.