goals Archives - Page 9 of 12

Focus On The Lesson, Not The Pain

The only way you can think clearly and create a solution for an obstacle, is to focus on the lesson. Everything else is a distraction.

Have you ever stumbled upon a challenge and you get so caught up in why it happened, that you conveniently get stuck? Of course, you could just think of a possible solution, but it’s easier to complain about it.

The Pain

When something unexpected happens, the first thing we do is have a negative emotional reaction to it. Most of the time, we become angry and we drag it on for hours, and sometimes, days.

The obstacle you are encountering may halt progress, but having an emotional reaction halts progress even more. After a while, you begin to justify your reaction with excuses and complaining.

This leads to becoming stagnant. Days will turn into weeks, weeks will turn into months and months will turn into years. Then you’ll live with the ultimate pain – the pain of regret.

That entire process can be eliminated, if you remember one thing: focus on the lesson and find a solution.

The Lesson

No matter how bad something is, we can always find the lesson in what happened. We think that when something is in our way, or not on our side, that it’s automatically bad.

Nothing is working against you – you only perceive it that way because it didn’t go the way you planned. Obstacles are just a sign, telling you to go in another direction.

Don’t take it personal – take it as a lesson. Find the reason something happened, create a solution, and give yourself permission to move forward. Allowing your emotions to get in the way of progress will only encourage complacency and you definitely don’t want that to happen.

Your Vision

There will be obstacles and challenges from time to time, but how you respond to them will determine your level of success. It’s your responsibility to see your idea into reality.

You know the kind of results you want. To react to the little things that get in the way, is to give in to self-defeat. No one is stopping you – you’re only stopping yourself.

Instead of using your energy to behave in a negative manner, use it to improve your strategy. Anything else outside of your plan, is only a distraction.

Remain in control of your emotions, focus on the lesson and follow through with a solution. Rinse and repeat, as often as needed.

#BeGoalden

Change Is Uncomfortable, And That’s Good

Change makes us uncomfortable, but it’s nothing to be afraid of. Your ability to overcome a sudden challenge is greater than you think.

Building rituals and routines into your life is necessary. After all, it helps with productivity and time management efforts and it makes us feel comfortable when we know what to expect.

What happens when we encounter change? Instead of going right, your idea goes left? Do you overreact to what’s going on or do you keep a level head and flow with it?

Change Is Uncomfortable…

Things happen – it’s a part of life. Every now and then, something knocks us off balance and we don’t like it.

For the most part, we have to address the situation. We really don’t want to, especially when we’re in a good place. No one likes to stop and figure out what’s wrong, when everything has been going right.

Change can make you feel uncomfortable, stressed out, fearful, awkward, and sometimes, embarrassed. When you don’t have an immediate solution, it can be scary.

…And That’s Good

Rather than having negative thoughts and emotions towards change, embrace it. You’re about to learn something that you wouldn’t have, otherwise.

This is an opportunity for you to gain more knowledge about what works and what doesn’t work. It’s your chance to figure things out and enhance your thinking skills.

Don’t run from it. Take advantage of what’s about to happen. No matter what the situation is, there’s always something to gain from it.

Open your mind and shift your perspective. Your brain has a way of introducing new ideas and unique thoughts into your life. You may not like it, but remember: it’s not a problem, it’s a challenge and that’s what makes you mentally stronger.

Be Flexible

Be water, my friend.
Bruce Lee

Change is inescapable. You can not avoid it or make it go away. When you begin to accept it, as opposed to resisting it, you take on the responsibility of stepping up to the plate and allowing yourself to grow.

Be flexible. Your journey won’t be a straight line. If you want to be an achiever, you have to learn to bend with flow. Most people will give up at this point, all because it’s not going the way they envisioned it.

When you take on those obstacles, there’s always a lesson to learn. Don’t quit because it becomes difficult- this is where growth happens. You are more than capable of handling any kind of change that comes your way. Don’t sell yourself short.

Grow Through It

So, how do you handle change? You face it head on. Take a moment to have your emotions, but you must remember that it still needs to be taken care of.

Change is not easy, but remember that you will come out on the other side successfully. You may be a little bruised, but you’re fine – you conquered it and you’re okay.

The next time it happens, it won’t be a surprise. You’ll be that much more skilled in how to manage it. Don’t just go through it, grow through it. You’ll begin to appreciate change, because you’ll find that it builds you into an incredible person.

#BeGoalden

5 Bad Habits To Unlearn To Achieve The Impossible Goal

5 Bad Habits To Unlearn To Achieve Any Impossible Goal

Achieving the impossible goal seems time consuming. In today’s world, it’s easy to be complacent. Instant gratification is at an all-time high and just about everything around us can be done in a microwave minute.

Moving forward seems so easy, yet, it’s so hard to do. In our minds, we make all kinds of plans and goals, but in reality, we stop ourselves before we even start.

Somewhere in between, we need to make a connection with mentally thinking it, to physically doing it.

5 Bad Habits To Unlearn

Thinking about your past. The only reason you should reflect on the past, is to see how far you’ve come. We make the mistake of thinking so much about what happened, we start to live there. That’s where you get stuck. There’s a reason it’s called the past – what’s done is done and you can’t go back and change it. Have the courage to define your future and step into the unknown. That’s where growth happens.
Failing. We’ve all experienced failure at some point in our lives. Let’s shift the perception – ‘failure’ is just another word for ‘learning’. You don’t fail, you learn. Just because you failed at something doesn’t mean it’s not for you and you should quit. When you look back and see the mistake and how you could have done better, implement it and do it again. Not only will you improve upon what you’re doing, but you’ll make progress towards your impossible goal.
Procrastination. We put things off until tomorrow, Monday, or next year. Your diet doesn’t always have to start on Monday, you can just as easily start it on Thursday, or whatever day you think about it. Stop putting things off. Get uncomfortable and make a move. If you don’t do it now, when will you do it? ‘Eventually’ never comes. Do it now.
Accepting judgment from others. People will make fun of you and throw witty insults at you all day long. It’s nothing new. They are insecure about themselves, so know that it’s not you, it’s them. They want to put their fears on you, without pointing the finger at themselves. Don’t let it get you down. You are growing and they’re not. That’s scary to them, because it shows that you’re making progress and they’re staying the same. Never take those judgments personal. Keep it moving.
Making excuses. This is a major one. Not only do we use excuses on others, we use them on ourselves! “I can’t exercise today because I have a doctor’s appointment. If I exercise in the morning, that means I’ll have to wash my hair and by the time I get back home, it’ll be too hot and I’ll have to take another shower and…” Just stop it. You’re either going to do it or not – there’s no story long enough that’s going to validate your excuse.

When To Start Your Impossible Goal

There’s never a good time to start anything. This is procrastination at it’s finest. We all talk about ‘perfect timing’, but it doesn’t exist.

The time to start is always now. If you don’t start, how do you expect to get it done? Your results don’t appear out of the sky – you must take action if you want to see your success.

It’s okay if you have to do it alone. If you wait on your friends, you’ll be waiting forever and most of all, wasting time. Don’t be afraid to step out and start on your own.

You’ll Never Be Ready

“I’ll start when I’m ready.” This is another way we prevent ourselves from moving forward. You’re never 100% ready. Start when you’re 30% ready or just 10% ready.

Being fully ready never happens. Know that if you just start, you’ll learn the rest as you go along. This is where learning and improvement take place, but you must have the confidence to begin.

Go out and just do it! Be uncomfortable with the wrong time and not being fully prepared – that’s the journey! You’ll be so much better on the other side than if you were to be lazy and stagnant. Take a chance, make that first step and achieve the impossible!

#BeGoalden

We Play Victim In Our Own Lives

Can you see past the distractions and judgment that happened today? Is it easy to let things go and move on with your life? Or, do you play victim?

Playing victim is a characteristic we’ve all possessed at one time or another. If you want to know what’s holding you back in life, playing victim is likely the reason.

Self-Pity

When things don’t go our way, we tend to look for an excuse that accommodates that feeling of rejection or fear. There needs to be a reason why it didn’t work out or some sort of justification as to why we weren’t successful.

Feeling sorry for yourself is an easy out. No one stops you from feeling sorry for yourself and it’s comfortable, because you don’t have to push yourself back out there to try again. If you’re not careful, this becomes a horrible habit.

Having pity parties does not help you advance. It discourages you from getting up and going after what you want. It’s fine to feel awkward, confused, or embarrassed – it’s all a part of the process. The trick is knowing when to get up and go after it, again.

Embrace The Suck

It’s important to know that things aren’t always going to go your way every time. The earlier you realize this, the better you can move on and accomplish your goals.

Embrace what sucks along the way – it comes with the territory. If you don’t encounter any obstacles, you’re on the wrong path because there’s nothing there for you to achieve. Rewards and success don’t come easy.

Know that things will go wrong and people will constantly judge you. It will always be there – your job is to recognize it and deal with it by applying yourself even more. Don’t let it phase you, let it fuel you.

Be A Victim Of Success

Get in your head that nothing will stop you, simply because you already know it’s coming. You may not know how it will show up (more money, illness, defeat, etc.), but you will have the confidence to handle it.

Instead of seeing the bad side of it, see the bright side. Just as things can go wrong, they can also go right. When life crushes you, don’t play the victim and lay down, rise up and give yourself another chance!

It’s your choice to decide if you will crumble and die or if you will make progress and fly. If you’re going to be a victim of anything, be a victim of success.

Do It Because It’s Hard

Living in fear is easy, but taking control of your circumstances puts you in a different position. Do the opposite and see how you can make things work out – be optimistic, think it through, and bet on yourself.

Never give in to life’s obstacles and challenges. This is how you prove what you’re made of. John F. Kennedy said, “We don’t do things because they are easy, we do them because they are hard.”

Don’t simplify your efforts. You’re doing yourself a disservice when you take the easy way out and become complacent. Yes, it’s hard to get back up, but realize that the opportunity is still there. It’s on you to fight back and win, one step at a time.

#BeGoalden

How To See The Advantage, In The Disadvantage

Most people quit when they don’t have a winning advantage. Working towards your goals can take up a tremendous amount of time. It’s frustrating to see others who have an advantage, move forward at a faster rate than you. If only the odds were in your favor…

The odds are in your favor. This is a long term game you’re playing and you want to have the foundation and the staying power to continue making progress.

When you’re at a disadvantage, it works in your favor in the long run. You will learn strategies and skills that others will never know of, because they are working with the advantage.

Think Outside The Box

The direct way is not always the correct way. Sure, it may be faster and more efficient, but will it always work?

Everyone takes the shortest route. When everyone goes in the same direction, it gets crowded and things slow down. Is there any other route you can take?

There are some side streets you can take to get to your destination. Although it may take a little more time, it flows better and it’s not as congested as the direct path.

Think outside the box. Go against the grain. There’s always another way to get to where you’re going.

Be More Strategic

Having the advantage doesn’t call for a lot of thinking. You’re used to things going your way, therefore, strategy and planning never really occur to you, naturally.

As in war, you need to outsmart the enemy. We all know how to attack, but where do you attack (from the front or the back)? When do you attack (in the daytime or on Christmas)? How do you attack (loudly or quietly)?

These are strategies to consider, so you can turn the odds in your favor. You are working against your competition’s expectations. Take what they know and use it against them.

See From A Different View

Finding an advantage may be difficult at first, but the more you do it, the quicker you are able to act. Learn to see from a different view.

Close your eyes and imagine what it takes to get to your goal. Go into your competitor’s mind and think what they’re thinking.

Seeing things from a different view will put you at an advantage. Of course, we don’t know exactly what someone else is thinking, but how would you plan to win if you were in their position?

They may have the advantage, but the possibility of losing or falling behind is still there. Interrupt their ‘winning’ pattern that they use all of the time and use it to your benefit.

You Always Have The Edge

Whether reaching for your goals, or outwitting the competition, give yourself the advantage. Leverage their know-how and play it against them.

In essence, there’s more of an advantage in having the disadvantage. There are limitless ways you can win – all you need to do is think and respond on another level.

Being at a disadvantage may slow things down or be more tedious, but you will gain more knowledge and skills along the way to help you win. You may not win all of the battles, but you will certainly win the war.

#BeGoalden

Building Life-Changing Habits

Everyone has habits and patterns that they live by. Most of those habits are done unconsciously and carried over into adulthood from our childhood environment. Building life-changing habits isn’t hard, once you figure out what habits you want to change.

After becoming an adult, you begin to recognize those habits you didn’t create. Maybe you have a drink after work every night or you read a chapter from a book before bedtime. Whatever it is, determine which habits propel you forward or hold you back.

The Habit Of Fear

Your childhood environment has impressed upon you certain habits. One of those habits could be fear.

My mother is deathly afraid of water. When we were younger, we would take trips to the beach, but she would warn us not to get in past our ankles. We weren’t even allowed to sit on the side of the pool. Water was not allowed in our lives, unless we were taking a shower or washing dishes.

As we became older, my siblings and I realized that water wasn’t as bad as we thought. We’ve led active lives by learning how to swim, taking water aerobics and participating in other water sports, without fear.

It took a while to get rid of that fear, because it was ingrained in us to never get too close to water. Once we became older, we changed that fear into something more productive.

The Habit Of Consistency

On the other hand, my father is an avid reader. Every night when he came home from work, he would read the newspaper.

This was another unconscious habit I picked up in my childhood. I love to read almost anything I can get my hands on. Like him, there’s not a day that goes by without me reading something.

This is one of the habits I learned in childhood that served me well. Not only does reading improve your comprehension and understanding, it helps to increase your focus.

What Habits Have You Created?

The biggest misconception about habits is that they can’t be changed. Just because it’s a habit doesn’t mean it’s permanent.

Think about where most of your habits come from. Whether they are good habits or bad habits, you have the power to change them to work in your favor.

Create new habits for yourself. What is that one thing you want to do every morning before you start your day, or that one thing you want to do before you go to bed? Make it a habit and it will become a natural part of your everyday life.

Positive Habits Can Change Your Life

By creating positive habits, or replacing bad habits with better habits, it can change your life.

The more you challenge yourself with good habits, the more confidence you will have. Things that seemed too scary to do, will become easier over time.

Building good habits will also diminish your limiting thoughts and beliefs. The more you do that habit, it will increase your self-esteem and you will find courage to follow through with your goals.

Always Have Productive Habits

When you develop your good habits, never stop. Instead of walking one mile, keep improving until you can walk or run a marathon. The good thing about practicing good habits is that they lead to better opportunities and endless possibilities.

It’s important to keep increasing your efforts and habits. Take it one day at a time and reward yourself. Celebrate the small wins, so that you know it’s possible. This helps as you move closer to your end result.

If you want to change your life for the better, you must start by building better habits. Replace the bad habits with life-changing habits by taking baby steps. If it’s a bad habit, do it a little bit less. If it’s a good habit, do it a little bit more.

Day by day and week after week, you’ll start to see a shift towards a more constructive and energetic life!

#BeGoalden

Big Thoughts Should Encourage Big Actions

Having big thoughts should equate to taking big action, but instead, we do the opposite. We have been programmed to think that we should leave the big ideas to someone else.

Everyday, we have ideas that we don’t act upon. We politely put them aside, as if we will consider them later. Later, never comes.

Think of how it will be when your idea works – how many people it will help, the number of kids it will inspire – it is very possible to see it come to life!

Get Out Of Your Own Head

Who told you to bury your ideas? Did someone embarrass you when you were thinking out loud? Why do you think you’re not good enough?

It’s the outside talking. We were all born with greatness inside. In the past, someone told you that you weren’t good enough or that your idea was stupid.

Now, you carry this with you for the rest of your life. It’s not true – get out of your own head and focus on your idea! You’re holding yourself back because of what others might say or think.

Don’t Live Your Life In A Box

Take action to bring your idea forward – if you have a big idea, it’s going to take some big action! Stop intimidating yourself into thinking that it won’t work.

All you have to do is be resourceful. Put one foot in front of the other and move. Living in a box is self-limiting – other people may have put you there, but you must break out.

You could be spending your time around the wrong people if they don’t inspire you to grow. It’s okay to walk away from a situation that doesn’t serve you. Find a better environment that fits your goals and visions.

Thoughts = Action

That’s a formula you should remember. Your actions should align with your thoughts – if you can’t control your thoughts, you can’t control anything.

How many times have you not taken action, because of that silly, negative voice in your head? Push that voice aside and take a different approach.

If you have an idea, start coming up with a strategy, right away. Act as if you are the owner of that awesome idea (you are)! Build it out in your head, write it down or record it on your phone. That’s how you take action.

It May Not Go The Way You Expected

If your idea doesn’t go the way you expected, then you know that approach didn’t work. Turn left and start again.

It’s not supposed to go exactly right the first time you do it. This is where you build your work ethic and your discipline. Others stop here, but you will go on.

Expand your mind and explore that idea. The original idea could easily take you down another road, that could possibly lead to a more productive outcome.

Big Ideas Matter

Give it a chance. If you do your research and you start moving little pieces, something is going to happen. No idea is too big for you to create in the real world.

Don’t sell yourself short. You are better than you think. Make an attempt to get those ideas and thoughts out of your head and into existence!

Give yourself permission. Get out of that box and start. You have limitless possibilities as long as you have breath in your body. You are amazing. Now go and do some amazing things!

#BeGoalden

The Process Of Getting To The End Result

Planning goals can be overwhelming. There are many things to decide and put into place, in order to get to the end result, because that’s what we want, right?

Getting to the end result is the priority, but there’s much to do before that. There’s a few things that need to be done first, before you meet your success.

Create A Plan

Creating a plan gives you a blueprint to go by. Even though you have a plan, be sure you leave room for flexibility. Anything can happen and you should be prepared to accommodate those new ideas that come up at the spur of the moment.

No one’s plan is ever perfect – it changes as you go along. The plan is actually there to give you an idea of where you’re going and how you’re going to get there.

Write it all down. Keeping it in your head only gives you the option to procrastinate. If you write it down where you can see it, you’re more likely to follow through. It also allows you to see the big picture, while working on the small details.

Make The Commitment

This is a big one. People want the end result, but they don’t want to do the work or sacrifice their weekends, among other things. They would rather skip the process and go straight to accomplishing their goal.

It looks simple on social media, but what you don’t see is the commitment that was made. No one ever posts the uphill battles or the disappointments they experience. You must know that you will commit to taking action in order to see the results you want.

Make the commitment that you will continue to move forward, even if obstacles get in your way. Before you take any type of action, make the commitment in your mind that you will show up, no matter what happens.

Decide To Do Whatever It Takes

Once you make the commitment, you have to take action. Nothing happens until you take action.

It may be the wrong type of action, but you won’t know until you do it. If it is the wrong action, turn around and do something else until you get it right. Be determined to find a new way.

One of the biggest challenges is that people will say they want it and take action, but as soon as something doesn’t go their way or they run into too much ‘work,’ they decide it’s not for them and they quit.

Do whatever it takes. The more you stop, the more you have to keep starting over. After you make the mental commitment, take action and keep going, even when it gets hard.

The End Result

Depending on your goal, it may take days, months, or even years before you reach the end result, but you must follow through if you want to see it happen.

There will be difficult times – it’s not supposed to be easy. This is what separates you from the average people. Your motivation will be tested, but as long as you keep moving forward and eliminate the excuses, you will reach your intended results.

Be extraordinary. Do what others are too lazy to do. The more action you take, the closer you’ll get to your goal. Don’t be afraid to do what needs to be done to achieve your success!

#BeGoalden

How To Bounce Back From A Setback

We all have them – setbacks that happen and turn our lives upside down. Whether you were expecting it or not, setbacks have a way of making you feel less than your best.

Your initial reaction to a setback is mostly based on emotion. You may go through a period of self-reflection, think of ways you could have avoided it, or you could just be plain angry that it happened.

It may not seem productive, but one of the best things you can do is get it out of your system. Think those thoughts, scream in your pillow – do whatever it takes for you to eliminate those negative feelings, because you don’t want to keep coming back to them, after you decide to move on.

Move Into Your New Future

It’s very hard to see what the future will bring. You may have already had your future planned out and now, you have to make some changes.

Once you’ve given yourself time to get those raw emotions out of your system, get on with it and make new plans. This is the time where you get to make adjustments for a better outcome.

Move into your new future. It may not look good while you’re going through your setback, but imagine what you want and how you plan to get it. You could even keep your old plan, but now, you just have to create a new route to get there.

Check Your Perspective

Your perspective can be a game-changer. Anything can be good or bad, depending on how you choose to look at it.

Maybe your setback needed to happen, so you could put yourself in a better position to receive an opportunity. Or, it may have happened because it really wasn’t helping you toward your personal goals.

People rarely check their perspective when going through a challenge. In hindsight, you’ll see what needed to happen in order for things to fall together in your favor. We never see it while we’re actually in it, but make an attempt to see it now, rather than later.

Changing your perspective can also give you the determination you need to follow through. Having to deal with change is hard enough, but if you can keep a positive outlook, it can pull you through some tough times.

A Setback Is Part Of The Come Up

When you have setbacks, it’s not the end. Think of it as the foundation of your come up.

How many times have you worried about something, only to find out later that it wasn’t worth worrying about? We’ve been taught to think the worst about everything, but when we shift our thoughts to something more positive, we can be more productive.

Being more productive allows you to make sound decisions and take action. This is the beginning of your come up and you are in control of making it happen. This is where you begin to build your new story.

It’s Not The End

For most people, a setback paralyzes them. They don’t know what to do and they become confused and stagnant.

When you think about it, this is where people start to grow. Look at it as the beginning of a new chapter in your life. You’re smarter and you get to direct all of your moves and go where you want to go.

Although it may be difficult, don’t give up on yourself. You are better than you think you are. Instead of leaving it up to someone else, take a chance and do it the way you want to. If something else goes wrong, don’t run from it – deal with it. Lean into your new future, change your perspective and create your come up.

You got this. Always bet on yourself.

#BeGoalden

Motivation 101 – How Motivation Works

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” Jim Rohn

Before you set out to do anything, there has to be something there that makes you want to do it. It could be a person who encourages you, a life or death situation or a lack of a resource, such as money. Whatever it is, it motivates you to become better.

Motivation is how you begin. It sparks something in you that forces you to want change. After that initial spark, it’s your choice to make the next move.

What You Should Do, When Motivation Hits

Don’t wait. It’s best to start right away when you experience that motivational spark. It’s a sign telling you to act now! If you aren’t in a place where you can take action immediately, take out your phone and write it down. Be sure to handle it before the end of the day. Procrastinating will only decrease your desire to begin.
Keep it positive. Instead of thinking of how it won’t work, think of how it will work. Being negative about it will work against you and before you know it, your idea dies. Stay positive about your intentions. Avoid killing the idea in your head before you have the opportunity to work on it.
Stay focused. When working on your idea, the hardest part is remaining focused. There are many distractions (and people) that will convince you to give up or make you think that this isn’t for you. Your idea deserves to be acknowledged and brought to completion, but you can only do this with laser focus.

The Wrong Motivation

People think that motivation is all good, but there can be bad motivation, as well.

There may be situations where you aren’t in the best place. You begin to have ideas that you think will save you, but it’s simply a bad idea.

Times like these can be very tempting, but you must go about it in the right way. Even when you’re hanging around a bad crowd, it can be easy to go with the flow and become motivated to do the wrong thing.

Your thoughts can be your most powerful leader. As challenging as life can be, think through your circumstances and always do the right thing. Remember the good motivation to help you get through.

Motivation Opens You To Opportunities

When you maintain a positive mindset, things around you will change in your favor. It’s not that it wasn’t there before, it’s just that you’re now seeing it because you have a new outlook.

Motivation clears your mind of the negative clutter and allows you to see new possibilities. It gives you the chance to experience different things and in return, new opportunities will appear.

Some people say that motivation doesn’t work. Anything will work if you use it correctly.

Put Yourself In The Right Mindset

We all have to start somewhere. Motivation is that start for most people. If you continue to use it to your advantage and practice with it on a daily basis, you will see that it works for you, as opposed to working against you.

Listen to those motivational podcasts and read motivational content. It will help you, more than it will hurt you. Sometimes, all you need is to be reminded that you are more than capable of achieving your dreams.

#BeGoalden