Commit To Your Goals

“I was able to see what I wanted to do, I could see the opportunity, even when others could not, and I stay committed to doing it and doing it well, no matter what.”
Magic Johnson

People who set goals are more successful, and have higher self-esteem. Studies show a correlation between writing down your goals and achieving them, which leads to enhanced self-esteem. There are several reasons that setting and writing down your goals increase success.

One reason is focus, if you know where you are going, you are much more likely to get there. Another is resilience. Having clearly stated goals makes us stronger as they pull us forward, give us drive and motivation. And it is a form of commitment.

Setting goals is a form of commitment because it implies a belief in our ability. We start to see possibilities, when we create an image of the goal. It’s like deciding to get a puppy. Suddenly you see puppies everywhere you go. Once we have an image, we are much more likely to create a reality that matches that image.

This works for me. When I decided to give workshops I first decided the topics and set the dates. Then I wrote the content.

You need to have a strong commitment because the odds of achieving your goals without setbacks and effort are small. The more you want it, the more willing you are to do what it takes to accomplish it.

One way to strengthen your commitment is the pain/pleasure principle. It stands to reason that if you link pain with losing your goal and pleasure with achieving it, your commitment will be strengthened.

So, let’s look at the pain part first. Here are some questions to ask yourself about your goal to figure this part out:
-What will you miss out on if you don’t reach your goal?
-What will it cost you if things stay the same?
-How ill it hinder you spiritually, emotionally, financially or physically if you don’t reach your goal?

Note your reactions as you answer these questions. Are the answers helpful in moving you toward acting on your goal?

Now the pleasure part and some questions to ask yourself to figure out his part:
-When you reach your goal how will you feel about yourself?
-What kind of momentum will you have when you achieve your goal?
-How would you feel if you were consistently moving toward your goal?

How did you feel as you answered these questions?

The key is to get strong enough reasons to commit to your goals and get into action today, not someday.