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Knowing + Doing The Winning Combo for Goals
Knowing+Doing: The Winning Combo for Goals
This is the time of year when we start with a clean slate. Full of enthusiasm and full of possibilities, we take the time to set goals. Some of us may even be brave enough to put them in writing and create vision boards around them. It’s an exciting time! As the weeks, then months move on, our enthusiasm wanes. Our good intentions, whether personal or professional, fall by the wayside. We start to tell ourselves: Is where I am really that bad? I should just be satisfied with what I have.
For me, I usually have a health goal every year. Most of the time I measure the success of health by my weight. I’d like to lose about 10 pounds…EVERY YEAR! It’s my one perpetual goal. So, I start the year by doing some research using Google (my trusted source of information) and see what the latest articles have to say about losing weight. Is Atkins still a thing? Should I follow a Mediterranean diet? Or is Keto the best option? I know I should also exercise. I love to dance (so Zumba has been a fun activity) and I enjoy walking (as long as the weather is nice…and by nice, I mean 60-75 degrees and dry). Yet, most days my Apple watch shows me that my exercise ring is still open. So, although I know the basics of good health, eat less (and better) and move more, I fall short of my goal every year. I’ve joined gyms, subscribed to different diet plans, all with the intention of being healthy. I KNOW what to do, but I’m just not DOING it! Have you found yourself in a similar situation? Maybe it’s not weight, but possibly something in your career. THIS is the year that you’ll finally find a job you LOVE rather than one you tolerate. THIS is the year that you’ll finally exceed your sales target, rather than fall short. THIS is the year that you’ll put yourself first, rather than allow your friends and family to set your priorities.
We don’t necessarily need to learn new skills or new ideas. We do have to start putting what we know into action. The adage “if you know better, you do better” is true. But the gap between what we KNOW and what we actually DO can be huge.
So how can we start to close that gap?
Here are a few suggestions: Make sure your goal is clear! I catch myself saying things like: I want to be healthier; I want to be more successful, more financially secure. But what do any of those statements really mean? Be specific. Describe in detail how you will measure if you reached your goal. I had a mentor who told me if my goal was to have “more money,” picking up a dime on the sidewalk would actually meet my goal. So, for you to put what you know into action, use specifics to define your goal.
If you’re resisting doing what you believe works, try following the recommendations in the book Tiny
Habits by BJ Fogg, Ph.D. Create an action so small and easy to implement, that you’ll have no trouble adding it to your daily routine. Start with doing one push-up or sit-up. Once you’re on the floor, you’ll find yourself doing a few extra. BONUS! Replace your usual beverage with water. Small incremental gains get us closer to that goal. Know yourself and your strengths! I have a friend who chooses to start running when she is on a health kick. Running is her go-to and she’s gotten me to join her a few times. However, I don’t feel any joy when running, but I do when I stop. So, for me, I have to acknowledge that running is not my strength. I need to identify something I will enjoy and I will do and start there. Check your beliefs. Your logical mind says something works, but you don’t believe you can do it, or you don’t believe it will work for you. If this comes up, ask yourself whether your belief is a fact or an opinion. If you were told growing up that you weren’t an athlete by someone, it was just an opinion. That doesn’t mean that you have to allow it to determine what you do or don’t do in life. I know I can still hear things in my head that were said to me when I was young and impressionable. Giving credence to these opinions closed off too many doors or shut down ideas of what I could do.
You already KNOW what to DO. Get unstuck and get moving forward. Start doing it and see the success you want! 2 By Terri Hill Owner, Two Hills Consulting
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