Written by: Alexis Lenihan, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Goals. We all have them. So, why is it that some people seem as though they are crushing goal after goal while others barely get off the start line?
Distraction is big culprit.
There is always something pulling at our attention and knocking us off focus whether for a minute or weeks. But distraction isn’t the only reason we aren’t moving at the pace we want with our goals.
Often, we lose motivation when we don’t see the results we want quick enough. We live in a world of instant gratification. We scroll through endless feeds of information and visuals that don’t give us a chance to get bored. We see one funny cat video and then Ooops! Down the rabbit hole we go! Hours feel like minutes as we enjoy reward after reward. We don’t have to wait for much of anything anymore. And so we get impatient when we pop back into real life and realize that real progress takes time.
So how do you keep your head in the game when you’re not seeing results? I’ve got 4 big ideas to share with you.
1. Connect with your dream daily.
It is crucial to touch your dreams every single day. Spend time visualizing the process as well as the end result. Vision boards are great for this but not everyone takes the time to connect with them and do the work - it’s not enough to just create them and hang them up! Figure out a routine that works for you. Personally, I write out the 5 dreams I have accomplished (SPOILER ALERT: I have not yet accomplished them) every. single. day.
However, I write them out as though I already have and then feel what it will feel like when I do. Maybe you meditate on them. Maybe you write out what you are trying to accomplish in detail and read it aloud every morning. Maybe you visualize in the shower.. I don’t know what it is for you, but find a way to connect with your dream every day and get all in your feels about it.
2. Find and focus on small wins.
You must recognize ALL progress, no matter how big or small, you make towards achieving your dream. Let’s say your dream is to buy your first home. Your goal is to save the down payment by the end of the year. Today you decide to skip the drive thru and make your coffee at home - $5 saved towards your goal! Tomorrow, you bring your lunch to work instead of purchasing it - another 15 bucks saved! Woo hoo! Once you see that progress IS being made, you will look for more ways to win.
3. Have a plan and a detailed timeline.
List out the 5 major moves that MUST be made to realize your dream. Almost any big goal can be broken down into 5 major moves and THEN your to-do lists go underneath each move. The moves don’t have to have a particular order, you can sometimes be working on them all at once. The idea is to simplify these seemingly massive accomplishments into bite size chunks, and then go to work. Set out weekly and monthly timelines for completing the tasks needed to accomplish the major moves and celebrate when you hit those milestones.
4. Find your squad.
Amazing things are rarely accomplished alone. It takes a village. Build your village to include those that keep you accountable, those that are your cheerleaders, those that are brutally honest, and those with big shoulders. With the technology available to us now, there is NO excuse for not creating a community of support around you. Even now, in a global pandemic. Look to your friends and family first - do they know what you’re up to? Do they know the dreams that you have? If not, that is on you. Share what you want out of life with those closest to you and tell them what you need from them. I know this sounds scary but if you don’t tell them, they can’t support you. Friends, colleagues, neighbours - you would be surprised how much people want to help and support you. Give the opportunity to do so. If your current social circle cannot offer you the support you need, there are (literally) billions of other people you could reach out to. LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram - use these platforms for what they are meant for. Social Connection. Join groups of like-minded individuals and share what you are looking for. Maybe you want an accountability partner to keep you on track with your fitness or nutrition goals, maybe you want to connect with a fellow entrepreneur/lawyer/mom/sales manager to vent and celebrate with because they ‘get it’ more so than someone that isn’t in the field. Find a mentor or coach that can help support you in a specific way and accelerate your progress. Whatever you need, it is your job to find it and set yourself up powerfully.
Times are tough right now but so are you. You have everything you need inside of you right now to achieve your wildest dreams. Give yourself permission to go all in on what you want - and then, GO ALL IN ON WHAT YOU WANT. Motivation isn’t something that just lands on you one day, it is up to you to create it. It’s not going to be easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is. So, get clear on what you are after, check in often, develop a plan, celebrate the journey and include others along for the ride. You’ve got this.
Alexis Lenihan, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
As a Certified High-Performance Coach, Alexis and her team transform their clients from playing small to showing up and playing BIG in every major life arena. They are dedicated to helping people achieve heightened and sustained levels of performance while maintaining optimum health, well-being, and connection.
Trained and certified by the High-Performance Institute, Alexis is a leading authority on the habits and practices of High Performers and shares her ideas on major and minor media to inspire others to take action in their own lives.
She is the COO of Goal Set Coach, a Business Professor, and a busy mom of two young boys! She knows firsthand how life can feel like a juggling act but and is committed to helping you find a beautiful balance so that the life you live is by design, not by reaction.
