How To Choose Goals

• Choose 5 things you most want to accomplish in life. 
• All personal goals must be written in the present positive tense.
• Use affirmations with goal setting.

One of the easiest ways to begin goal setting, is to first write down everything you would like to accomplish on a piece of paper.

This list should be written without limitation, just like you were asking a genie for a wish, only this time you have unlimited wishes!

To make things easier later on, it is best to divide the list using headings such as financial, health, relationships etc… Under each heading, write down what you want to accomplish in that area of your life.

Choose 5 Goals

It’s a good idea to have as many goals as you can, but to start the process of goal setting, choose 5 goals that you would most like to accomplish.

If you want, you can choose less that 5 goals, but if this is your first time doing goal setting then 5 is a good number to get started.

This makes it easier to learn the process of goal setting and to remember your goals later on.

You will find that by completing 1 goal you will also complete many other goals, so don’t worry about leaving out a goal, you can always add it to your list later on.

Goal Setting Procedure

When doing goal setting all goals should be written in the present positive tense, as if you had already achieved that goal. They should also be specific and with as much detail as possible, for example.

I want to earn lots of money

Would become…

• I earn £5,000 every month, from my online shop selling computer equipment.

By August 2007

Or

• I am so happy now that I earn £5,000 every month, from my online shop selling computer equipment.

By August 2007

Make Goal Setting A Comfortable Experience

You can write your goals however you feel is best, so do what you are comfortable with. But they must be written as if the goal had already been accomplished, in the present tense and as specific as possible.

The goals you set for yourself should also include a date they need to be accomplished by, and if appropriate goal setting should be measurable. This will allow you to monitor your progress later on.

In the second example, you can see that I changed the goal slightly. Some people suggest that you can increase the power of goal setting by associating it with an emotion.

This is entirely up to you, and either way is acceptable. Just choose a goal style you are comfortable with and stick with it.

Create Affirmations For Your Chosen Goals

After you have rewritten your goals, it’s a good idea to write an affirmation for that goal. An affirmation is something you look at or repeat to yourself, which reminds you of your goal. It doesn’t have to be as specific as a goal, so writing “I earn £5,000 every month” would be o.k.

Good times to use affirmations are early morning and late at night. However the more you repeat the affirmation, the more effective it will become.

Muhammad Ali was well known for his use of affirmations during his boxing years. Perhaps you are familiar with one? “I am the greatest!”

Affirmations if used correctly will motivate you and keep you focused on your goals.

Make Sure You Write Your Goals Down!

By now you should have thought about what you would like to accomplish in life, and chosen 5 goals that are most important to you.

If you have never written personal goals before this can be quite challenging, but don’t give up! Many people will not write their goals down on paper, as they are afraid they won’t achieve them. Please don’t fall into this trap! Goals must be written down!