Steps to Goal Setting

Goal setting is grounded in figuring out what it is you want to change and making a plan for how to achieve it. Goal setting can sound like an overwhelming task, however, goal setting is an essential activity for change. It is not uncommon for goal setting to be thought of in relation to school or reaching a difficult task. Often, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to reach big goals that are hard to attain. Letting go of this stagnant way of thinking can be helpful in finding your own way of goal setting. Take time to check in with yourself and make a commitment to honor yourself by setting aside time to be present and engaged while setting your goals.

When setting goals, it is best to leave room for creativity, patience and mindfulness. So much of our lives are structured and planned. When goal-setting, try to be explorative and judgment-free. Can you keep kindness and curiosity in mind through the process, rather than judgment and harsh language? Challenge yourself to look for strengths, rather than finding the ways in which you do not measure up. Explore if the goals you are setting are attainable in the near term. Often, we are so ambitious that we set goals that are difficult to attain. Start small.

Step 1: Identify what you want to explore changing in your life

Identify something that you would like to explore changing in your life. By using the word explore as the base of your goal setting, you are ultimately allowing yourself to be open and are leaving room for change. An example of a starting place might be to say: “I want to explore how to positively change my relationship with my body.” In this example, there is room for change and even a built-in sense of reflection. 

Step 2: Identify action steps to take towards meeting the desired change

Start by creating a plan of action to attack the goal in mind. For the goal “I want to explore how to positively change my relationship with my body,” a plan might start by understanding the baseline, which means figuring out how you feel about your body before starting to work on it. An action plan is essential for increasing motivation while pursuing your goal. Here, the action plan could be “I will journal about my feelings around my body and then each day for two weeks I will write three things I love about my body.  At the end of the two weeks I will journal again about my feelings.” In this example, we can see that there is a timeframe for the plan and a specific task assigned to each day. There are infinite ways to reach a goal, so try to find the action plan that works best for you. 

Step3: Be kind to yourself through the process and check in on your success

Self-care is essential in the goal setting process. The concept of success is deeply personal and individual. As an example, you can say, “In my goal setting work, I like to define success as growth”. Reflecting on the changes you experience can be just as valuable as achieving a structured goal. 

If you want to learn more about working with Lily or are interested in support around goal setting, feel free to give us a call at 646-494-4878.