5 Tips to Help You Accomplish Your "It"
Originally published on www.kesifelton.com
June 7, 2017
As I mentioned in the first episode of my podcast, I want to dedicate my 19th year of life to accomplish more of my goals. I tend to unnecessarily psych myself out when it comes to stepping outside of my comfort zone (which only delays my process in getting things done) but then 99% of the time it eventually works out in my favor in some way, shape, or form. The most transformative thing that I realized is that, when it comes to my goals, I don't get anxious because I feel like I can't do it, it's that I can't fathom the idea of things working out in my favor all the time. I think that society has conditioned us to view success as something a specific type of person can obtain through a specific series of steps. We have also been conditioned to think that we're cocky or arrogant if we actually have confidence in ourselves and our abilities. There was a point in my life when I decided that I was going to dream big and try my best to accomplish each of my goals. Here are the steps I took to get there:
1. Figure out what it is you actually want.
Before you do anything, take time to figure out what your values are and what will truly set you on the right path to get to where you're trying to go. Don't spend unnecessary amounts of time disappointed over things that never mattered to your journey to begin with. There were a lot of goals that I set when I was younger because I thought they sounded good, but when I didn't follow through on those goals, my confidence was negatively affected because I saw it as a failure. Now, I realize that they weren't things that I was truly passionate about in the first place. You should be able to look at every one of your goals and find your "Why?" Attaching a purpose to your goal will make you more motivated to work for it, especially if you can see what benefits will come from it. If you can't find your "Why?", either cross that one off the list or postpone it until you can figure it out.
2. Write it down.
Once you get a good idea of what you really want, write it down. Like actually write it down pen to paper. Having it explicitly in writing makes it more tangible as opposed to just thinking about it. The biggest thing I've realized about goal setting is that the more you hold yourself accountable the more likely you are to actually do it. If you write your goals down (I'm also an avid supporter of vision boards), especially somewhere you're likely to see every day, then you're constantly reminded of what you should be working towards.
3. Break it down.
The next best thing to do is break each goal down into attainable steps. For example, if your goal is to run a 5k, break that goal down by aiming to jog for an hour every morning (or something like that. I don't run so I wouldn't know). For me, I'm trying to get into the habit of writing something every day so I can refine that skill. Another "sub-goal" for me would be to read for 30 minutes to an hour every day so that I'm exposed to other writing styles and perspectives (Another helpful tip is to find someone that has already done what you're trying to do, a role model or mentor if you will. Learn what steps they took to get where they are and how you can implement that into your own journey). If you attach a purpose to this as well, you'll not only see results, you'll also become passionate about the work it takes to see those results.
4. Cultivate an environment that supports your goals.
One of the biggest factors in how consistent you'll be in accomplishing more of your goals is the environment you create for yourself. A lot of us have a tendency to let outside factors influence our journey whether that be what other people say/do or our circumstances. I know it's not always that easy, but try to distance yourself from people who simply don't support you and invite more like-minded people into your life. It's definitely easier said than done, but putting other people's comfort (as well as your own) before your goals won't do you or the person you're trying to become any justice. Also, check yourself to make sure your thoughts and daily habits reflect the person you're trying to be. You can't expect to grow while your actions clearly say that you want to be stagnant. Have the work ethic of the CEO even if you're still the janitor. You can't expect everyone to cheer you on but tell yourself that you can't do it behind closed doors. You have to believe in yourself and be excited about your successes before anyone else.
5. Prepare yourself for it and respect the process.
One of my favorite things to do is to visualize myself having already accomplished my goal. Envision what it looks and feels like to have what you're seeking. In the words of Will Smith, "It's already done. As soon as I decide it's done, it's already done. Now we just gotta wait for y'all to see." And lastly, trust that the universe will bring you where you're trying to go. I try not to stress over things happening right away because I trust in that as well as God's timing. For example, I knew in January that I wanted to do interviews on my blog but I didn't know how I wanted to execute it exactly until March, which is where the "What's Your Story?" project came from. I didn't want to rush it because I knew that it wouldn't have had the same level of intention or reach. Sometimes God will delay things for you in order to give you time to become the person you need to be to do or receive it.
Honestly, when it comes to my goals, I think that a foolproof way to stay on the right track is to stay in tune with what your purpose is and have every thought, decision, and action be in alignment with that. Once you've figured that out, just stick to the plan.
–kf
