Fool proof method for achieving your goals for 2023.

“WHEN a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind.” These words, attributed to first-century Roman philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca, bear out a long-recognized truth: For life to have direction, goals are essential.

Without goals our lives are in an aimless drift. Some are content with simply avoiding the rocks and whirlpools of everyday life. That is ok, but do you think you deserve better? Consider this, If a person has no fixed bearing, they become like waves that are “carried forward by the wind one moment and driven back the next.” Many at times feel like they are stuck in a repetitive cycle unable to make any substantial progress in their lives. Year after they make goals and year after they fail at them. Why? Because, their goals were just a dream—something they wished would happen. Real goals involve planning, flexibility and good old fashioned hard work.

What reliable steps can you take to reach your goals in 2023?

Step 1  IDENTIFY your goals.

1. Brainstorm potential goals. Be creative, don’t over analyze; just write down as many ideas as you can. See if you can come up with at least 10 or more possibilities.

2. Narrow down your ideas. Ask yourself: Which ones seem the most exciting? The most challenging? Which would you be especially proud of achieving? Circle it! Remember, you will have a greater chance of achieving your goals if it means the most to you.

3. Prioritize. Number your goals according to the order in which you would like to achieve them.

Step 2  Plan your goals. “Failing to plan is planning fail.”

For each of the goals you’ve chosen, do the following:

1. List your goal. For example, losing 10 lbs, lowering your cholesterol, blood sugar, making new friends etc.

2. Set a realistic deadline. After all, a goal without a deadline is just a dream!

3. Plan the steps involved.

For example the steps for losing weight could be:

1. Take a food sensitivity test. Avoid foods that you are sensitive to.

2. Purchase a glucose monitor and keep my glucose in range.

3. Eat foods for my metabolic type.

4. Hire a trainer or find a workout buddy.

Anticipate obstacles. Then think of how you’ll overcome them.

Potential obstacles

1. My friends are lazy and don’t want to exercise.

2. My friends like to go for pizza for lunch.

Make a commitment. Promise yourself that you’ll do your best to reach this goal. Make a contract with yourself and share it with others. Putting it in writing if necessary, signing and dating it.

Step 3 ACT on your goals!

1. Procrastination is the first step to failure. So start immediately. Ask yourself, ‘What can I do today to start toward my goal?’ You may not have every detail worked out, but don’t let that keep you from getting started. If you wait for everything to be perfect then you may be waiting for a long time, because trying to achieve perfection is like chasing after the wind.

2. Affirm your commitment to yourself daily. Start each day by reviewing your goals. Remind yourself why each one is important to you. Keep track of your goals and progress by writing it down in a visible, frequented location such as on the refrigerator or keeping them in a reminder app on your phone. Place a ✔ (or a completed-on date) next to each step as you complete it.

3. Flexible. At times circumstances make pursuing certain goals unrealistic. For example, poor health or family obligations may place some goals beyond our reach. Does that mean you should quit pursuing your goals? No, but it means that you might have to reevaluate the steps to achieve them and make adjustments.

4. Imagine daily. Imagine daily yourself achieving your goal. Athletes do this all the time. They envision hitting the ball out the park when they are at bat or drilling a free throw before they take the shot. In the mind, thinking about something is almost the same as doing it. Use this powerful mind hack to think back through the individual steps, one at a time, and visualize each of them. Finally, see yourself completing each step, and imagine how great you’ll feel when you reach your goal.