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The Road to Success
This year, make sustainable change a reality! Set a vision for your BEST future, and then set realistic goals that will support that vision. Attempting behavior change without setting a vision or goals is like setting out on a journey without knowing why, or where, you’re going. Without a vision, there is no motivation to persist through challenging times, and without goals, there is no plan to ensure you’re heading in the right direction.
Vision
Components of a vision:
- Present-tense statements
- Pictures/videos
- Your BEST self and life
- Includes things that are most important to you
- Components of a medium-term (2-4 months) goal:
- Can be achieved in designated period of time, but not easily achieved in under 3 weeks
- Specific
- Will lead to reaching vision
- Components of a short-term goal (1-2 weeks):
- Specific
- Measurable
- Attainable
- Relevant
- Time-oriented
How do you set a vision? The quick answer is to DREAM BIG. Be bold! Think of who you want to be and where you want to be in life. Don’t let your inner critic hold you back. Tie your vision in with your values.
A well-formulated vision is what pulls you through when you’re about to give up. It drives you to work hard to accomplish your goals. It opens you up to new possibilities for your future so past outcomes truly become a thing of the past. Keep your vision handy so you can turn to it when you’re feeling weak or want to give up.
Medium-Term Goals
Once you have a vision, it’s time to map out how to get there. Medium-term goals take you a little closer to reaching your vision. They should be more than you can accomplish next week, but also realistic and measurable, unlike the vision.
Short-Term Goals
Next, you can set short-term goals. What is one step you can take RIGHT NOW to head in the direction of the medium-term goals? These goals MUST be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-oriented.
Now Hit the Road!
Just like the old saying goes: Fail to plan, plan to fail. Take the time this year to plan for success, then check in on your progress along the way, and you won’t go wrong. Review your vision regularly (daily if possible!) and treat it like an affirmation of your confidence and possibilities. When you hit road blocks, review your vision to help you navigate to set new goals or take a different route. Behavior change takes work. There is no magic pill, but the process of planning, reviewing progress, and visualizing success is the closest thing to a sure-fire formula.
If you need help with behavior change, “visioning”, and goal-setting, the Tahoe Forest Center for Health has health coaches, registered dietitian nutritionists, personal trainers, and more who can guide you on your personal path to change! Contact 530-587-3769 today to get set up with someone who can help.