Achieving your goals can feel a lot like climbing a mountain. Whilst we may initially set out on our expedition with the idea of things running smoothly and a plan to continually achieve forward progress, this is rarely how it plays out. Instead, there’s plenty of ups and downs, countless setbacks, and a fair share of unforeseen obstacles that usually stand in our path.
When the path to achieving your goals can be so challenging and overwhelming, it’s important to set yourself up for success from the start of the journey. To help with this, we asked Declan Edwards, the Founder of BU Coaching and a thought leader in the field of personal development and wellbeing, to share his top 3 tips that will help you keep pushing forward towards your goals and your dreams.
Tip 1: Know Your Why
Remind yourself why you started pursuing this goal in the first place. When faced with a challenge or setback, it’s tempting to go straight into problem-solving mode and get caught up in the ‘hows’ and the ‘whats.’ Instead of compulsively doing this, it’s actually more productive to reconnect with the meaning and purpose behind the goal in the first place.
A fantastic way to do this is to utilise the 5 Whys technique. This involves asking yourself ‘why’ the goal is important to you and then repeating this question every time you get an answer.
For example let’s say your goal was to exercise more regularly. When you ask why it’s important for you to do that, you may come up with the answer; so you can be fitter. When you ask why you want to be fitter, you may discover that it’s so you can spend more quality time with your children. If you repeat the question again, it could boil down to you want to be a great example for your family.
All of a sudden, the goal is about something much more emotionally impactful and important than just exercising for the sake of exercising.
Tip 2: Ask for Help and Get Feedback
Sometimes we get in our own way.
We all have our own individual blindspots and limitations.
Without asking for help or getting feedback from people, we trust it’s easy to get caught out by these blindspots and limitations.
If you want to overcome any obstacle, it’s essential that you build the right support team around you. This could involve mentors, coaches, professionals, friends, or family. It doesn’t necessarily matter where you source your support network from; the important thing is that you assemble a team of people in your corner who are willing and able, to be honest with you and who are able to hold you accountable.
All too often, I see people make the mistake of thinking that they need to achieve their goals on their own. Please don’t make this mistake.
After all, no high performer ever achieved greatness without some help and guidance along the way.
Tip 3: Consider What the Obstacles Are Trying to Teach You
Don’t underestimate the importance or the value of obstacles along the path. Remember how we said that achieving your goals is like climbing a mountain? It’s not always a smooth path there. Embracing this fact is an important part of your personal growth.
We live in a world that is far too fearful of failure. If you want to entirely avoid letdowns and setbacks, the only way you’re going to not pursue any goals in the first place.
So, if the fact of the matter is that you’re going to face obstacles, why not use them to your advantage?
There’s a fantastic concept known as ‘failing forward’ where you view an obstacle or a setback not as an endpoint but as an essential and valuable part of the journey to success.
Every obstacle is an opportunity to learn, to grow, and to pave the path towards achieving your goals.
Rather than holding onto a win/lose mentality, start cultivating a win/learn mentality.
By putting these 3 tips and techniques into practice, you’ll enhance your resilience, your drive, and your capability to keep moving forward towards your goals. Remember that, like any other skill, these tips won’t be developed overnight. They take time, effort, and consistent practice to master.
Ready yourself, set your sights on the summit, and take your journey towards achieving your goals one step at a time. You’ll be surprised by what you’re capable of.
