Fiercely Kind Shifts to Get More Done (1 of 4): Ignite Your Goals with WHY!

As we approach the end of the first quarter of the year, it’s a great time to take stock: How are your goals coming? Are you making the progress that you hoped? Or has life got in the way?

Over the next 4 weeks, I’m sharing an energizing series with 4 fiercely kind shifts to help you get re-motivated and achieve what matters most to you. This bite-sized series is centred on Create a Life You Love—one of our 4Cs.

It’s easy to be excited about our goals at the beginning of the year—and then lose focus as life’s busyness takes over. But there is a way to stay excited about our goals and ensure we keep moving forward even when our life is full—and that’s:

1) Deeply Connect to Your WHY!

I set SMART goals in my business, but in my personal life I rarely need to—because I’m so focused on my WHY (the result that I’m looking for), that I easily and naturally keep moving forward.

Well, actually, it’s not always easy. Like right now, I’m digging, building planters, hefting yards and yards of woodchips and soil in the cold and rain because I’m super-connected to all the reasons I want a veggie garden this year. I am so bursting with excitement at the prospect of planting, harvesting and creating beauty in my garden that I push through any difficulty.

Because our WHY is more important than making goals SMART!

Now I’m all for documenting our goals, writing them down and making them SMART (Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic and Timebound).

But just because you make your goal SMART doesn’t make it exciting or something you feel inspired to work towards!

Yes, the SMART framework helps create clear, actionable goals. But SMART goals without a compelling WHY are like rockets without fuel…

Here’s why the WHY of your goals is so important:

• Staying power: People with a compelling WHY find it easier to keep working on their goals—even when the going gets tough. They see obstacles as problems to solve on the path to something meaningful.
  
• Focus: In a world of busyness and endless possibilities and distractions, your WHY makes it easier to say “no” to activities that distract you from your purpose.
• Easier to Achieve: A goal with a clear, inspiring WHY is easier to achieve because we feel “pulled” towards it—it’s exciting to work on.
• Deep inner motivation: When you’re super-clear on your WHY, your goal transforms from something you “should do” to a deep internal commitment you feel compelled to achieve.

10 Questions to Deeply Connect to the ‘Why?’ of Your Goals

Be Fiercely Kind to Yourself & Connect to the WHY of your goal/s here:

1. Why is this goal worth my time and energy? Why bother working toward this goal?
2. What outcomes will this goal help me achieve? What does it give me? (make a list)
3. When I achieve this goal, what will be undeniably different in my life? Be specific!
4. What’s the most exciting thing about this goal?
5. What are the benefits? What’s in it for me? And what’s in it for the people around me? Make a list of all the wins!
6. What other possible ripple effects will this goal create in my life—big or small?
7. Why is this goal important right now? Why this year and not last—or next?
8. Once I’ve achieved this goal, how will I be different? And how will my life be different?
9. Imagine for a moment how you’ll feel if you don’t achieve this goal…
10. Finally, imagine you’ve completed this goal. Describe what you’re saying to yourself and how you’ll feel.

Optional: For a thorough WHY, describe a day in your life once you’ve achieved this goal. Start with waking up in the morning. Use your 5 senses (see, hear, feel, taste, smell) and also be sure to answer: Who is around you—and Where are you?

Final Step: Review your answers to these questions. Look for patterns and themes—and wrap-up by writing out all the most significant and inspiring reasons you want this goal in one list or paragraph!

How to use your WHY:

• Put your WHY list/paragraph somewhere you’ll see it daily.
• Read your WHY when you wake up and/or before you go to sleep.
• Revisit your WHY whenever you seem to be stuck, when your motivation wanes—or obstacles appear!