Tip 15: Make your goal part of who you are
Ask yourself the following questions:
- 'Is this goal representatitve of who I want to be?'
- 'What does achieving this goal say about me?'
- 'Why is this important to me?'
- 'What purpose does achieving this goal serve for me?'
In answering these questions you are aiming to change your goal from something you do to being part of who you are. As you answer the questions you should start to feel that the goal is somehow 'natural' for you and one that is compelling. By making the change from 'do' to 'being' there are a number of benefits. Firstly, the goal will become familiar, and acting on it will become more like 'second nature' to you. Second, it is likely that you will start making moves to your goal that are outside of your awareness. (A simple example is someone who wants to be more assertive. If they truly believe that they have the right to say what they want, it becomes much easier to use the techniques and skills associated with assertive behaviour. Without the belief, the person may still use the techniques but it may feel 'clunky' or inauthentic for them). Finally, the change from 'doing' to 'being' will make your goal more cross-contextual, so you may find benefits in other areas of your life as a result of pursuing your goal.
A very good book on this topic is 'Your Best Year Yet' by Jinny Ditzler, (Harper Collins). We've put up a review of it on our website in the Executive Lounge, One Page Book Reviews section
You can read it and do all the exercises in around half a day and it is a great way of planning your priorities for the next 12 months.
(If you want a more in-depth read about 'Being' I recommend 'To Have or To Be' by Erich Fromm. It is quite a heavy read but has some profound insights).
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