In every person's life there are a few areas that one would like to improve. We set our goals; to increase at work, lose weight, increase our income and so on. But it's not always possible to achieve these goals. Some people tend to justify their failures that they simply are not able to achieve something greater.
Psychologists who study the area of human achievement, for a long time and unanimously came to the conclusion: everything and always able to get what they want. The main thing - it is right to formulate a goal that you want to achieve and choose the right strategy to achieve it. That's about it and writes Heidi Grant Helvorson in his book "The Psychology of Achievement. How to achieve your goals. " Psychologist convinced that the will to achieve the goals can be strengthened in the same way as any muscle.
As one of the most important steps to achieve the goal - it is the right setting, today we look at the principles that will help you set goals in such a way as to create a favorable conditions for its achievement.
What can you do to better achieve the goals?
1. Specificity
Set a goal as far as the particular formulation. If you want to lose weight, your goal should be formulated as "lose weight by 3 kg," and not just "lose some weight". The second variant targets in advance doomed to failure because it does not give you a precise understanding of what you want to achieve as a result.
Having motivated and not lose it to the end the goal is very important. We often say to ourselves and hear from other the phrase "make every effort." This position is poorly motivated, because it is vague and blurred.
2. Difficulty.
Set a goal difficult, but achievable. The goal should be difficult, but the bar is high - the only way you will feel a real motivation to achieve it. However, do not overdo it - a goal still to be real.
In setting the goal too easy, you are likely to achieve it. But this stop you. After all, many people are beginning to overcome laziness once they have achieved the original objectives. Have you heard something about the man wanted to lose weight by 3 kg, but in the end lost by 10kg? It just does not happen.
3. Think "what" and "why"
Thoughts to determine how you will reach them. It is possible to think in terms of "what" (what I do) - an abstract thinking. And it is possible to think in terms of "what" (what I do) - it is thinking more than concrete.
For example, if you mess in the locker room, you can set a goal to "organize the space inside the wardrobe" - is the position of "why". And the phrase "throw away clothes that I no longer need the" already refers to the position of "what". Keeping the position of "why", you will feel a surge of strength and is easier to avoid the temptations to shirk the task. And when the difficult task atypical for you in front of you, which may require a long development, it is necessary to think about it in terms of "what".
4. Think positive, but do not underestimate the difficulty
The basis of maintenance of motivation - a belief in themselves and in the successful outcome of the case. Be sure to think about your chances of success, but do not lose sight of all the possible difficulties that may encounter. Thinking that everything is very easy to get, you will not be ready for the unexpected difficulties that can cause your failure.
5. Mental contrasting
This process will help to better understand whether or not to strive for this goal, and will give more motivation. Contrast is the mental representation of first the goal and then barriers and obstacles that await you on the way to it.
For example, you want to get a job in a large successful company. First, imagine how you accept a job offer from the company, and then think about how many candidates there are for this position, what are the conditions of employment, etc. Dreams can come true, if you perform the required steps.