“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”
– Hellen Keller
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a simple formula that made goal achievement easy? A “secret sauce” so to speak, that kept us motivated and engaged in pursuing each goal we set out to achieve?
Trust me, I’d love that as much as the next person.
However, as much as I’m an optimist and a “glass half full” kind of person, I also think it’s important to be realistic. When it comes to achieving our goals, each of us needs to come to grips with a hard truth:
It is going to be hard.
Now, I’m not saying it will be hard every single day. There will likely be plenty of days when the work it takes to achieve your goals doesn’t feel like work at all! There will (hopefully) be times when you couldn’t be more excited to wake up and chase your goals, when things are “working out” and the progress you are making encourages your next step forward!
But realistically, there will also be days when:
You face a discouraging setback.
- Your initial plans don’t work out and you have to pivot.
- You just don’t feel like trying.
See what I mean?
The question isn’t, “Will achieving this goal be hard?” but rather, “What will I do when achieving this goal becomes hard?”
I know what you might be thinking: “Well gosh Sarah, that’s discouraging! Is it even worth trying?”
Let me answer that question with a resounding: YES! Of course, it’s worth trying! The greatest achievements will always involve sacrifice, change, and growth. Period. Every time.
REMEMBER:
Hardship isn’t something to be feared, simply something to be anticipated.
With that in mind, here are a few tips for handling the hard days as you work towards your goals:
- Plan for it:
Alright, I know I already said this, but it bears repeating: At some point, achieving your goals will feel hard. Better to plan for that reality than be surprised by it. Identify your personal strategies for handling the harder days BEFORE they arrive.
Take some time to reflect:
What are simple ways to boost my motivation when it is lacking?
What helps to calm me down when I feel frustrated or discouraged?
- Setup check-ins with an accountability partner:
With this one, consistency is key. Having an accountability partner to journey with as your work towards your goals can be SO helpful…but only if you actually talk to them.
Instead of waiting for things to feel hard to reach out to a friend, coach, or mentor, identify your accountability buddy ahead of time and pre-schedule times to check-in and talk. If things are going well, GREAT! Celebrate the victory together! If not, you already have a person lined up to support you. - Identify smaller benchmark goals:
We all need to feel successful from time to time, or we run the risk of losing heart and giving up.
Take a look at your goal, what smaller chunks or “mini-goals” can you subdivide from the big goal? For each of these smaller goals, assign a reward that you will receive for hitting this benchmark. This will allow you to feel success in your progress, not simply in reaching the final destination. - Reread your “WHY” purpose statement every day:
Knowing the “why” behind your work is a powerful success strategy. This of course requires you to have written down your purpose statement.
If you haven’t done so, start by taking time to reflect on the true purpose or motivation behind your goal. Once you’ve done so, write it down and place it somewhere you will see and read every day. This will serve as a powerful reminder and encouragement to persevere through the hard moments.
If you’d like some help identifying strategies to boost your motivation, click here https://calendly.com/sarahboxx/coaching-session to sign up for a free call with me! Together we can discuss your goals and outline a few key strategies for handling the harder days.
Article was contributed by: Maria Lees, Team Writer with Sarah Boxx
