3 Steps to Achieving Your Goals

​WRITTEN BY: Jennifer Strout, Founder of MotivateU

I find that I am so much more content, and even focused and goal directed, when I complete a nightly ritual I developed a few years ago. The process is only 3 steps and takes just a few minutes each day.

Step 1) Write down 3 people, places, qualities, or things that you are grateful for. 

I can say that after years of doing this, writing down what you are grateful for makes a difference versus just thinking about those things, and the research backs this up. Also, write down a reflection on how and/or why you’re grateful for each thing you wrote down.

 Step 2) Review your goals, not just the outstanding ones, but also the ones that you have already accomplished.

How do I personally do this? I created a checklist and I check off goals when they are complete and add new goals as they arise. The goals I write down on this list are at a high bar and when I looking back at what I’ve accomplished, it intensely increases my motivation to keep striving.  

Step 3) Look at your vision board and allow yourself to feel gratitude, a sense of accomplishment, and passion to achieve your new goals. I have a physical board with magazine cutouts, but also, a folder on my phone with images that I did not have a physical copy of. More recently, I took some of my favorite images from my phone's vision board folder and I made them into a background for my phone so that I am constantly reminded of why I am pushing hard to reach my goals.  

I used to run through these 3 steps directly before going to sleep each night, but sometimes I have found that I become too tired or forget so I moved the practice to earlier in the evening. So depending on your schedule, you may want to try different times to find the best rhythm. 

I encourage you to share you progress with others, you can even do so below in the comments. You can also share your progress with setting up a foundational Step 2 and Step 3 if you don't already have a goals and accomplishments list or vision board. Let us know about both roadblocks and wins in achieving different parts of your steps 1-3 so we can share your vision and cheer you on!

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