We are halfway through 2023. It’s time for a check-in. If you are a goal-chaser like me, you understand the fascination with a new shiny dream and the “fresh start” feeling that comes with setting an ambitious goal. There is nothing quite like the rush of renewed energy that comes at the start of doing something new. But now, at the halfway point, the struggle is real. It’s called the mid goal slump. The sense of excitement has worn off, and you are faced with the enormity of the feat; there’s still a lot of effort, a lot of hard work, left to be done on the road ahead. And the rewards seem far away.
When setting a goal, the focus is typically on the one big thing to be accomplished. But the truth is, the achievement of any goal is in the small consistent steps diligently taken once it’s launched. At the end of the day, goal-achievement is a nonlinear journey, and there’s no perfect formula how to go from point A to point B. However, there is an effective 4-step process to goal-setting:
Set and commit to a goal
Make a plan breaking the goal into actionable steps
Act on the plan taking consistent action
Track and evaluate progress
Around this time of year, I like to take a look at my goals and evaluate the progress I made from a realistic perspective being really honest not only about what I got done but also about what I want going forward. It’s an opportunity to check-in and make adjustments if my needs, expectations and priorities have changed.
How you feel at the midpoint depends on your attitude – is the glass half empty or half full? Are you only halfway there, or are you already half way there? It is important to stop at the midway point to ask yourself whether you have accomplished about half of what you set out to do, and if you want to continue on this particular goal-pursuit journey.
Following the plan is the hardest part of the journey. While celebrating the wins to the midway point is important, it is critical to look at the things that fell by the wayside and the excuses made along the way. Analyze them to figure out what is really getting in the way in order to strategize powerful solutions that would drive tangible progress toward crossing the proverbial finish line. This is the time to think through the “why” (reasons you set the goal), the “what” (actions still needed toward success), and the “how” (success strategies.) Now, you have a choice to make: quit or dig deep and continue to the finish line, step-by-step. This is a testimony of how much you really want it. Your success hinges on your mind-over-matter resilience. You remind yourself that it is always the small consistent steps that lead to the completion of a big scary goal.
When you reaffirm your commitment, you get your second wind, and you shift your mindset toward optimism. This is my favorite part of the goal-achievement journey, the last push to the top. Realistically, there is still a lot of milestones and actions as well as potential roadblocks and pain. But in my mind’s eye, I can imagine myself as accomplished and successful. I know in my gut I will make it. I feel confident and re-connect with that sense of purpose that led me to set this goal in the first place. I embrace the hard work, sweat, and tears as badges of honor. I appreciate the lessons they are teaching me.
I will concede that I have goal-obsession. I am driven by purpose. I’ve learned that in order to live my best life, I must be relentless in my pursuit of growth and expansion via disciplined and diligent goal-setting in my personal and professional life. There are no shortcuts. To live fully, effort must be exerted. To build the life I want, I must create the conditions for new opportunities. My interpretation of “right effort” is to do the things that will lead to progress and growth. It means paying attention to what is happening in the present moment and being intentional in taking action, making the investment, in building my future self today.
Wherever you are on your journey, I hope you look into the second half of the year and see possibilities. I encourage you to set new goals, or re-commit to old ones. Goals are the roadmap to clarify where you are going and whether you are progressing in the direction of the meaningful things you want to achieve. Remember to keep putting one foot in front of the other, especially when you encounter challenges, to continue to move forward. At its essence, the self-fulfillment journey is all about the accumulation of challenges, joys and memories. We are all shaped by the meaning we create from our experiences. Bon Voyage!
Comments