Hello everyone! Just wanted to post a blurb from my blog that I wrote about SMART goals. I felt that it was very applicable to weight loss as well, so I wanted to share it with y'all!
By now I am sure you have heard all about SMART goals. The idea of SMART goals has been around for a while, and while no one can pin-point exactly where the acronym came from, it has seeped into the mainstream as the accepted method to set and achieve goals.
While some of the basics behind SMART goals (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely) do hold water, there is a lot that SMART goals does not talk about.
The problem is, goal setting – while relatively simple in theory – is not as simple in practice. We know this because of sheer experience – after all, how many times have you or someone you knew floundered on their goals? Probably at least a few times, right?
If it was as easy as just setting SMART goals the way that the SMART goals principles are explained, everyone would be accomplishing their goals easily and without much difficulty. You know, and I know, that this is by far the case.
Here is what SMART goal setting does not tell you about how to truly accomplish your goals.
1. SMART Goals Doesn't Talk About How You Actually Achieve the Goal.
Have you heard of the Law of Attraction? Boiled down it essentially says that if you think and dream of something enough that this will be enough to make your goals and dreams turn into reality. There is one glaring problem with this law: It completely disregards the course that you must follow to achieve your goal.
This disregard for the course of action is also a symptom of SMART goals. SMART goals tells you a lot about how to set a goal, but it doesn't tell you how you're actually going to achieve it.
Building a plan of action is your blueprint for the execution of your goals. Similar to a building, you have to have a blueprint or design to help you get from concept to reality.
This is where your plan of action comes in.
Some characteristics of a strong plan include:
It Starts Today. No starting "someday" or next week, or even tomorrow. Your plan of action must begin with something that you can accomplish today. I cannot even overstate how crucial this is. By jumping right into picking up the action habit you are exponentially more likely to follow through with your goals.
Every step of the plan is broken down and laid out. So that once complete, you are literally putting your goals on a straight path to being achieved. Having that kind of laser-like focus and knowing precisely what you have to do and nothing else is incredibly powerful.
2. SMART Goals Neglects the Concept of Failure or Adversity.
Everyone likes to fantasize about being tough enough to brave any storm. We all imagine ourselves to be impenetrable to the setbacks of life... Until they actually happen. Then we begin to doubt ourselves and wonder if what we are doing is worth continuing at all.
This is a massive hole in the concept of SMART goal setting.
How many times has this happened to you: Using the SMART goals principles you set a goal for yourself. You are full of enthusiasm and positivity. You act towards it for a few days/weeks/months. A failure or setback happens that you didn't see coming. Suddenly that enthusiasm is gone. Doubt creeps in. You begin to wonder if you deserve to achieve this goal at all. Goal shelved.
SMART goals ignores the fact that failures will happen along the way. It's just the way life is. Our plans are never perfect, there are simply too many things out of our control.
But what you can control – and SMART goals doesn't talk about this at all – is not your failures, but how you decide to react to them.
3. SMART Goals Forgets to Talk About Purpose.
Everybody talks about wanting to be rich. Or happy. Or skinny and fit. But for a second go beyond the obvious reasons for wanting to be any of these things. Is there a deeper purpose behind what you are doing? When you can find this deeper purpose, you tap into a whole other level of motivation that is powerful beyond measure.
For example, say you want to be wealthy. Who doesn't, right? Give yourself a couple reasons for why this goal will benefit the greater good.
Perhaps you want to be rich so that you can help finance a new basketball court for the local community park. Or maybe you want to start a scholarship fund for the youths in your area.
Make these goals specific, not just "I want to give back to the community."
Give yourself a clear and specific goal so that it is as real (and as important to you) in your mind as possible.
When you give yourself these "purpose" related motivations to achieving your goals, you are soaring past the people that use SMART goals that use self-centred goals that are shallow in motivation and purpose.
By now I am sure you have heard all about SMART goals. The idea of SMART goals has been around for a while, and while no one can pin-point exactly where the acronym came from, it has seeped into the mainstream as the accepted method to set and achieve goals.
While some of the basics behind SMART goals (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely) do hold water, there is a lot that SMART goals does not talk about.
The problem is, goal setting – while relatively simple in theory – is not as simple in practice. We know this because of sheer experience – after all, how many times have you or someone you knew floundered on their goals? Probably at least a few times, right?
If it was as easy as just setting SMART goals the way that the SMART goals principles are explained, everyone would be accomplishing their goals easily and without much difficulty. You know, and I know, that this is by far the case.
Here is what SMART goal setting does not tell you about how to truly accomplish your goals.
1. SMART Goals Doesn't Talk About How You Actually Achieve the Goal.
Have you heard of the Law of Attraction? Boiled down it essentially says that if you think and dream of something enough that this will be enough to make your goals and dreams turn into reality. There is one glaring problem with this law: It completely disregards the course that you must follow to achieve your goal.
This disregard for the course of action is also a symptom of SMART goals. SMART goals tells you a lot about how to set a goal, but it doesn't tell you how you're actually going to achieve it.
Building a plan of action is your blueprint for the execution of your goals. Similar to a building, you have to have a blueprint or design to help you get from concept to reality.
This is where your plan of action comes in.
Some characteristics of a strong plan include:
It Starts Today. No starting "someday" or next week, or even tomorrow. Your plan of action must begin with something that you can accomplish today. I cannot even overstate how crucial this is. By jumping right into picking up the action habit you are exponentially more likely to follow through with your goals.
Every step of the plan is broken down and laid out. So that once complete, you are literally putting your goals on a straight path to being achieved. Having that kind of laser-like focus and knowing precisely what you have to do and nothing else is incredibly powerful.
2. SMART Goals Neglects the Concept of Failure or Adversity.
Everyone likes to fantasize about being tough enough to brave any storm. We all imagine ourselves to be impenetrable to the setbacks of life... Until they actually happen. Then we begin to doubt ourselves and wonder if what we are doing is worth continuing at all.
This is a massive hole in the concept of SMART goal setting.
How many times has this happened to you: Using the SMART goals principles you set a goal for yourself. You are full of enthusiasm and positivity. You act towards it for a few days/weeks/months. A failure or setback happens that you didn't see coming. Suddenly that enthusiasm is gone. Doubt creeps in. You begin to wonder if you deserve to achieve this goal at all. Goal shelved.
SMART goals ignores the fact that failures will happen along the way. It's just the way life is. Our plans are never perfect, there are simply too many things out of our control.
But what you can control – and SMART goals doesn't talk about this at all – is not your failures, but how you decide to react to them.
3. SMART Goals Forgets to Talk About Purpose.
Everybody talks about wanting to be rich. Or happy. Or skinny and fit. But for a second go beyond the obvious reasons for wanting to be any of these things. Is there a deeper purpose behind what you are doing? When you can find this deeper purpose, you tap into a whole other level of motivation that is powerful beyond measure.
For example, say you want to be wealthy. Who doesn't, right? Give yourself a couple reasons for why this goal will benefit the greater good.
Perhaps you want to be rich so that you can help finance a new basketball court for the local community park. Or maybe you want to start a scholarship fund for the youths in your area.
Make these goals specific, not just "I want to give back to the community."
Give yourself a clear and specific goal so that it is as real (and as important to you) in your mind as possible.
When you give yourself these "purpose" related motivations to achieving your goals, you are soaring past the people that use SMART goals that use self-centred goals that are shallow in motivation and purpose.
