How to focus on your goals like crazy

How to focus on your goals like crazy

So, it’s a new day, a new beginning. Perhaps it’s time for a fresh start, or to get back on track after stalling or having a wobble? Maybe you are still trying to succeed in creating a helpful habit in an area of your life that you still haven’t managed to crack? So, how to focus on your goals, stick with them and create the results you want is a question you want answers too. Here are some of my suggestions.

First, it’s critical to be crystal clear with knowing what you want and why you want what you want. Then, having a clear vision. Next, it’s as important to understand where your motivation to achieve your vision stems from. While you want the drive to come from within, and not motivated by what anyone else wants for you, beware. Your motivations are paramount in how to focus on your goals.

Your level of success is intrinsically linked to your motivation. Furthermore, your ability to take action consistently towards your goals will be determined by how easy or hard it currently feels. So, what are these two types of motivation?

Towards Motivation Pulls You Towards Your Desired Result

‘Towards’ motivation is simply being motivated towards what you want, your desired results.

‘Away’ from motivation is being motivated away from what you don’t want; an impulse to leave behind your current state and situation you don’t want. I will explain with two examples.

Firstly, let’s imagine two friends, Ann and Mary both want to get fitter and slimmer. They have the same vision of being a fit, lean and healthy person. They see themselves waking up, feeling energised and inspired to exercise.

Here is where the difference in motivation comes into play. Ann is motivated by this vision because she is sick and tired of feeling lethargic. She hates the feeling of her clothes being too tight and no longer wants to be this way. Her family are all overweight and she doesn’t want to end up like them.

Mary, on the other hand, is motivated by how she will feel wearing her wedding dress on her special day. She is motivated and excited by the desired outcome. Firstly, how she will look and feel on her wedding day. Secondly, how proud she will be when she has accomplished this goal. This is a better way to tackle the question, how to focus on your goals and succeed

Away from Motivation Tends to Fade Away

In the first example, Ann is ‘away’ from motivated and in the second, Mary is ‘towards’ motivated. Same vision but a huge difference in where their inner drive stems from. One is ‘away’ from the current state and one is ‘toward’ the desired state.

This example works in every situation.

Let’s take a look at how to focus on money goals

Imagine Tony and John both have the same vision of being able to pay their bills three months in advance. Tony’s motivation, however, comes from his anxiety that arises every time a bill arrives. He is sick of the constant worry and doesn’t want to be in debt any longer.

John’s motivation, on the other hand, comes with the excitement he feels when he thinks about achieving the goal. How free he will feel because the very act of paying in advance, will mean he has saved more money. More money means the possibility of a trip to Europe. A destination on his bucket list. 

While the actions of Tony and John may consist of similar steps, it’s the motivation that matters. Where your focus originates from and how you focus on goals is, therefore, key to the success of your results. Why is this so important?

When your focus is away from what you want, there is less drive to keep going and becomes harder the further away you move from your ‘away’ from drive.

How to focus on your goals correctly and achieve greater success

When you feel the motivation of ‘towards’ what you want, you are more likely to succeed. You have more excitement and as you get nearer, the energy and excitement help you keep going. Celebrating your small wins fuels momentum and helps you to continue. Ultimately, it feels easier to take the necessary actions towards what you want. As you persist and you feel more empowered you build grit, a necessary ingredient for a mindset for success.

Interestingly, ‘away’ from motivation is precisely why so many diets fail. Much of the motivation is often ‘away’ from a current state, rather like the example of Ann above. ‘Away’ from feeling fat, overweight, lazy, uncomfortable, trapped, depressed, etc. Exactly the same as many money goals.

Make sure you carefully check the direction of your motivation on your goals

To check the direction of your motivation on your financial goals, simply write down each goal and exactly why you want each one. Be thorough as it is beneath the surface of your words where the source of your motivation lies. As you read your words, notice where your mind takes you and how you feel. Is it ‘away’ from a current uncomfortable place more than ‘towards’ an exciting opportunity or result? If it’s the first one, simply re-write your goals and ensure your language, thoughts and feelings are lined up in the right direction. Motivated ‘towards’ and by what you want. Read your goals daily and imagine stepping into the moment you have achieved your goal. Feel the excitement and notice all the opportunities that have opened up. 

I guarantee if you check this critical step, it will be easier to keep plugged into your goals and get into action. This methodology will increase your chances of success and is a key step for how to focus on and achieve your goals. Finally, here are a few more tips to help you keep focused on your goals. 

Mandy Napier BSc (Sunshine Coast, Australia)