Taking On More Than You Can Manage
“Think big!” may be the war cry of pioneer business visionaries but, it could be the thing that rocks the boat over in the case of the average Joe. On countless occasions, I was full of ideas that I’d finally be able to establish a brand new plan or goal and I’d jump out of bed with gusto. But like starting a race without breakfast, I would soon realize the problem was that I would typically bite off more than I could chew and expect quick success and no hitches. Often, the pain of disappointment left me feeling too burned out to follow through.
Break It Down to Bite-Sized Pieces
My stumbling blocks to success were being overcome by the size of the task and how long it would take to get there. Rather than overwhelming myself with a host of “good” objectives it helped to learn to select the “best” steps instead of trading them off for feeling like doing more was doing better. By focusing more on the here and now, and not so much or so far in the future, I could find a steady pace that worked. My take on the tortoise, who may be slower, but wins every time!
Whatever you hope to gain in your endeavors, before you can achieve something in life, you need to decide precisely what it is you want.
- Be specific as you define what exactly it is you plan to achieve. Knowing what you are looking for makes it easier to find.
- State why it is that you want whatever it is you desire. Goals are often more “real” if they are written.
- Decide what is a reasonable length of time to realize your desires. Be realistic but make it measurable so you will have a target at which to aim.
8. Resist the desire to biggie-size. We often want results fast and are impatient when it comes to delaying gratification. Though you may be tempted, avoid trying to rush things and bite off more than you can chew. Refer to the reasons why you want the desired goal. Concentrate on where you are in the journey, and not on what’s next. Reflect on how far you’ve come and what a waste it would be to throw in the towel.
In order for us to grow, we will need to allow ourselves to be stretched at times. In most endeavors, if we don’t grow, our plans and goals won’t either. Long-lasting lifestyle change requires an investment of your time and effort, as well as some patience.
The road to achieving great things is much less intimidating when you break down the end result into smaller steps. And absolutely nothing can compare to how you will feel when you finally make it to the place you wanted to be.
Sheri Geyer is a Certified Life & Financial Coach, Mentor, Writer, Wife & Mom
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Lovely Post! New to your blog, I look forward to reading more.