Goal Setting as a Game!

It is easy to come up with reasons to NOT set goals. In fact, it is so easy, that most people do not set goals. See if any of the reasons below might be your reason for avoiding goal setting.

¨  You don't truly believe it will help you.

¨  You don't have time – just too busy surviving.

¨  You don't know what to choose as your goal(s).

¨  You don't know how to go about setting your goals.

¨  You tried it before and it didn't work.

¨  You're afraid of creating changes in case you end up in a worse place than you are now.

¨  You're entirely happy with your life and you see no reason to change things.

¨  You don’t really know what a goal is or how to go about achieving one.

Did any of these apply to you? The thing is you are not alone. Most people reply positively to one or more of these – mostly because goal setting is a mystery to them. I here to tell you that goal setting does not have to be a huge mystery. It does not have to belong only to those that are paid the big bucks and thus have time to set goals. You can create and achieve goals in some very easy to follow steps. 

Let’s pretend that goal setting is a game. 

1. The first thing you have to do is decide what the name of your game will be. 

2. Games need rules so you know where to go, what to do next. Write down what your goal will look like when you have achieved it.

3. Each board game has a path you have to walk in order to get to the winner’s circle. Describe your path – what are the steps you will have to take in order to win the game?

4. Now you must set up some kind of strategy for winning the game. Write down your strategy for achieving the goal. How you will win?

5. Time is a very important part of games. Games will come with all sorts of timer pieces. What is your time line for achieving your goal? Write down the steps and decide a timeline for each step. 

6. Alliances can be a fun part of game playing. Decide who will choose to be a part of your team. Who will you align or partner with in order to achieve your goal? Support makes the game a whole lot more fun.

7. In game playing it often helps to visualize “you” in the winner’s circle. Visualization of achieving your goal and what it will look like is a wonderful way to bring it into reality. Can you see yourself in the winner’s circle? 

8. Winning is a definite celebration. Often there are bonus points as you achieve success along the board’ path toward winning the game. Celebrate your wins along the way toward your goal.

9. Yeah!!! You won the goal – I mean the game!!!!! Now, it is time to reassess how you could have played the game better. What will you do different next time? Where were you strong? Where can you be stronger next time? Remember even if you lost at a game you have learned new tools, which you can take with you the next time you play.

Now that you know how to play the game of goal setting, go back over the reasons that you have procrastinated. 

Goal setting can be fun and it is powerful!!! Are you ready to play the game?