When “going with the flow” Just Doesn’t Cut It
By Michelle Smith.
All my life I’ve lived under the catchphrase “go with the flow”, but once you’re a grownup it seems to me, that this metaphor just doesn’t cut it when your duty becomes being a responsible and reliable adult. Life doesn’t come with instructions, ever. Good thing we have internet.
Now goal setting isn’t a new topic. It’s usually something we’re forced to learn since we’re in high school even though at that age it seems very irrelevant. We then make the mistake of not considering goals and plans as beneficial instruments to our future. You can find a plethora of self help books and internet articles saturated with archaic information on how to make your lifestyle great through the well planned setting of goals, although these might fall short on really grasping our attention. So I decided to take it upon myself to do a little research and find something that would really stand out amongst the amalgam of self help/achievement topics.
First of all, why set goals? This is the hardest question to answer. According to Mindtools,
“Goal setting is a powerful process for thinking about your ideal future, and for motivating yourself to turn your vision of this future into reality.”
So, there are basically three steps to successful goal making. The first and most important is to define your lifetime goals. You know, the ones in which you envision yourself in 10 years time driving in a BMW, with a great career and retirement plan. These goals should cover a broad spectrum of details that combine in the life you seek to have in the future, and provide you with enough perspective for related decision making. The second step to making and subsequently reaching your goals is to set smaller goals. These should be oriented to the achievement of your lifetime goals and can be anything from monthly or weekly goals, to do lists, daily tasks, etc. Once you have a plan ironed out, the third step is the achievement per se along with a revision of what goals you have reached, which are realistic and reasonable, and how you can do better with every decision you make.
Another handy trick to keep in mind while planning is to make sure your goals are SMART.
“S – Specific (or Significant).
M – Measurable (or Meaningful).
A – Attainable (or Action-Oriented).
R – Relevant (or Rewarding).
T – Time-bound (or Trackable).”
As simple as it seems, the act of actually reaching a goal you set for yourself can really be rewarding and motivate you to take on another level of challenges. On absorbing this information, it may seem that “going with the flow” could possibly steer you in the wrong direction when you don’t know at least which flow you want to take. This handy guide can make it possible to determine your path and figure out along the way what works for you in order to have the lifestyle you want.
About the author: Michelle Smith is a blogger, internet surfer, science and astrophysics enthusiast, dog lover, tourism major, avid reader, coffee addict, prose writer, music-eater and chocolate cake aficionado. A little bit of everything packed into one human form with a wild capacity of thinking too many things at once. Follow Michelle on Twitter @Shells1901 or check out her blog, Missing Pieces of Myself for an unfiltered peek of her personality.
