The Secret To Sticking To Your Goals No Matter What

Last Updated on May 21, 2024 by Joshua Isibor

Sticking to your goals can be a big deal, especially in trying times like this. A lot of bad things are happening in the world presently. Many countries are in deep chaos. Families are grieving over the unexpected and painful loss of their loved ones. Businesses are trying to recover their capital and a few other assets that have been lost to the crisis.

Everyone is trying to offset one liability or the other: financial, emotional, and material.
One way or the other, we all seem broken or affected by the struggles and troubles humanity happens to be passing through at the moment.

I can go on and on talking about loss, pain, liability, troubles, struggles, chaos, crisis, and many other negativities that we might be struggling with as individuals. But the truth somehow is that we are lost in these things. We are lost in the flood of emotions resulting from the pain we have incurred in this while, and reaching our goals is now a stretched fairytale. You wonder if there is a secret you can borrow to help you stick to your goals no matter what.

Most importantly, now that the thought of chasing or sticking to a goal is far from impossible, the earth seems to have taken a different shift, and your goals have been thrown to the back seat by forces bigger than you—or so you think.
This sounds more practical to virtually everyone than fictional. You might feel it is totally unfair to still be talking about sticking to goals with the way things are at the moment. Or you might decide to sacrifice your goal until another season so that you can fully pay attention to the situation at hand…. It sounds logical, but what sense does it make to pause your life to deal with something that is already seemingly bigger than you and life?

Something overwhelming that you can’t possibly tackle, all by yourself. Is laying down your goals worth the sacrifice? Is it unfair that you continue your life despite what is happening?

There are so many questions I would like to ask you to help you think through because I am not just trying to expose a secret to you, but a mindset that can trap your progress and hinder you from pursuing that life goal that will change your life.
Well, we have to admit that not only the bad stuff can distract us from sticking to our goals. Some people get more distracted when everything seems smooth, clean, and rosy—maybe even perfect.

Then, unconsciously, you begin to ask yourself if taking that step forward is necessary. Being extremely comfortable can actually cause you to rethink your goals or even choose to slip by them.
It is like journeying to a green land on foot, and halfway along the way, you find yourself in a place with green grasses or beautiful flowers. At that point, the closest thought is relishing the place, having a little fun, taking a break, or making a final stop.

A more practical example is winning an award, a prize, or international recognition while climbing the ladder of career success. Mini achievements can also slow progress and the pursuit of your goal.
Indeed, small wins are very encouraging and a good incentive to keep moving toward the bigger ones. But you will have to decide that for yourself. You will have to decide to take them as an incentive and not the end.

Small wins and achievements have the ability to make you feel relaxed and unduly uncomfortable. I used the phrase unduly comfortable here because, as much as comfortability is good, you need a little pressure or discomfort to move forward.
The achievements can come as a cold water of refreshment after long periods of intense labor. It should be treated as such. It is a total error to sit down after taking a refreshment and refuse to take any further move.

A bigger error is to fold your hands below your chest and say, there will always be a next time or try to slow down yourself. Part of achieving your goals can also be a stopper. You get lost when you are thrilled in the moment or extremely delighted.
Well, before you celebrate you are not in the category of people in any of the above positions. You also need to confirm that you are not one of the cold-shouldered types.
I am talking about the category of people who suddenly get cold. They probably got bored in the pursuit of goals or just lost the motivation to continue chasing them.

Don’t feel sad if you are in this category. This is something that is bound to happen to anyone, especially if you don’t watch it. It is possible to lose the passion backing the pursuit of your goal. Like, you just lose it. No bad thing occurred, no good thing occurred, but you are not tuned in.
This can be the most frustrating of all situations. For illustration’s sake, let us assume that Mr. A intended to finish twenty books before the end of the year. He read ten books from January to July and suddenly lost interest. He doesn’t feel like reading anymore, no matter how much he pushes himself.

He picks up his books and drops them the next minute for no particular reason other than lack of interest. Obviously, he is now confused and worried about what could have led him into such a passionless pit and how to move away from it. We have so many people like Mr. A today; you might even be one.
We have successfully identified THREE scenarios that can make you stop striving for your goals.
First is, negative/tragic occurrences.
The second is extremely positive/ mini achievements.
The third is a lack of passion.
None is easier to deal with than the other, but below are a few tips in relation to each scenario to help you get back on track.

The Secret To Sticking To Your Goals No Matter What

1. Educate your mind:

source: prettydesigns

this is a key point for all three scenarios. Many times, our minds tend to give up before we actually do. Before we get overwhelmed, burdened, or passionless, our minds give in to the ball.

A great man once said that winning or losing starts from the mind. If you can educate your mind to be a fighter through whatever season, it will take extra pressure before any situation pauses your striving. Teach your mind to continually pursue and stay focused on one thing.

2. Obsess yourself with your goals:

if you can make a paper note of your goals and paste them in a visible place where you are sure to pass and take a glance or two more often, that will be magical. Or if it is possible you make a soft note on your desktop or mobile phone and place it on your screensaver, you will surely be serving the same purpose.

What is important is that you are in a position where you are constantly reminded of your goals and why. The more you see it, the more your head gets occupied with thoughts of achieving it, the more passion your spirit feels, and the more you strive.

3. Get an accountability partner:

this has been a secret for ages that many people ignore. Having someone who is informed on what you are pursuing, why or how, can get you to sit up in many ways than you can imagine. You need someone who can share progress reports with you, push you when you fall cold, motivate you when you are down, and add the right pressure to your pursuit.

4. Add pressure:

I bet you can see how the lines are joining, seems interesting to me. Now, what do I mean by adding pressure? Being too comfortable, as we have said can hinder your progress. You need a certain amount of pressure to run well. To get this pressure, you might need to engage in challenges. Using our previous example of Mr. A, he will surely reach his goal if he could join himself to a book challenge somewhere. Almost sure. adding more pressure is one secret To Sticking To Your Goals…

5. Get a team:

wondering what is the need of a team when you have an accountability partner? You need to know that an accountability partner could be just anybody you trust and resonate well with, he/she serves a totally different purpose from a team.

A team must be based on the area of your goal. If you have the goal to become a badass writer, you should join a team of writers, whether they are intimate or distant. They render you some challenge and encouragement when you see people pursuing what you are pursuing.

6. Work on your emotions:

steadiness is an emotional state most great people occupy. You have to be in charge of your emotions no matter what is happening. You can start training yourself right away. You don’t have to wait until something happens. Get a grip on your emotions such that coldness, negatives, or achievement won’t distract you off the goal track.

Train yourself to accept what you cannot change and move on
Striving to achieve a goal is like being on a track and racing towards an end or an obvious prize. You can’t just lose focus. You need all the strength you can get to arrive at the right time.

Distraction, discouragement, and relaxation are not allowed. You have to keep pushing until you reach the very end.
With the tips I have provided you above, I am sure you will have a beautiful and near-perfect push to the end.
P.S. It is already the end of the year. You might want to start working on the tips listed above before you set your goal for next year.
It is not enough to set the goal, you need to have what it takes to chase it no matter what.

ALSO, READ 22 ways on how to build self-belief

Originally posted 2020-11-02 16:41:48.