It is the 3rd month into the year already! You've probbaly got goals, whether you've written them down or have them stored in your head here are 10 things to remember whilst chasing after your dreams. The pursuit towards your dreams and goals is not always easy, however it'll be worth it once you get there.
So here are some things I have learnt and are applicable when you've got a vision you're working towards...
1. Don't Give Up When It Gets Hard
It'll be hard, nobody said achieving success was easy, if it was then everyone would do it. When progress is slow, and the process is not turning out the way you imagined the thought of giving up on your dreams or goals feels way too easy. Like the easy way out.
But I found the best thing to do when you feel like giving up is to visualise the life you would like to live and then continue working towards your plan to make it your reality.
Also asking yourself these questions:
- Why did I want to pursue this goal to begin with— and has anything changed?
- Would my life be better if I gave up on this goal?
If your life would be better once you've achieved this goal then keep pursuing it. It's only a matter of time until you finally see the fruits of your labour, and all you've invested will start to grow.
“Persistence trumps talent.” – Daniel Pink. And this is so true! Be persistent even though it may be difficult.
2. The Power of Consistency
This is one that I've learnt more recently. The necessity of consistency. If you want to be successful you have to consistent. Consistency is a major key because unless you have tried something over and over you will not be able to measure its effective and gain an understanding of what works and what doesn't work.
Whether it is consistency at work or a new business venture if you aren't consistent you won't be recognised. People will identify you by your repeated hard work and dedication and people will view you as reliable.
Being consistent will also keep you momentum going. If you want something bad enough work hard for it, never decreasing the amount of work invested into it.
3. Compete only with yourself
My dreams are different to yours, your goals are different to mine.
We all have individual journeys, different places we are going so don't compete with that other person who wants something similar to you. the same way in which we are different is the same way we will utilize it differently.
Don't look at what other people are doing and where they are in life, and whether they have achieved more than you! Instead by inspired by these people, but not envious. Use it as an example of the possible accomplishments if you work hard.
But how they achieved their goal might turn out to be different to the way you achieve and how long it takes to reach yours.
Stay focussed - with some of that tunnel vision and if you're going to compete with anyone - compete with your own personal best.
4. Have The End Goal In Sight
Similar to visualising your potential life as stated in point no. 1. But write your vision down and write it plain and clearly, because without a vision it will equal failure.
Having the end goal in sight will help when times are hard, when the struggle becomes real. Again remember why you're doing it or why you are striving for this dream. 10, 15, 20 years from now you could be pleased that you kept the vision closeby.
If an athlete gave up halfway through their race they would never know what would become of their race and what the end results would be.
So keep running girl and have that finish line in sight.
5. Value your time
When you're working towards a dream there is no time to spend of worthless things. Drama?..."Ain't nobody got time"
However It's easy to spend our time doing things that we think we need to do but are really a waste of time, sorry yeah like hours of instagram scrolling or binge watching reality TV shows. I once read that Beyonce has the same amount if time as everyone on the earth. Fine, she may have assistants and people helping her left right and centre but it's just an example of what can be achieved if we value our time (ouch! yeah this hurt me).
I also read that time never comes back. Once it's gone it's gone! We may lose money, but money can be regained. But time can't.
We live in a period where we face so many distractions, our phones, our iPads, our laptops. There's just sooo much to do and a whole world to get lost in. But if you've got goals limit the time you spend on random web browsing (and people spying).
6. People will have opinion after opinion
Don't get distracted by naysayers; trust your vision.
You will always get those with a lot to say, with an opinion, with disbelief, with their skepticism. but IGNORE THEM!! Don't listen to them, block it out, don't let it throw you off-course.
If you know what you're going after, go after it in faith and say "Bye" to the skeptics. They will be the same people to turn around and tell you they knew you could do it. For some people seeing is believing but you don't need those types of people around you.
7. Never Stop Learning
You can never know enough of one topic - there is always something you can learn even if it's just miniature. So keep educating yourself.
If you don't acknowledge the need to constantly learn new things you're ultimately denying yourself of the chance to grow. There is always something you don't know and it could help you achieve greater success in accomplishing your goals.
Listen to what others have to say about their experiences. Learn from their achievements and their mistakes. Read books, read blogs and articles, listen to podcasts, tune into webinars, watch youtube videos.
There is a world full of knowledge out there. And applying this knowledge in the correct way will make you incredibly wise.
8. Believe and Have faith
There is no point in having a goal you don't believe in and you don't believe will ever happen.
It'll be hard to achieve or even work towards a goal you don't believe in or are not passionate about. If you don't believe in your dream or your goal nobody will do it for you.
You may have moments of feeling discouraged but that's different to totally not believing in your dream at all.
As a child whenever my mum asked me a question and i responded "I'm not sure or I don't know" My mum would say to me "If you're not sure then who is going to be sure for you".
The answer is NOBODY. It's great to have people around you to encourage you and push you but ultimately it's your goal! It was given to you for a reason. So go get it!
Believing is 90 percent of the win. If you believe you'll achieve your goal, no matter what the challenges, no matter what anyone else tells you...You WILL succeed!!
9. Be Active
Great you have faith! You believe in your vision but don't expect anyone to do the work for you. Nobody can be successful or reach your goals for you. You have to work hard yourself.
Faith without work is dead. There is no point believing and dreaming but not working. If only life was that easy. If you want to work towards achieving something it's not going to happen just thinking about it, you have to physically act out the tasks necessary to achieving that goal.
In order for a plant to grow someone had to plant it in the first place.
Sometimes it's easy to sit around wishing...wishing about your dream life, wishing for the things you want. But some wishes don't come true until you act!
OH. So I know I said 10 keys but I could only think of 9. There are no rules over here anyway.
Perhaps that can be the final point.
There are no rules! There is no right or wrong way of chasing your dreams and achieving a vision. Just do it in your own way and in the way you know how, whilst remembering the points listed above.
Exciting stuff!!! Here's to chasing dreams and catching them. Whoop!
#ModernLadyhood
