Why Write My Goal and How Do I Do It?

Dwight Thomas said, “It’s only a dream until you write it down, and then it becomes a goal.”

Why is that?

Researchers found that when a resolution was only voiced or thought, it usually went by the wayside within a week.
If it was written down, there was a much greater chance it was being followed through on even months later.

Writing your goal engages your subconscious mind. It works to attract what you need to make your goal a reality.
Just the act of writing your goal has an element of commitment to it. It is now more real, or tangible.
You can see it. Others can see it. It is no longer just a wish or dream that soon takes flight.

Although writing down your goal can be as simple as saying ‘I’m going to lose 5 pounds’, you’ll get a lot more oomph from
it if you follow a few basis steps. This process is called:

Writing a SMART Goal

S- Specific – Clearly and specifically write down what you want. What is the end result? Write it in present positive words.
If it’s a really big goal, you may want to write subgoals that you’ll achieve in a few weeks or months in addition to your
big goal.
M- Measurable – Is the goal measurable and how will you measure it? Use at least two measures, at least one should be tangible.
A- Achievable – Is it achievable and realistic in the time frame I’ve set?
R- Relevant – Is this goal something I really want, or is it a ‘should’ goal or coming from someone else? Is it meaningful to me?
T- Timeline – When will I achieve this goal? What is my deadline? (Note: timelines can be modified as you go)

Here’s an example of a SMART goal:

This is my present goal. It’s actually a ‘sub-goal’ of my bigger goal to practice holistic self-care in my everyday life so I feel good and look good and have the health and energy to live my life fully and fulfill my dreams.

I achieve and maintain my ideal weight of 140#. I measure my actual weight using the scale once a week and how well my clothes fit from when I used to be at my ideal weight. This goal is definitely achievable as I only have five more
pounds to lose. I used to weigh much less than that when I was younger, but feel this is a healthier, better looking
weight for me now.

I really want to achieve and maintain my ideal weight because I look good and feel good at this weight. I feel attractive when
looking in the mirror. This is also my way of knowing that I am eating appropriate amounts of food. It tells me that most of my food choices are healthy because otherwise I wouldn’t be able to lose and maintain the weight, and I wouldn’t feel good
either. I will achieve this goal within six weeks from today which is July 20th.

Tweak your goal until you feel happy with it and it passes the SMART test.

What is your goal for the next two-to-three months? Be sure to write it down. Share it with us in the comments section. If you already shared a goal as part of the challenge, great! Now I invite you to make it SMART. Putting your goal ‘out there’ makes it real and spurs you to make it a commitment.

I’m really looking forward to reading your goals. Go for it!