Set Big Goals to Ensure you Live your Best Life in 2024
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Set Big Goals: Introduction
Here we are at the start of another New Year. I love New Year because I always feel here I am at the start, and I've the whole year ahead of me, which gives me a sense of excitement. I look forward into the new year and wonder what big goals will I set and what will this year bring? Then I stop and ask myself, when I get to the end of 2024 and look back on it, what do I want to have felt, achieved, been grateful for, and been happy about? What kind of a year do I want? Is it a big, hectic, exciting year with lots of action, or am I happy to have more of the same? Now, there is no good or bad, right or wrong here. It is simply what will bring you the most satisfaction and joy.
How I started this year. First, I found somewhere quiet to sit, and after the hecticness of the holiday season, this was so welcome. Then I just let my mind go where my mind wanted to go. After that, I chose to bring my attention back and consider the year ahead to allow myself to dream big to enable myself to achieve big goals.
Word of the Year
After sitting quietly musing and daydreaming for a while, I decided on my word for the year. One word that encapsulates all of my daydreams and supports me in bringing them to fruition. You might be surprised at how useful this can be.
You might be wondering what my word for this year is. It is FOCUS. Why focus you might ask, well because when I set big goals I’m unlikely to achieve them without focus.
All that said, here are some things to consider before you decide on your word for the year if that's something you want to do.
What size is your thinking? Does it support setting big goals?
Think small, and you'll get small things. Think big, and you'll have big successes, significant experiences, and massive achievements. Some people hear that and wonder why they haven't realised their dreams. After all, they've been thinking big and dreaming big, so why aren't they where they want to be?
The answer might be because they're actually thinking small and don't realise it.
I want to tell you a funny story about big and small that sort of shocked me when I realised how small I was thinking. I live in a small town - Kinsale - and quite a few years ago, a small restaurant in the heart of town was relocating so they could expand their offering.
When I heard where they were moving to, I said to my friend, "Oh no, that'll never work; they are too far out!" It was a roaring success. As I reflected on it, I noticed my thinking was influenced by the town's size: Small. Then, I recognised if I had been in Dublin, London or New York; they were still in the heart of the town. How did I feel then? I'll let you imagine... So, the massive learning for me was - to consider the influences on my thinking.
Don't let failure haunt you
Have you ever, failed to chalk up big successes after you’ve set big goals because of a single failure. You dared to dream big. You shot for the moon. A lot of time, preparation, planning and sweat equity went into into an enormous effort.
Then, you didn’t achieve what you had dreamed and what did you call it - a fail!
This can lead to avoiding taking chances in the future. You then decide to keep your thoughts small and safe. After all, the one time you tried to create an outstanding, amazing result, you failed miserably. In coaching speak this is called catastrophising - magnifying the negative - instead of acknowledging all the smaller successes along the way.
Normal isn't necessarily normal
There are lots of reasons why many people are happy thinking "normal" thoughts. Your senses are constantly bombarded with ordinary achievements. Your friends, coworkers, and family members are all regular people; they're happy just getting by and living an everyday life and if they don’t feel the desire to set big goals that’s okay. And I’ll bet you know some people achieving extraordinary things too, what size are their goals? Consider who you’re hanging out with - go for growth…if that’s what you want.
Evidence-based
These days, we hear a lot about evidence-based, whether it’s the climate, our health or… I’ll let you fill in the blanks.
At the same time, a lack of evidence can also lead you to stay inside your comfort zone.
What right do you have to believe you can achieve something that's never been done before? There's no evidence that it's possible. So why should you waste your time and energy attempting to be the first person ever to create some big reality?
There may be no evidence, but does that mean it is impossible?
Break out
It's so much easier to think small, average and expected.
The problem is that there are so many dangers in this mindset. It doesn't matter if you want to create some huge goals and fantastic reality in your relationships, career, finances or health. The topic doesn't matter.
Playing it safe and aiming for small results can be dangerously limiting in any area of your life.
You don't want that to be your experience. Do what’s right for you. Go for it in 2024.
