5 Intentionality Tips and Tricks to Tackle 2019 Goals
- Introvert Uncensored
- Jan 31, 2019
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 8, 2019
This topic is perfect for the beginning of a new year. We must remind ourselves to be intentional in order to stay disciplined and focused on achieving whatever small to large goals we have decided to go after in 2019 and beyond.
I am a Certified Coach in Social and Emotional Intelligence thanks to the ISEI (Institute of Social and Emotional Intelligence). This was our topic for our monthly Coach Coffee webinar. I wanted to share some insights discussed in order to help you stay on track, or get back on the horse.
As month one comes to a close, have you already lost sight of some? Have you written them down? Have you created an action plan for each? Have you prioritized so you don't feel overwhelmed attempting to work at each goal all at once?
My weakness with goals is having the cojones to consistently take action to achieve them. I am clear of what I want and typically know what I need to do to get there, but I tend to be fearful of both failure and success. Other times I have made the excuse of "not enough time". The fact is, I think we can always make time for what we love and what brings us joy, and hopefully achieving your goals makes you happy. If not, you may be after something that was never meant to be yours to achieve to begin with.
Starting this blog, as one example, was a goal of mine in 2018. I started an Instagram account on World Introvert Day, purchased my domain, but never got to building my website and actually writing. (I told myself) I didn't have the time and energy because of external circumstances, even though this is what gives me energy. I've been scared of putting myself out there. Being vulnerable and sharing your passion can certainly sound simple to a "doer" type, but I get paralyzed in my fear. That's just one of the battles I have to show up for, and conquer. I'm doing it right now. And I'm doing it with intentionality. I'm tackling every last one of my goals with zero regrets and putting myself out there.
You may find yourself holding back in some way or another, getting in your own way, whether it's challenges like mine, managing distractions, or being uncertain of what you even want to go after. Whatever your own personal hurdle, here are 5 pieces of advice on intentionality so you can kick ALL of your goals' butt this year!
1) Make a decision and be realistic.
I set one main goal in each area of my life - love (self/relationships), career, family, travel, health, and money. I encourage you to be decisive, clear, and concise. Write. It. Down. It helps you remember it, keep yourself accountable, and you'll always have that voice in the back of your head keeping you focused on your "why". Even if this means creating a note in your phone (though I think physically writing it down is more effective, everyone is different). Do what works best for you. It's also important you keep your goals truly realistic so you don't end up feeling like a failure or just overwhelmed.
2) Create an effective action plan.
This is where intention, mindfulness, and accountability come into play. You MUST determine the small steps that will lead to your goal. If you don't, this could be one way you get overwhelmed by the prioritization of your goals, and you'll lose track of how exactly you plan on getting to the finish line. It would be much like if you're baking a cake or pie for the first time without any instructions guiding you on the ingredients and supplies you'll need, or how long and at what temperature it will need to bake. You must be strategic to get the job done. Don't be afraid to ask for help and advice from experts on each step, whatever it may be. Reach out to a mentor, make a new connection, or chat with a friend!
3) Articulate your intentions and expectations effectively.
There may be times when you need to communicate expectations to others. If we don't do so effectively, it's likely others can't read our minds. Often when someone doesn't fully understand what we are trying to communicate or what our end goal is, there is a gap, and you may find yourself not crossing that finish line because you needed the support and help of others' expertise in order to learn, grow, and get what you want.
4) Be flexible.
Along the way, you may need to adjust your action plan to create a win-win situation when others become involved. Intention is typically not the only ingredient impacting our goals, so we have to be flexible as we go. Life happens and sometimes things don't go as we planned, but we have to make the best of circumstances, adapt, learn from it, and keep striving for what we want.
5) Accept what you do and don't have control over.
Meanwhile, we also have to know that other's actions are out of control. Maybe a business partner is a key factor in your career goal, and your partner doesn't follow through with their portion of responsibility. You need to adapt and determine new next steps to get where you need to be. When something happens that deters our plan or effects our end goal, we must be willing to shake it off and go back to the drawing board. Setbacks are a natural aspect of life, but we don't have to be a victim of the circumstances without a choice to, instead, get creative in order to continue on.
Time to get busy checking in with yourself on 2019 goals. One more day until February. What are you going to do today to get to where you want to be?
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