How to start to regain control of your future after a challenging year.
Rarely do we all share a similar experience, but over the past almost 18 months we have all pretty much shared one experience in particular….The pandemic. And it has and is still having a profound effect on us both physically and mentally.
Due to the nature of what has happened over the last nearly 2 years, pretty much all of us have had adapt to new rules, new ways of working, restrictions and having to live with uncertainty. We may have found ourselves doing things that we really didn’t sign up for! We’ve had to roll up our sleeves and get stuck in, working harder, taking on jobs and roles that we may have thought were in our past whilst juggling family and career at a level that most of us have never had to do.
We have had to put many of our goals on hold and still maintain as best we can, our positivity, while mental health, for many, is on the decline.
With this in mind, I personally think that we couldn’t have a better time to re-evaluate and look at the things that we do and to think about what we WANT to do. Due to the challenges mentioned above, this can be a highly motivating time. A time to change. Change is challenging and takes a lot of focus, energy and confidence, but using these difficult times and experiences to motivate us could be the recipe for a life and future that we really want, one that in the past weren’t prepared to make the effort to achieve.
So, what NOT to do!
Ok what does the typical person do at this time of year? They make goals for the coming year, then a few weeks into the new year maybe even a month or two, those goals really seem to be either less important or so difficult to achieve so they give up on them.
When this happens, it does one thing more than anything else, it in some way reduces our belief in ourselves. It grows that little pattern of self doubt, that can, over time become a way of thinking that really can work against us.
So what is the alternative? Make no goals? No! We all need goals, being future orientated in our psychology is in my opinion, one of the key traits to happiness and success, a trait that I have seen in my many coaching clients and members over the last 20 plus years, the successful ones.
We should really start by saying “what can I clear out”? We all have the same 24 hrs in the day, and I’m sure you would agree, it’s how we use them that is the key. It is said that you can’t pour from an empty glass. So how are you able to set and achieve goals without freeing up time and mental energy? The answer is that you can’t.
If you add a goal which usually takes an element of your time, physical and mental energy to accomplish it, without finding the time or energy for it then you’re off to a difficult start, and as you know in athletics, the start is of paramount importance.
Before setting out a new goal, start by looking at what drains your physical and mental batteries, MAKE A LIST of things that you need to cut out things that really don’t serve you, you simply don’t like or waste your time. That, trust me is a very liberating experience!
(Some you may be able to implement quickly, some may take weeks or months, but ask yourself “how do I want to feel in 3 months time”? It will be worth it!)
Next, make a list of the things that increases your energy and grows your battery, such as good nutrition, moderate exercise, visualisation, meditation, good rest and quality sleep. These all contribute to increasing the energy you have to set, work on and achieve new goals.
Only once you’ve cleared out the unnecessary should you start working on those big goals. When setting them, I’ve found that there are some important questions that you may need to answer first.
If you’ve set a similar goal in the past without success, what will you need to change this time to increase your chance o success?
Who can help you set and achieve your goals? Collaborating with a capable person can supercharge results.
What skills may you need above and beyond what you have currently, these should include technical skills and personal skills, are there any psychological qualities that you may need to develop, such as confidence, self belief or visualisation techniques (these too can be achieved with the help of a good coach or therapist)
What are the potential future challenges that you may face? How will you overcome these?
Have you run these goals past good experienced people? ones who aren’t by nature negative but are confident enough to ask you challenging questions and give your goals the 3rd degree!
Being future orientated is one of the greatest facets to a healthy happy mindset.
Clear things out, focus on the future and what you can do and get back on track!
Best Wishes for 2022
Wayne
For more tips, check out my post on building positive patterns
https://www.wayne-vincent.co.uk/post/how-creating-positive-patterns-can-effect-everything
The Mind Performance Centre.
https://www.wayne-vincent.co.uk
