A few words on goals and goal-setting

We've just had the start of a new month, and soon a new season will be upon us. On top of that the end of lockdown in the UK is on the horizon, with schools opening next week. Many of us will be able to get back to our work and personal projects.

We have long lists we've been waiting to get our teeth into and we're going to achieve so much! Well, in theory.

I've had a few conversations recently about goal setting. Actually, it's an integral part of the work I do with my clients.

Lots of people have goals in mind, maybe even write them down, but for one reason or another - for all their great intentions - people stall when it comes to achieving them.

There is a bit of a science to effective goal setting; neuroscience, in fact. Here's a whistle-stop tour of how to set goals effectively.

Visualise life with that goal achieved

You have to start by really visualising the outcome you would like - not just the goal being achieved. What would the outcome look like, how would it feel, how would YOU feel when you're there, living life with this goal achieved?

This exercise really plants the goal into your subconscious mind. And your subconscious mind is pretty good at going off on its own to try to find solutions to achieve things.

Try sitting quietly for a few moments and really stepping into that picture of life with the goal achieved. Bask in how good it feels.

Break out the steps to get you there

I am sure you have heard that bit of advice before, but it's really important. If your goal is: "I want to be fitter!" your brain doesn't know what to do with that in terms of getting there. It's too abstract, even if you have visualised yourself zipping about with more zest, looking and feeling healthier.

So you need to break down that goal into steps e.g. "Well, I need to start running again."

Now break that down into small steps - when will you run, for how long, with what on your feet? Then break down those steps into even tinier steps - steps it's almost impossible to argue you can't complete.

Boom! Now you can step into a virtuous cycle

Each time you complete a tiny step, you get a chemical reward - a shot of serotonin (happy chemical) and also some dopamine.

Now, dopamine is what we get when we achieve a task, no matter how small. But it is also a motivating chemical. It, along with serotonin, help us want to pursue the next achievement (can be another tiny one!).

So by breaking down goals into tiny steps that we 'tick off' as we do them, we can actually create a virtuous cycle, a chemical loop which means we feel more motivated, so we get more done, and so feel even more motivated to do even more.

And then eventually all the steps towards our goal get completed and - hey presto - we cross the finishing line!

Crossing the finishing line with that goal feels so good. So guess what? We're motivated to aim for more finishing lines, and we know better how to do that now - our brain has a proven template for doing it and evidence it can be done!

Questions?

If you're wondering what solution focused hypnotherapy has to do with all this, and how I help clients achieve their goals, be it losing weight, feeling calmer, feeling more confident and happy, or finally leaving behind depression and anxiety, just give me a call for a chat!