It is very common to listen to a personal growth podcast or to read a self-help book and get all jazzed up about what you learned only to struggle to implement it long term into your life for more than a few weeks (or a few days). Even with a strong self-reflection muscle and having a growth mindset, our best efforts at self-improvement often don’t pan out the way we had hoped, which makes it harder to achieve goals and live the life we desire.
As a Life Coach in Dallas who coaches clients across the country, I help my clients get clear on what their goals are and then get clear on how to actually achieve them. If you’re craving self-improvement that sticks, here are some helpful tips.
Professional Coaching Advice
I have coached over 150 people one-on-one, as well as hundreds of others in workshops and group coaching events. To have effective goal setting, it is imperative to know the answers to the following questions:
- Who am I at my most authentic core, underneath things like past trauma, the expectations of well-meaning people in my life, and societal expectations?
- What are my top 3 values in life?
- What is it that I REALLY want? Even if it seems unrealistic or it seems like no one will understand, be honest with this answer!
- Does what I really want align with my life values? If your values are out of whack with your priorities, you’re going to feel a whole lot of friction in your day-to-day life!
These questions are an essential start to your personal development planning. Aligning your energy, mindset and actions with your authentic self and your values will help you with long-term motivation as well as in building a success mindset!
SMART Goals Methodology Expanded
Now that you have cultivated more clarity on what you really want, it’s time to write out some goals! Some of the life coaching techniques that I like to use with my clients (remember, I’m a Dallas Life Coach, but you can live anywhere and coach with me!) when goal setting are:
- Write down your goals and put them somewhere you can easily reference them. I suggest referencing them at least once a week to keep them fresh on your mind.
- Write your goals using the SMART Goals Methodology (make the goals specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and put a time stamp on them).
- Realistic Expanded – It’s not realistic to go from sitting on the couch to running a marathon in a week, nor is it realistic for most people to save $10,000 in two weeks. Dream big, but break down your goals into bite-sized pieces. Once you achieve the first baby step, expand your goal and move on to the next one.
- Time Stap Expanded – Don’t make the time it takes to achieve something be the be all end all of your goal setting. If your goal is to lose 10lbs in three months and you lose 8lbs in three months instead, CELEBRATE this! Don’t punish yourself and give up! Set a new goal to lose the remaining measly 2lbs in a timeframe that is realistic!
- Celebrate your wins! Growth mindset development happens rapidly when you celebrate your victories, small and large. This is key to your action plan implementation as it keeps you motivated and helps you to realize that you are making progress, even if you don’t hit the mark exactly. Losing 8lbs instead of losing none, or going up on the scale, is worth celebrating! As is everything!
Sustainable Self-Improvement
As a DFW Life Coach, I see all the time how breaking things down into bite sized pieces is the fastest way to get what you desire. Here is how to keep the forward momentum going and enjoy sustainable self-improvement:
- Goal Achievement Framework – The steps I have provided you can be applied to any and all areas of your life. Follow them and you will be getting closer and closer to celebrating achieving your goals!
- Habit Formation Strategies – Checking in on your goals and celebrating them are great habits to build to keep your long-term motivation going!
- Accountability Systems – Having the accountability of a Certified Life Coach like me is a game changer! Knowing that we are meeting every week or every other week helps you to stay on track and knock things off your to-do list.
- Performance Coaching – I invite you to apply for a complimentary consultation so that you can get a feel for how coaching with me can make it easier and faster for you to experience self-improvement that sticks and live the life you desire!
Are you looking for a professional life coach in Dallas or a virtual life coach to help you from the comfort of your own home? Or have you been thinking about taking that next step toward reaching your goals with the help of a certified life coach? Contact me, Ashley the Life Coach, for a complimentary consultation.
