GOAL SETTING TOOLS
"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but
one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
I Corinthians 9.24
It's not always easy to achieve a goal. Achieving a goal takes thought, action and time.
Now, let's see what I mean by that statement.
Who do you consider to be a great person? (Think about this for a minute. It can be anyone. Example: A famous athlete, Dr. Martin Luther King, your grandmother.) (Write it on your worksheet)
Now I want you to use this person and describe the GOAL they achieved and the steps they had to take to get to their goal. (Write it on your worksheet)
Example: Person: Jesus
Goal : Died on Calvary for our sins
Steps : Come to earth as a baby, be tested, as we are tested, minister even when it was not popular, allow the crucifixion
What have we learned from the goal setting of others? First, we have to acknowledge that people that achieve have a goal. Second, that they took time to plan a way to achieve that goal. Third, that they were not quitters. They didn't stop till they achieved their goal.
RULES FOR GOAL SETTING:
1. BE HONEST, REALISTIC ABOUT THE GOAL YOU CHOOSE
Do you truly want to achieve this goal? Can you believe you will reach this goal?
Example: Quit smoking. Anyone can quit smoking but the desire must be yours. You must desire to quit. So if you are doing it for any other reason, you will fail.
Second, you must be able to see yourself as a non-smoker. If you can't then you are setting yourself up to fail. So be honest/realistic with yourself. Now, you can set the goal. The goal: Stop Smoking
2. SET A TIME/DATE
Once again, you must be honest/realistic with yourself. So you need to look at a calendar, pick a date. Believe you will achieve your goal by your chosen date.
Goal : Quit Smoking on April 20th, 1996.
3. BE CLEAR ABOUT THE STEPS TO BE TAKEN TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL
You have a goal and a date to achieve that goal. Now you are ready to make a plan to achieve your goal. You have in our example nine (9) days to achieve your goal. So how are you going to achieve your goal? PLAN... I have 4 packs of cigarettes now.
1. I will not purchase anymore cigarettes.
2. I will not bum any cigarettes from this day forward.
3. I will smoke only so many cigarettes a day till the 20th.
4. I will not have any cigarettes in my possession when I go bed the night of the 19th.
4. BE SURE TO TAKE ALOT OF SMALL STEPS TO REACH YOUR GOAL
Ok, the overview looks good. Are you being honest/realistic with yourself?
Why small steps? Because they encourage us to continue on to the end.
Let's look at our plan and for each step add small steps. #1 & #2 are good guidelines, to make our goal we must not purchase or bum cigarettes. This could be #1 & 1a. 1b. must not do anything but smoke the cigarette. 1c. must smoke outside. Now #3 can be changed to #2. Under #2 you need to decide how many cigarettes you will smoke each of the eight smoking days. You have 80 cigarettes. So will it be 10 per day? or more cigarettes at the beginning and cutting back each day after till the end? Decision is made: Day 1 etc. - 18, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, 5, 2. #4 can be moved to #3.
• Goal: Quit Smoking by April 20th, 1996
• Plan: 1. I will not purchase cigarettes.
a. Will not bum cigarettes.
b. Must only smoke cigarette - do nothing else.
c. Must smoke outside.
2. I will smoke only so many cigarettes a day.
a. Day 1 - 18 e. Day 5 - 9
b. Day 2 - 15 f. Day 6 - 7
c. Day 3 - 13 g. Day 7 - 5
d. Day 4 - 11 h. Day 8 - 2
3. I will not have any cigarettes in my possession when I go to bed on the 19th.
a. I will empty/wash all ashtrays and put away.
b. I will empty/take out all the trash/garbage cans.
c. I will review my total plan.
d. Last thought as I go to sleep will be: I am a non-smoker....
5. BE PATIENT AS YOU WORK TOWARDS YOUR GOAL
Don't beat yourself up if you fail. Start again. Back to our example. If you smoke 20 the first day, so smoke less than planned the next day's. The main thing is that you don't get discouraged and lose sight of your goal.
6. TAKE IT ONE STEP AT A TIME, ONE DAY AT A TIME
Now, I want each of you to think of a goal you want to achieve. (behavior change, school, promotion) (Write it on your worksheet.)
Now think of three (3) steps you have to take to reach your goal. (Write them on your worksheet.)
Now think of three (3) steps you have to take to reach each of the first three (3) steps you just listed on your worksheet. (Write them on your worksheet under the correct item.)
NOW YOU HAVE A PLAN OF ACTION... Is it a good plan? Does it meet the rules?
That can prevent you from achieving your Goal? (not being honest/realistic, not continuing to take the necessary steps)
How are other people important in achieving your goal? (they can encourage or discourage)
What is the "First Step" you will take after this session to reach your goal?
You now have the tools to achieve any realistic goal you want to achieve. But no one can do it for you. The final choice/decision is yours. You have to take the tools and use them.
The key is how seriously do you want to achieve the goal.
Closing: In closing I would like for each of you to think about the most helpful thing you heard. (Give them a minute to think)
Facilitator stand and start a circle, sharing what you found the most helpful. Invite each participant to do the same. Thank each one for their participation, for adding to our efforts to have achievable goals.
Prayer (Ask all to hold hands as we pray for God to help us to apply all we learned to our daily life)
Click to Complete Online Goal Setting Worksheet
