I read an article on CNBC’s website titled, “Retired Navy SEAL: Use this 5-step strategy to achieve any goal” and I think it’s a great, short guideline to follow and remember for yourself. I believe these self-help and self-improvement ideas are not just for you, they are also a lifestyle changes we maybe learning late in life but are things we can teach our kids starting today. If you practice the “Miracle Morning” I think it’s a great idea to have the kids practice a bit of this with you as well. Teach them how to make this lifestyle change while they are young and build these good habits sooner! Now, into the 5 steps, shared from the interview with retired Navy SEAL David Goggins, here we go.
- Slow down and refocusTo understand your “why” and what motivates you, “you first have to spend time alone,” he adds, especially in today’s fast-paced environment. “Everybody’s walking around looking at their phone. … They go home and flip through channels. They go home and talk on the phone. How are you going to figure out your purpose if you haven’t figured out, first, in a quiet space, what you need to do?
“The world is moving too fast. You have to slow it down and gain control.”
Carve out a time where you can just focus on yourself. Find a quiet space and turn off your phone to minimize distractions. Then you’ll be able to think. - Establish your purpose“In that alone time,” says Goggins, ask yourself: “What’s my purpose? Why am I here? Why am I doing any of this stuff?”
Keep in mind that your purpose won’t necessarily align with your passion. “A lot of people think, ‘I have to find something that I love doing and that’s my purpose,’” says Goggins. But that won’t always take you in the right direction.
Really think about what could work for you. If you’re struggling, try an expert-recommended exercise that can help you figure out what to do with your life. - Set specific goals
Once you establish your purpose, you can start setting goals, says Goggins. They should be specific and give you clarity and direction. For example, if you want to earn more money, have an actual dollar amount in mind. If you want to get fit, decide what specifically that would look like for you. If you want to get ahead at work, identify the promotion or title you want to earn.
Don’t just think about your objectives — put them on paper. Writing down your goals helps you map out your future, separate your fears from reality and could even help you land your next job. - Make a plan
Now that your goals are in writing, you have to figure out exactly how you’re going to achieve them. Do you need to wake up earlier? Exercise several times per week? Land more clients at work?
It’ll be easier to execute your goals if you can break them down into manageable steps. Plus, knocking out smaller tasks right away will help you build momentum.
When making your plan, it’s also a good idea to anticipate obstacles that might arise and come up with a way to deal with them. - Take action
The final step, actually putting your plan into action, is the hardest.
“We love the planning phase. The planning phase is a comfortable phase in your room, in your house, no judgment, no failure, no nothing,” Goggins says. But, “the call to action is very uncomfortable. There’s pain, there’s suffering, there’s judgment, there’s failure.”
This is when your purpose will be particularly helpful: If you’re ever feeling uninspired or like you want to give up, revisit why you’re trying to accomplish whatever it is you’re trying to do.
Step five is “where the majority of us fail,” warns Goggins. It’s also “when you know: Am I real or am I fake?”
Be the best you, that you can be!