Holistic Guide to Goal Setting-PART 3
Posted on September 19, 2013 by Jeff Monachelli , One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
Holistic guide to goal setting and figuring out what your priorities are: professionally and personally. Mindfulness helps maintain balance.
In my first two parts of my goal setting guide, I detailed step-by-step, various ways to build motivation, confidence, and ultimately take action with your goals and objectives. There are two sides to every coin, light & dark, day & night, yin & yang. We live with duality and opposing polarities. As a Professional Life Coach, I never tell my clients what to do; sometimes people are looking for a quick “magical’ answer that will propel them to great heights. As we all know, life is erratic and always changing. We must learn to adapt and go with the flow sometimes.
One very large concept I haven’t touched on is, Mindfulness. This is where the “holistic” piece comes in. Goal setting on its own doesn’t take into consideration certain factors: unpredictable forces of change, catastrophes, emergencies, etc…It isn’t always a tidy affair. We can’t control every variable in our striving. Being in the moment and fully present is what mindfulness is all about. This is easier said than done for most.
It takes practice and a willingness to slow down and get in touch with your body and mind. Goal setting points towards the future. So, how can we be in the moment, yet push ourselves out of our “comfort zone”?
There is a delicate balance between being static and enjoying the moment, and getting ready to move forward towards a new future. An excess of either approach will squash your goals before they start. I believe the key is to not set up yourself for instant failure. If you fail to see the present, you can’t slide smoothly into your future.
Knowing where (and who) you are is a prerequisite to molding your forthcoming days. I always recommend to my clients, start small. You can always get “bigger” later; but you want to get your momentum first. As I mentioned in my previous article; aligning your goals, tasks, objectives, with your values is a must.
How can you be mindful?
1. Spend time doing nothing. Give yourself the permission to breathe and do absolutely nothing for at least 5-10 minutes each day. This will help you refocus and recharge. Become comfortable with stillness; you will get used to it & love it!
2. Do one thing at a time. We are all encouraged to “multi-task” and get as much done as possible. This approach actually causes us to produce and create ‘less’. If you single task, you will focus your concentration and intentions to the task of the moment. Try to finish what you start. In rare cases, multitasking can’t be avoided: like when you are holding your toddler in one arm and folding laundry or cooking with the other.
3. Give yourself a break. Mindfulness should not be confused with lazy passivity. Although, I think it is ok to be ‘lazy’ every now and then. It is good for you heart and psyche to take breaks from life. Being completely passive with no passion or compassion isn’t the way to go. You can be gently present without ‘giving up’ on your dreams.
4. Give to others and practice gratitude. You will feel instantly transformed when you help or give your time or resources to another person. This will remind you that we are all interconnected. Be grateful for what you have; who you have in your life; and keep perspective on your existence.
Stay tuned for more practical and holistic tips to keep you in the game of life. Invest in yourself; you are worth it!
For a Free Life Coaching consultation: email jmonachelli@gmail.com or call 203.823.3310
JM MOTIVATIONAL COACHING-2013
