6 Ways to Achieve Your Biggest Goals

Written By Ashley Yavonne

Want to get where you want to go and live the life you've always imagined? Here are some ways to think big and make it happen.

Just because we're dreaming big doesn't imply we have to aim for overnight success in the form of wealth or notoriety (although it could mean that for some of us). That is due to the fact that "larger" is a relative adjective. If we don't have any dreams right now, having a bigger dream could just entail having some kind of modest objective in mind. However, it is not always simple to do so. You may be thinking, "If we knew how to dream bigger, we'd already do it!" When do you begin to dream more ambitiously?

1. Develop Your Self-Esteem 

When you feel you can do something, you're one step closer to really doing it. Why put in the effort if we aren't confident that we are deserving of success? Having faith in our own abilities is the first step in achieving our loftiest goals.

For this pick-me-up, think back on a time when you accomplished something you'd set your mind to. Look to those who dared to dream large and accomplished more than was expected of them for inspiration if you're having trouble dreaming big yourself. Learn from your own and other people's mistakes.

2. Confront Your Worries About Failure 

The anxiety can be overwhelming if you're contemplating a significant life change. What if we don't succeed? we might ask. Now what? If this describes you, it might be time to try a new approach. Focusing on the process rather than the outcome is possible through the cultivation of a growth mindset, or the conviction that growth and learning are more important than success or the opinions of other people. By doing so, we can take greater pleasure in the journey toward our eventual failure.

3. Confront Your Worries About Success 

In our minds, the biggest reason we don't go for our goals is that we're scared to fail. But suppose we're actually terrified of achievement. People have varied ideas of what it means to be successful, and some of those ideas are downright terrifying. It's possible that achieving success will make you an outcast in your social circle. This could lead to more responsibility than you're comfortable with. As an alternative, it may cause envy among those around you. You may be afraid of success for a variety of reasons. You can get over your worries by looking at them more closely and making plans for how to deal with them.

4. Get Creative 

To get started, picture all the great things that may happen if you actually did what your heart desired. You might fantasize about starting your own company, raising a large family, or seeing the world.

Take note of how your body reacts emotionally and physically as you imagine different outcomes. Attempt to pay attention to how you physically react to each new encounter and make mental notes of any thoughts or feelings that arise. Ask yourself these questions: 

  • Does living this life feel good?

  • Does living this life feel authentic?

  • Does living this life feel like a big dream?

Try out this mental exercise to see what kinds of ambitious goals best suit your personality.

5. Get Some Perspective

Too many of us are unable to break free of the cycle of pursuing mediocre goals (or the wrong dreams). Often, this is due to our lack of introspection over our true values. To make sure our lofty goals are meaningful, we should consider the following factors that science has shown to play a role in this (Ryff, 1989):

  • Positive relations with others. Warm, trusting relationships with others.

  • Self-acceptance. Holding positive attitudes about the self.

  • Autonomy. Feeling free to choose and direct one's own actions.

  • Environmental mastery. Feeling that one can change one's circumstances.

  • Personal growth. The ability to develop and grow as a person. 

  • Life purpose. Having a sense of meaningful direction in life.

Try to keep these things in mind when dreaming big so that your aspirations have personal significance and motivate you to take action.

6. Take Pleasure in the Process

The pursuit of ambitious goals can become so all-consuming that we forget to take pleasure in the journey itself. True, ambitious goals allow us to visualize a future that is different from our past experiences. However, if we don't enjoy the journey, it will be difficult to realize our loftiest ambitions.

So, make an effort to relish the process of making your goal a reality. You're making changes and creating a new world for yourself, so any achievement, no matter how tiny, is cause for celebration. If our goals and aspirations have deep personal value, the process of working toward them can provide us happiness whether or not we ever reach the finish line.

References

Ashley Yavonne
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