The fact or process of doing something, typically to achieve an aim.
Planning and preparing for something big to happen, is just that. You can be the most prepared person in the world, but if you don’t put that preparation into motion then you can’t expect an outcome. It’s not the route, but the actual footwork that leads to action.
“Perfect” will never be achieved. It’s not a realistic goal to set for yourself, so the first step to taking action is to denounce perfection. It means letting go of the fantasy of doing everything right every time. We have to give ourselves space to make mistakes because we’ll never learn any valuable lessons without them.
It begins with truly knowing what you want and vividly visualizing it. Take a second to write down your goals, short and long-term. Try to include as much detail as possible, down to the way you want to feel when you achieve them. Once it’s written, read it over and let every cell in your body believe that you’ve already achieved it. A vision board is a great addition because it helps to mentally put you in that space that you want to be in.
Next, identify what motivates you. Is it internal, the satisfaction of knowing you did it? Or is it for an external reward, like money or status? It could be the combination of the two, but you must identify what it is for you.
When it’s internal, it’s referred to as intrinsic motivation. Some of us are satisfied with just knowing that we completed a task, or are satisfied with the fun or challenge that it entails. Also known as self-motivation, these actions are rewarded naturally, like building strong relationships, establishing healthy habits, or developing a new passion.
When it’s external, it’s referred to as extrinsic motivation. Some of us need a little bit of a push from the outside to get right on the inside. This outside motivation can also spawn from the fear of being reprimanded or punished. The hope of receiving money or recognition is the most common, but some will graduate college, fight for a promotion, or even change their appearance as a result of pressure from the outside.
Neither extrinsic nor intrinsic are better than the other, so long as you understand the difference and understand what you want. Ask yourself these questions:
- Is this dream significant to me?
- What is my motivation for pursuing this goal?
- Am I seeking validation from others for this achievement?
- What types of rewards am I anticipating?
Once you’ve answered those four questions, it’s time to set some goals. You’ll need to make an action plan, a guide for yourself detailing what steps you need to take in order to achieve each of your goals. Format it as a to-do list, so you can refer to it every step of the way. Don’t be afraid to set a deadline for each step, leaving some space for flexibility. Then make a personal commitment to work through your plan.
If you’ve followed through and made it to this point, the hardest part is done.
