Alex Shalman . comPractical Personal Development

Nothing is more fulfilling than giving into an addiction, especially if that addiction is actually good for you. Goal achievement is one of these great things that it’s okay to get addicted to (it’s up there with water!) To top it off, goal achievement is a great tool to get things done, build self-esteem, inspire confidence, and induce motivation.

Since goal achievement is an addiction, it only gets more potent the more you use it (you’ll become a fiend!) You’ll find yourself requiring bigger and bigger doses, as you move from small goals into the experience of great adventures and the accomplishment of your life mission.

I’m sure you can relate to looking at some goals and thinking just how much will-power and motivation they may require. Being a goal addict is about surrendering to the euphoria of getting things done. By completing every consecutive goal that you set for yourself, you become the kind of person that only knows completion. You become a person of your word; a person with unshakable integrity.

Your inner voice will constantly speak in terms of positive self-talk. You’ll find yourself saying things like, “I can do it!”, “This tiny little task? No problem!”, “I’ll get this done, with pleasure!” and my all time favorite, “I’m a juggernaut, nothing can stop me!”

Where to start? Keep it simple.

1. Most Important Thing First. The morning is a perfect time to give yourself an emotional boost. Wake up early, do an exercise routine, go for a walk and just think, make a journal entry, cook someone breakfast, or clean one room in the house.

2. Make a smart substitution. One of your goals is being healthy, right? So next time you sit down to eat a meal switch soda for water, potatoes for salad, and desert for a breath of fresh air.

3. Connect with people. Use 15 minutes to call one relative, friend or acquaintance that you don’t talk to on a regular basis to check up on them. They’ll be happy that you care, and you’ll be happy that they’re happy.

4. Use the 30 second rule. Make this a habit for each time you talk to anyone. Pay them a compliment or word of encouragement within the first 30 seconds of talking to them. Just be that person (it’s important to pay people genuine compliments that you mean, otherwise you may be seen as insincere and this will work against you).

5. Don’t cram life goals. Everyone has life goals, right? These are probably huge, monumental goals that could take years to achieve. Don’t put them off for later, spend 15-30 minutes each day taking action towards these huge goals - these minutes will add up pretty quickly and you’ll achieve them quicker than you thought.

6. Take good notes. When completing goals that are part of your daily routine, it is very important to keep meticulous notes of your progress. At the start of the month, print out a fresh blank calender (you can use sciral to do this free and quick). You’ll get addicted to recording your progress and have extra incentive to not let a day go by without completing your goals.

There are plenty of other things you can do to get yourself started on a road to goal addiction. The important thing is to start with relatively simple and beneficial goals. Make a gradual increase in the type of goals that you take on. Whenever you have a huge task, always think about which small tasks you can complete to get yourself going.

Journal homework for you

To be done by the end of this day. Label a fresh section “Goals I have been putting off” and free-write 5-10 things. As you write, you may experience some kind of negative emotions or feelings about yourself, right? Perhaps shame, embarrassment, laziness or even hypocrisy. Now, image how much lighter and happier you will feel once you’re constantly checking off tasks on your list.