Reach your goals - The power of habits and a clear vision
Meet Malin a lifestyle coach, she helps women align their behaviors with their goals and dreams so that they can live a happier and more fulfilled life. She is a firm believer that our habits shape our future, and her mission and passion is to empower women to change theirs. Through personalized guidance and evidence-based strategies, she support women in achieving sustainable lifestyle changes without the fuss.
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In todays article Malin will guide you through the power of our daily habits and behaviors and how they are connected to you achieving your life goals.
Our future is said to be found in our daily routine. I love this quote for two reasons. One, it weaves the future into the present, and two, it’s so true. Successful goal setting is all about finding that sweet spot between dreaming big and taking consistent action. The truth is that human beings are capable of so much transformation, but most people overlook the significance of small, consistent steps required to achieve these goals. Or they tend to focus so much on the end goal, doing too much too soon, and ultimately give up due to overwhelm. There is no balance, no sweet spot. This error is one I've made many times in my own life, and perhaps you have too. In this piece, I want to talk about the role our habits play in creating meaningful changes in our lives, while also emphasizing the importance of having a clear value driven vision before we start taking action.
When most people think of habits they think about actions, such as working out or brushing our teeth. But habits are also our mental patterns, including our self-talk and reactions to various situations. So at its core, habits involve our actions, thoughts, and overall behaviors that are performed regularly and often subconsciously. Without the brain's capacity to form habits, tasks such as setting our alarm in the evening or locking the door when we leave our home would require constant planning and thus, mental effort. While habits help us be more effective in our everyday lives, there are times when they hold us back from feeling as good as we deserve. Some less effective habits are procrastination, negative self-talk, overreacting in triggering situations, or overeating when stressed.
If you have a goal right now which you want to reach, consider this: are your current habits aligned with the vision you hold for yourself? If you're feeling stuck, chances are your answer is no. This imbalance can create lots of frustration and thoughts like “why can’t I just CHANGE?!” and before you know it, you compare yourself to others and beat yourself up for not being where you want to be. When what you should be doing instead is to raise your self awareness and look at yourself with curiosity.
What we must know about habits is that habits shape our self-perception, and our self-perception shapes our habits. For instance, if you consistently consume unhealthy food and have a sedentary lifestyle, you're likely to perceive yourself as unhealthy. On the other hand, regular exercise and a balanced diet contribute to a perception of being a healthy person. Our habits reflect how we think of ourselves, and how we think of ourselves can make us or break us. The key is to align our new behaviors with our values, rather than with our current thought patterns or emotions.
Before making any changes, it's essential to clarify three things:
What is my goal?
How does this goal reflect my deeper values?
Who do I need to become to achieve this goal? What is my new identity?
Imagine yourself having already reached your goal. What was the journey like? How did you behave? What were your thought patterns? What habits did you have? Once you've answered these questions, and ideally written it down, the next step is to embody this identity through your actions, mindset, and being. This process requires taking small, consistent steps rather than adopting an all-or-nothing approach, as true identity change is gradual. It doesn’t happen overnight, it’s not a race in Mario Kart.
Last but certainly not least, instead of striving for perfection, aim for consistency. Change begins with small, consistent steps. By behaving like the person you aspire to become, you gradually internalize that identity. And guess what? Your energy, confidence, inspiration and motivation will follow. Before you know it, you are living your future in the present moment. Remember, change starts now, but it requires commitment and persistence in your daily routines. And most important - that you love and cheer on yourself every single day.