Understanding your intentions is crucial when pursuing any goal.
It involves identifying what you genuinely aim to accomplish and recognizing the motivations behind your pursuit.
The following true story is being shared to help you identify what you might be saying to yourself when you feel blocked. Sometimes what we think we intend to do, is not at all what the results show. Our results always show what our true intentions are. I’ll say that again …
Our results always show what our true intentions are.
The questions to ask yourself are:
- WHAT am I doing the most of?
- HOW am I valuing this work that I’m doing?
- WHY do I do what I do?
A woman I know said this very thing, and she discovered that yes, she was working very hard. Her clients raved about how prompt she was and how terrific her work was. Yet, she wasn’t earning enough to pay her bills. By sitting back and thinking about the questions I’ve mentioned above, she discovered these truths about herself:
- She loved serving her clients and producing the best work she could do.
- She realized that something she was saying often was, “I’d work for free if someone else paid the bills.”
- She saw how she was “Johnny on the spot” when it came to getting things done quickly and on time.
It all sounded good. She loves her clients, loves her work, and does it promptly – yet she is not getting paid what she’s worth.
She examined her payoff for the work she did versus how much she was getting paid, and her motivations for setting the prices she had set. She realized that she worked as hard as she did for the clients she had … because she loved doing her work. Most of all, she realized that she felt guilty for loving the work she was doing, and struggled with charging anything because she wasn’t aware that she was living out of her past trauma which played a part in not valuing herself.
She asked herself WHY was she doing what she does because it wasn’t about the money. Her discovery surprised her. She realized that what she was seeking was RELATIONSHIP.
Working “hard” was a counterfeit pay-off for feeling as though she was enjoying healthy relationships. Charging little was out of her fear of being punished if she valued herself. She was subconsciously limiting herself because of a fear of being punished or judged as being an imposter if she were to profit. (again, another trauma response)
She decided to supply her relationship needs more healthily, by seeking out women like herself, who wanted to grow and discover their worth while supporting one another in that effort.
She also researched her industry and thoughtfully changed her pricing to attract clients who valued her work as much as she did, rather than confirm her belief that she wasn’t worth much. (a common issue with solo prenuers)
After years of study and overcoming the toxic trauma beliefs, she’s now celebrating her fifteenth year of hosting a women’s group called Circles Journey Groups under her nonprofit, Living Stones Center which helps people recover from hidden trauma, and, she obtained training as a Life Coach from the Christian Coach Institute, who, like herself, have the desire to overcome self-sabotaging behaviors and live a happier and fulfilling life.
That woman is myself. I get it. I’ve not arrived yet, but I know where to go to get the many resources needed when encountering blocks. This journey began by coaching myself out of defeat into living intentionally.
Become Intentionally Self-aware
This provides a sense of purpose and aids in maintaining commitment when faced with obstacles.
Whether the intention is to enhance your health, progress in your career, or acquire a new skill, recognizing the underlying reasons for your goal will supply the necessary motivation and determination to persevere. Take time to reflect on your intentions and clearly define your desired outcome. Lay the groundwork for your journey towards achieving your goal.
Set Clear Expectations
Defining Your Goals
Once you have a clear understanding of your intentions, it’s important to set clear expectations for yourself. What do you expect to accomplish? What are the specific outcomes you are aiming for?
Staying Focused and Accountable
Setting clear expectations will help you stay focused and measure your progress along the way. It’s important to be realistic about what you can achieve and to set goals that are challenging yet attainable. By setting clear expectations, you can create a roadmap for your journey and track your progress as you work towards your goal.
Creating a Sense of Direction
In addition, setting clear expectations will help you stay accountable to yourself. When you have a clear vision of what you want to achieve, it becomes easier to stay on track and make decisions that align with your goals. Whether it’s setting a deadline for completing a project, defining specific milestones, or outlining the steps needed to reach your goal, having clear expectations will provide you with a sense of direction and purpose.
Communicating Your Expectations
It’s important to communicate these expectations to yourself and others involved in your journey, so that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same end result.
Identify Your Motivations
Understanding your motivations is crucial when it comes to achieving any goal. What is driving you to pursue this goal? What is motivating you to put in the time and effort required to reach your objective?
Identifying your motivations will help you stay committed and focused, especially when faced with obstacles or setbacks. Your motivations can come from various sources, such as personal values, external rewards, or a desire for personal growth. By identifying what truly motivates you, you can tap into a source of energy and determination will keep you moving forward.
Furthermore, identifying your motivations will help you stay connected to the purpose behind your goal. It’s important to remind yourself of why you started this journey in the first place and what it means to you. Whether it’s the desire for self-improvement, the need to provide for your family, or the aspiration to make a difference in the world, understanding your motivations will give you the strength and resilience needed to overcome challenges.
Take the time to reflect on what truly motivates you and use it as a driving force to propel you towards success.
Evaluate Your Progress
As you work towards your goal, it’s important to regularly evaluate your progress. Are you moving in the right direction? Are you making the necessary strides towards achieving your objective?
Evaluating your progress will help you stay on track and make any necessary adjustments along the way. It’s important to set aside time to reflect on your efforts and measure how far you’ve come since starting this journey. By evaluating your progress, you can identify areas of improvement and celebrate the milestones you’ve reached.
In addition, evaluating your progress will help you stay motivated and focused on the end result. It’s easy to lose sight of your goal when faced with day-to-day challenges, but by regularly assessing your progress, you can stay connected to the bigger picture. Whether it’s tracking your performance against specific metrics, seeking feedback from others, or simply reflecting on your own experiences, evaluating your progress will provide you with valuable insights that can guide your next steps.
Take the time to assess how far you’ve come and use it as a source of motivation to keep pushing forward.
Adjust Your Approach
As you evaluate your progress, it’s important to be open to adjusting your approach if necessary. Are there any changes or improvements that need to be made in order to reach your goal? Are there new strategies or resources that could help you overcome obstacles and move forward?
Being flexible and willing to adjust your approach will help you adapt to changing circumstances and stay on course towards achieving your objective. It’s important to recognize that not everything will go according to plan, and being able to pivot when needed is essential for success. Furthermore, adjusting your approach will help you stay proactive and resourceful in finding solutions.
Whether it’s seeking new opportunities, learning from past mistakes, or seeking support from others, being open to adjusting your approach will help you overcome challenges and keep moving forward. It’s important to be willing to experiment with new ideas and approaches, as this can lead to valuable insights and breakthroughs. Embrace the opportunity to adjust your approach as a way to continuously improve and grow on your journey towards reaching your goal.
Communicate Your Intentions and Expectations
Creating a Supportive Environment
Effective communication helps create a supportive environment that fosters collaboration and accountability. By setting clear goals, outlining expectations, and expressing motivations, you can stay focused and motivated throughout the process. When others understand what you are working towards and why it matters to you, they can provide valuable support and encouragement along the way.
Building a Network of Support
Effective communication helps create a network of support that can propel you towards success. Whether it’s seeking advice from mentors, sharing progress with peers, or enlisting the help of others, open and honest communication about your intentions and expectations can make all the difference.
Lay the Foundation for Success
Take the time to communicate openly and honestly about your intentions and expectations. This will create a strong foundation for achieving your goal. By doing so, you can ensure that everyone involved is working towards the same outcome, and you can stay motivated and focused throughout the process.
Reflect on Your Results
Finally, it’s important to take time to reflect on your results as you work towards achieving your goal. What have you accomplished so far? What have been the key learnings and insights gained from this experience?
Reflecting on your results will help you gain a deeper understanding of your journey and identify areas for improvement moving forward. It’s important to celebrate the progress made and acknowledge the hard work that has gone into reaching this point. Furthermore, reflecting on your results will help you stay motivated and focused on the next steps in your journey.
By taking time to reflect on what has been achieved, you can gain valuable perspective on where you stand and what needs to be done next. Whether it’s recognizing achievements, learning from mistakes, or identifying new opportunities, reflecting on your results will provide you with valuable insights that can guide your future actions. Take the time to reflect on your results as a way to gain clarity and motivation for continuing on the path towards reaching your goal.
In conclusion, achieving any goal requires a combination of self-awareness, clear communication, and ongoing evaluation of progress. By understanding your intentions, setting clear expectations, identifying motivations, evaluating progress, adjusting approach, communicating effectively, and reflecting on results, you can create a solid foundation for success in reaching your goals. It’s important to stay committed and focused on what truly matters to you as you work towards achieving your objectives.
With dedication and perseverance, anything is possible.