So, for my first blog post I would like to talk you about goals. As a trainee life coach goals are very important. I have recently been trying a simple tip that I read in Goals by Brain Tracey. There is lot of sound advice in the book, but the big take away for me was the suggestion to write down your top ten goals down every day, preferably first thing in the morning or just as you go to bed.

For the last 32 days I have been writing down my top ten goals every morning just after I wake up. I am pretty forgetful and not very good at sticking to things, but this is such a quick and simple thing to do I have actually surprised myself by doing it every day.

So why is it such a good idea, writing your goals down helps focus your conscious and unconscious mind on achieving that goal. There has been a lot of neuroscience done recently which shows why focusing on a goal helps you achieve it, but sadly I am not a neuroscientist. So let me try and explain it with a story. Just over two years ago I brought a bright yellow Fiat Punto car, I needed a cheap car and thought the Punto would do the job until I could afford something better. I had no previous interest in Fiat Punto cars, in fact until my finances took a dive I had sworn it was car I would never want to drive. Fast forward two years and I can tell you where every yellow Fiat Punto in a 5 mile radius lives. I can’t do that for any other model of car, but because own a bright yellow Fiat Punto I see them everywhere. You may have experienced something similar with your own car, unless of course you own a Ford Fiesta, they really are everywhere.

So to start this new habit I brought myself a pretty new spiral bound notebook. Brain Tracey recommends spiral bound notebooks in his book. I have a slight notebook addiction, so this was a good excuse to go shopping. I managed to get one that says ‘make today ridiculously amazing’, which I thought seemed apt.

Below you can see my current goal list

1. I am happy at work
2. I have a tidy and organised home where everything is easy to find.
3. I enjoy analysing my spending
4. My bank account is always in credit
5. I have a six pack
6. I am a qualified coach
7. I earn £60k a year
8. I have finished my interview course
9. I have a website with a 1000 visits a day
10. I have multiple streams of income.

The contents and order of my list has changed a bit over the last month. I try to put my more urgent goals at the top of the list. You will notice all my goals are stated in the present and positive. You must always state your goals in a positive way. Some of the items could be classed as both affirmations and goals, but I am happy to do it that way.

Some goals such as being happy at work are intermediate goals, they are not part of my long term life vision, but a means of moving towards other goals. In the past my job has been a source of much stress and unhappiness, but for various reasons I have decided to stay there for now. I have no desire to do that job for the rest of my life, but the stress and unhappiness of my day job was putting my other goals at risk.

So, a month in, is it working? I would say yes. Some goals will take a while to achieve, but I other areas I noticed a real improvement. At work I often find myself singing quietly while doing my photocopying. I also deal with work disasters much better now; it’s like water off a ducks back. My goal is to be happy at work and I am happier at work. I would not say I am better at my job, but then again, that was not my goal. I have also done some work on decluttering and reorganising my home, there is still a lot to do, but I am making progress.

I will post an update after another 30 days.