Anyone who’s worked in corporate America knows that one of the constant buzzwords heard time and time again is ‘goals’. There are organizational goals, departmental goals, team goals, individual goals. You name it, the list goes on and on.
Considering you’re working in a structured environment, this is to be expected. But what’s being done to actually obtain these lofty objectives? And, ultimately, what does it all mean for you? How can you bring this structure into your daily life to enhance your spirituality?
Defined by Oxford Languages, a goal is ‘the object of a person’s ambition or effort; a desired result’. Not only do we set goals within a professional setting, but we do so within our personal lives. When it comes to spirituality, we can use this same approach.
Organizations today recognize that in order to meet their desired end states, these goals need to be SMART. A term coined by George T. Doran in Management Review, the acronym signifies:
Specificity (simple, sensible)
Measurability (meaningful, motivating)
Achievability (attainable)
Relevance (realistic, resourced)
Time-Sensitivity (time-based, time/cost-limited)
So, what does this mean?
This means you need to get down to the nitty gritty! Be specific! Know what you want to accomplish and why it is important for you. Write down your goal, note who is involved and what resources are needed to accomplish your desire.
Make it measurable! Ask yourself questions about how you will accomplish what you’ve set out to accomplish. Numbers are key! When you can quantify your goal, it will be that much easier to track your progress.
Consider its achievability. Be realistic with yourself; know where you are today and take small, actionable steps to get to where you see yourself being tomorrow. Be truthful in your thoughts and actions.
Keep it relevant! You know whether a goal is important to you or not. If it wasn’t, you wouldn’t even be considering it a goal. Ask yourself simple questions about timing of your efforts, your overall effort level, maybe even your current headspace. Each of these factors can positively or negatively affect your success rate.
Lastly, time specificity is key!! By defining a deadline, you’ll feel more accountability and authority over your actions, and may even feel excitement as you inch your way closer to your end state.
Believe in your goal, believe in yourself and be proud of your progress throughout your journey.
Feel free to start small and short. An example of a spiritual goal would be:
I want to be more mindful.
To make this a SMART goal, I can elaborate:
I will spend five minutes each morning (i.e. at 9 am) for the next 5 mornings listening and observing my surroundings. I will stay motivated and headstrong toward my endeavor as greater mindfulness will allow me to appreciate my presence and surroundings within each moment.
Good luck and stay blessed.
Comentarios