We all have dreams, goals, and aspirations, and along the journey towards achieving them, it is natural for life to present challenges in the form of roadblocks. Our purpose is to regain a sense of direction, and often, we already have the answers within us. Perhaps all that is needed is to serendipitously chance upon a reminder, a lightbulb moment that puts us back on the right path. If you feel lost, then perhaps the following pointers will serve as a flaming torch during a period of darkness.
1. Follow intuition
A lot of people are vaguely aware that their intuition exists, although too often they second guess themselves and only realise they should have followed their gut instincts after already having overanalysed and made the wrong decision. I am here to state the fact that you should be following your intuition Every. Single. Time. If you are someone who feels doubtful about this then the first step would be to start learning to recognise and listen to your intuition. Unlike an anxious stream of thoughts that prevent you from making a clear decision, your intuition can never be wrong. Afterall, if something is able to be explained in rational terms then it is only a product of imagination that has been assigned a logical explanation after the fact. Use your gut feeling to determine your purpose or next goal, it is most likely something you have thought about for a long time but have not pursued due to a feeling of fear and doubt, perhaps you have attributed the word ‘unrealistic’ to this goal, or delayed progress for worry of others judging.
2. Forget the goal
Know the goal, then detach from it and focus on what you need to do in the current moment only. Set and forget. Have trust that the subconcious mind and the universe has not let your wish disappear into the abyss but rather kept it in a safe place where it can be nurtured until it is mature enough to hatch. Why? Because obsessing and becoming anxious about the outcome will not change it nor bring you closer to it. It is the process of taking each minute step that will bring your destination closer to the horizon.
3. The 80/20 Rule
The 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, suggests that 80 percent of the outcome will occur as a result of 20 percent of the effort or cause. Practically speaking, this means that we ought to focus on the 20% of actions needed to achieve our goals rather than becoming distracted by other related menial tasks. As humans we tend to overcomplicate things when in actuality we would be more productive if we simply focused on the one task that would make the biggest contribution to our long term goal. See the following table for real life applications of this principle:
| Goal | 20% of Cause that will result in 80% of Outcome | 80% of Cause that will result in 20% of Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Business Revenue | Maximize revenue by focusing on high-value customers. | Majority of customers contribute a smaller portion of revenue. |
| Time Management | Enhance productivity by prioritizing crucial tasks. | Non-essential tasks may consume a majority of time. |
| Clothing Wardrobe | Efficiently use wardrobe by regularly wearing essential items. | Many clothes are seldom worn or unnecessary. |
| Health and Fitness | Achieve fitness goals by focusing on key exercises. | Scattered or less impactful exercises contribute less. |
| Social Media Impact | Maximize engagement with content that resonates the most. | Majority of posts might have minimal interaction. |
| Software Bugs | Ensure software stability by addressing critical bugs. | Majority of bugs might contribute less to overall issues. |
| Learning Languages | Attain language proficiency by learning common vocabulary. | Less frequently used vocabulary may have lower impact. |
4. Let go of perfection
In the case of getting things done, perfection is a hindrance. Starting is the hardest part of any task and high expectations increase the threshold to a point where there is so much inertia that it feels near impossible to move forward. Whatever the task at hand, just tell yourself to do it terribly and you will find that in one-hundred-percent of cases the mere act of getting started will propel you further than you could have imagined. We all start from nowhere and success will only follow those who act on their purpose, continue to have faith, and do their favourite things despite the allure of quitting due to limiting beliefs such as:
- Someone else has already done it so there is no point
- There is too much competition
- Other people and bigger corporations have more resources than you
- There is a more ‘realistic’ way to pay the bills
- You are not good enough
- People will judge you
Again, the aforementioned are merely limiting beliefs that although may sound convincing, have no underlying basis in reality. The reasoning needed to dispel these myths are rather straightforward:
- If someone else has done it, that means it is also possible for you
- If there is competition then there is demand
- It is easier to connect with people as a single individual rather than a large corporation
- There are infinite ways to make money
- You are as good as you believe you are (someone with less potential than you is succeeding just by choosing to follow their desires)
- People who judge are merely projecting their own limitations – this has nothing to do with you
5. Eliminate all things irrelevant
It is a fact that we will die. Our time and energy here on earth is finite, which means that logically we must devote more time and energy towards achieving our goals in comparison to doing anything else. For example, if your dream is to become an inventor, then you must dedicate a greater portion of your life energy towards learning and executing all that exists in the way of inventing. If you worked a part time job in an unrelated field or had other commitments, then depositing more time into these areas will delay your arrival at the goal. Likewise, if you were to dedicate the greater portion of your day towards inventing and repeat this each day then you would accomplish your goal and feel comfortable identifying yourself as an inventor much sooner than if you had spent time doing something else.
Here are some common ways people waste time and distract themselves from their goals and small tweaks that would rapidly put them back on track:
| Time wasters and distractions: | Goal-oriented and productive: |
| Scrolling through social media for hours each day | Dopamine fasting or meditating, being still and concious of the goal and distractions |
| Working a job they dislike that takes up majority of the week | Working a job that inspires progress or quitting to free up time for self development |
| Going out with social groups that are not aligned with their goals | Surrounding themselves with like minded people |
| Drinking, smoking, excessively eating | Taking an interest in personal health and fitness |
| Entertaining anxiety and self doubt | Practising gratitude, affirmations, listening to positive subliminals |
| Binge watching reality TV shows | Listening to podcasts/ audiobooks/ reading on related topics |
End Notes
- Your intuition tells you your desire or next goal
- Become aware of your goal, acknowledge it, then cease to worry about how you will get there
- Focus on placing one foot in front of the other
- In all aspects of life, less is more
- Do the bare minimum you need to achieve your goal, ensure the action is one that will most greatly influence the result (80/20 rule)
- Start doing and continue this process until completion
- High expectations or perfectionistic tendencies will only hinder your progress – just do it badly
- Rid all distractions to become efficient and stay focused – You only have so much time and energy to expend so utilise it conciously
Disclaimer:
The content in this post, “The Mindset Shift You Need in Order to Achieve Your Dreams,” is for informational purposes only. The opinions expressed are those of the author (ED) and not representative of others.
The information is not a substitute for professional advice. Consult your health provider or experts for specific concerns. The author is not liable for errors or damages from using this information.
Individual needs vary, and strategies may not be suitable for everyone. Use discretion and consult relevant professionals before making significant life changes.
By reading, you agree to these terms. If you disagree, do not use the information in the post.
