We’ve all been there. We really want something. Get all excited. Set some goals. And then… life happens. What are the three elements you need to turn them into reality?
Action, Intention and Belief.
It’s not rocket science. Although it’s surprising how often we overlook them.
New years’ resolutions anyone?
Here’s a common scenario.
Let’s call her Tina. (Maybe you’ve experienced this yourself?)
It’s early January and Tina’s feeling pumped. She’s set a new goal to get fit. Straight away she researched exercise workouts, went clothes shopping, and signed up to a gym. What happened next? She turned up to the gym a few times; kept it going for a week or two. But then something else popped up. She missed a session. No big deal. She got back on board. Then, something else happened. Tina missed a few more sessions. Things got busy and it snowballed. By the end of the month, Tina had lost her initial enthusiasm, got out of the habit, and slipped back to her old ways. Her fitness goal now abandoned.
So, how do these three elements work together? What could Tina do differently next time?
Action
Without taking action, our goals and intentions stay as wishful thinking. And over time with repeated non-action, we can stop believing in ourselves and that we’re capable of change.
Every time we take action towards our intention (no matter how small), we make physical progress. We build evidence that we are making a change and that the goal’s possible. This proof also shores up our new identity as a person who has achieved this goal.
For example, every time Tina shows up at the gym and does even one exercise, she’s building her physical fitness as well as her identity as a ‘fit person’. And she’s more likely to take other supporting actions, like walking to her local shops, because that’s what she believes a ‘fit person’ does.
Intention
Sometimes we can get so focused on taking action that we lose track of why we’re doing it in the first place. Also, we may not be as efficient in working towards our goals or get stuck in doing busy work.
For instance, Tina could set herself up for success by consulting a fitness professional early on to create a specific target and a tailored action plan. She also watches out for things that can trip her up and lose sight of why she’s really at the gym. For instance, she tries to catch herself when she starts getting engrossed in creating her playlist, rather than doing the actual work out.
Belief
Our unconscious beliefs are the third element in supporting our success. Deep down we need to believe that it’s safe, acceptable, and possible for us to achieve our goal. We also need to feel deserving and willing to make the change. Without this, our subconscious programming may lead to self-sabotage or procrastination.
For instance, Tina signs up for a tracking app and also goes old school by tracking when she exercises on a calendar to prove to herself that she can follow through. She also books in with a professional to make sure that her beliefs support her goal.
Next time you set a goal increase your success by including these three elements: Action, Intention and Belief.
Note: This article is based on my article published as “Mindfulness: 3 key Elements to make your goals stick” in Connect & Grow Magazine: Issue 17, January – February 2025. Read the original version in here.
