October 17, 2024 • 15 mins
50 Journal Prompts For Those Exploring Goal Setting Approaches
Can goal-setting truly be the game-changer you need to achieve your dreams? Join us in our latest episode as we unpack Clara Penrose's compelling insights from "50 Journal Prompts for those Exploring Goal Setting Approaches." We'll reveal the significance of taking small, actionable steps and harnessing the Zeigarnik effect to keep your brain laser-focused. You'll learn why rallying support is not just beneficial but essential, and how celebrating the little wins can skyrocket your motivation. We'll also explore the art of balancing long-term and short-term goals, honing in on your peak productivity times to maximize efficiency, and prioritizing what truly matters through intentional decision-making.
In our second chapter, we dive into the creative side of goal setting, blending logical analysis with the power of intuition and imagination. Discover how asking "what if" questions can revolutionize your approach to challenges and set you on a path to innovative solutions. Visualization techniques, backed by scientific evidence, will be discussed as a powerful method to mentally prepare for success. We’ll also highlight the importance of choosing meaningful rewards in alignment with your personal values, like experiences or acts of generosity, rather than just material gifts. And remember, goal setting isn't a one-time task but an ongoing, personalized dialogue with yourself that requires continual check-ins and adjustments. Get ready for a comprehensive guide to not just setting, but achieving your goals!
LeStallion offers premium PU leather journal notebooks for writing, dedicated to all those who are pursuing their dreams and goals, or nurturing their personal development and mental health.
For More Info on LeStallion, check out:
https://lestallion.com/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey everyone and welcome.
Get ready, because today we'rediving into a topic I know
you're going to love Goalsetting.
We found this really cool blogpost well, more like a treasure
trove of ideas, really onlistallioncom, and I couldn't
wait to unpack it with you.
The post is called 50 JournalPrompts for those Exploring Goal
Setting Approaches A bit of amouthful right.
(00:21):
Trust me, it's full of gems.
It was written by Clara Penroseand published on April 29th of
this year, and you know it'sinteresting.
Lasallian also seems to selljournals, so this post is like a
clever way to get you thinkingabout hey, maybe I need a new
journal for all these awesomegoal-setting ideas.
Smart, right.
Anyway, I know you all are busypeople and the last thing you
need is information overload.
So today's deep dive is allabout extracting those aha
(00:44):
moments, those immediatelyactionable tips, the surprising
insights that make you rethinkthings just a bit.
Okay, so the first section ofprompts is all about the goal
setting basics, and I thought wecould jump right in with prompt
three.
What small step can you taketoday towards that goal?
Because, let's be real, we'veall been there.
We set these big, hairy,audacious goals and then, bam,
(01:05):
life happens.
What are your thoughts on that?
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Oh, it's so true that overwhelm is real.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
You know, one thing I find fascinating about this
prompt is the psychology behindit.
There's actually a ton ofresearch on something called the
Zeigarnik effect.
Essentially, it means ourbrains are wired to remember
unfinished tasks more thancompleted ones.
So even by taking a tiny steptowards your goal, like today,
right now, even you create thisloop in your brain that makes it
(01:29):
harder to ignore.
It's like subconsciouslynudging yourself toward what you
want to achieve whoa, seriously, I had no idea about that.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
So it's like we're actually like rewiring our
brains just by taking action.
That's wild, okay.
This next one prompt reallyspoke to me.
Who can help you achieve yourgoal?
And I think it's especiallyrelevant these days.
We're constantly bombarded withmessages about being
independent, like the lone wolfhustling away.
It's almost like we're made tofeel bad for needing help.
(01:57):
It's true, and it's such amisconception.
Think about it Athletes theyhave entire teams supporting
them.
Coaches, trainers,nutritionists, even massage
therapists.
Nobody achieves greatness in avacuum, so why do we think we
have to reach our goals alone?
Having a support system,whether it's a mentor, a trusted
friend or even an onlinecommunity, can be a game changer
(02:18):
.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Right, and it doesn't have to be like super formal or
anything, just someone to checkin with, hold you accountable
or even just celebrate thosesmall wins with.
And speaking of small wins,that brings us to prompt nine,
which I thought was justbrilliant.
How can you celebrate smallvictories on your way to the big
goal?
I mean, it's so easy to getcaught up in the end goal that
(02:38):
we forget to appreciate thejourney.
You know, it's like that oldsaying enjoy the journey, not
just the destination.
But it's easier said than done,right, celebrating those small
victories is like givingyourself permission to
acknowledge your progress, tosavor those wins.
And it doesn't have to beanything big or fancy either.
It could be as simple as liketreating yourself to your
(02:59):
favorite coffee after aproductive work session, or
taking a break to do somethingyou enjoy, whatever helps you
stay motivated and reinforcesthat positive momentum.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
It's like giving yourself a little bris of
dopamine along the way.
Okay, let's switch gears a bitand talk about your goal-setting
strategy, which is the nextsection in this blog post.
I thought prompt one in thissection was particularly
interesting what time of day areyou most productive for working
on your goals?
I'm a morning person throughand through, but I have friends
who swear by late night worksessions, Like how do they even
(03:29):
function before noon?
I don't know.
It's fascinating howdifferently our brains seem to
be wired.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
You know, it really is remarkable, and it highlights
the importance of understandingyour own personal rhythms and
energy levels.
There's no one-size-fits-allapproach to productivity.
This prompt is all aboutencouraging us to become more
self-aware.
Like are you a night owl or anearly bird?
Do you thrive in short burstsof focused work or longer
stretches?
Once you figure that out, youcan optimize your schedule to
(03:55):
align with your naturaltendencies.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Absolutely.
It's about working smarter, notharder.
Okay, this next one, promptfour, is a question I think we
can all relate to.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
How do you prioritize multiple goals?
I mean, really, who isn'tjuggling a million things these
days?
It's like the default settingfor modern life.
Prompt forces you to get realwith yourself, like what really
matters.
Are we saying yes to too manythings or are we being strategic
about where we're putting ourenergy, making sure it aligns
with what we actually care about?
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Right, it's so easy to get caught up in that do it
all mentality, like we have tobe firing on all cylinders all
the time.
But the reality is sometimessaying yes to one thing means
saying no to something else, andthat's okay.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Exactly.
It's about making consciouschoices like how are we actually
spending our time, our energy?
There are a million differentsystems out there for this
ranking systems, time blocking,the Eisenhower matrix but the
core of it is finding what worksfor you, what helps you stay
focused on the things that trulymatter.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
The Eisenhower matrix that's my jam helps me separate
the urgent from the important.
Speaking of important, thisnext prompt, prompt eight, got
me thinking.
How do you balance long-termand short-term goals?
I don't know about you, but Istruggle with this all the time.
It's like you get so caught upin the day-to-day you lose sight
of the bigger picture, you know, or you're so busy dreaming big
that you never actually takethose first steps.
(05:23):
It's tough.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Oh, it is a balancing act for sure.
Have you ever heard that quote?
I think it's a Chinese proverbthat says the best time to plant
a tree was 20 years ago.
The second best time is today.
It speaks to that tension.
Right, gotta have that longterm vision but also be willing
to roll up your sleeves and getto work in the present.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
I love that.
So how do?
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Yeah for sure.
One thing that I find helpfulis to think of short-term goals
as like stepping stones thatlead to your long-term
aspirations.
So let's say your big dream,your long-term goal, is to write
a novel.
Right?
A short-term goal could besomething like I'm going to
commit to writing for 30 minutesevery day, no matter what.
Or I'm going to join a writinggroup for accountability.
(06:11):
Each of those small steps.
They move you closer to thatultimate goal of writing the
novel, but they also provide asense of accomplishment along
the way.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Right.
Instead of looking at thismassive, daunting mountain,
you're just focused on takingthat next step.
I love that.
Ok, are we ready to dive intothe challenges section?
This part's called goal settingchallenges for you, and I'll be
honest honest.
Some of these prompts are alittle um confronting in a good
way, like prompt one right abouta time when you failed to meet
(06:41):
a goal and what you learned fromit.
Oof that one hit me right whereit hurts oh yeah, that's a
powerful one.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
it's so easy to get trapped in that shame spiral
when we don't achieve a goal,but this prompt, it's like it
flips the script on us.
It's not about dwelling on thefailure itself, it's about like
mining it for the lessons youknow.
So what went wrong?
What could you have donedifferently?
And, maybe even moreimportantly, what did you learn
about yourself in the process?
Speaker 1 (07:05):
It's about turning that failure into fuel for
growth.
I love that reframing.
Exactly it's all aboutcultivating that growth mindset,
that belief that your abilitiesaren't fixed, that you can
always learn and grow from yourexperiences, even the messy ones
.
Okay, let's talk distractions.
Prompt2 asks how do you handledistractions that interfere with
your goals?
I mean, is this not thestruggle of our time?
(07:27):
Like our phones are practicallydesigned to hijack our
attention spans.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
It's true.
Social media, the news, thatconstant fear of missing out,
it's a recipe for derailing eventhe most focused person.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
The key, I think, is to be proactive about it.
Identify your personalkryptonite, those things that
tend to pull you off track, andthen experiment with different
strategies for managing them.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
OK, so give us some strategies.
What are some things thatactually work?
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Well, it really depends on the person and the
specific distraction, but somepopular tactics include things
like the Pomodoro technique,that's a time management method,
or creating a dedicatedworkspace free from distractions
, even if it's just a corner ofyour kitchen table.
And then there are things likewebsite blockers to limit social
media time, or even justpracticing mindfulness to become
(08:12):
more aware of when your mindstarts to wander.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Oh, those are all great tips, but sometimes it's
not even external distractionsthat are the problem, right?
Sometimes it's us.
We get in our own way.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Oh, 100%.
We can be our own worst critics, our own worst enemies
sometimes, and that leadsperfectly into prompt five,
which asks what do you do whenyou feel overwhelmed by your
goals?
We've all been there.
We set these amazing, ambitiousgoals and then the reality of
what it takes to actuallyachieve them hits us, and it's
like whoa hold on a second.
We're drowning in to-do listsand self-doubt.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
It's so important to have those coping mechanisms in
place for those moments, thosestrategies for hitting the reset
button when you need to.
So, practically speaking, whatare some healthy ways to deal
with that sense of overwhelm?
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Well, I think the first step is just acknowledging
it, right, don't try to powerthrough it or pretend it's not
there.
Sometimes just naming theemotion Like okay, I'm feeling
overwhelmed right now, that initself can take some of its
power away.
And then it's about breakingthings down, right?
Remember those stepping stoneswe talked about?
Speaker 1 (09:11):
Right, focusing on that next manageable step
instead of the whole massivegoal all at once Exactly.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
And you know, don't be afraid to reach out for
support, whether it's a friend,a mentor, a therapist.
Sometimes just having someoneto listen and offer
encouragement can make the worldof difference.
Ok, are you ready to shiftgears a little bit and get into
something a little more?
I don't know fun.
This next section is all aboutbringing some creativity into
the mix.
(09:38):
It's called Creative Approachesto Goal Setting and it's all
about thinking outside the box,which I love.
And this first prompt, prompttwo, immediately caught my eye.
It asks how can creativityenhance your goal setting
strategies?
Because I don't know about you,but when I think goal setting,
I usually think spreadsheets andto-do lists, not exactly the
most, you know, inspiring tools.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
No, not at all.
I'm all about those color-codedspreadsheets, but even I have
to admit they don't exactlyspark joy, you know.
So how do we tap into that morecreative, playful side when it
comes to setting goals?
Speaker 2 (10:10):
That's such a good question.
I think a lot of thetraditional advice around goal
setting emphasizes logic andanalysis, which is important,
but there's this whole otherside to it too, and that's where
things like intuition andimagination come in the ability
to connect seemingly unrelatedideas.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Oh, that's so interesting.
It's like we're encouraged touse one part of our brain, that
logical, analytical part, butthere's this whole other part
just waiting to be unleashed.
So, like, how do we actually dothat?
How do we unlock that creativepotential when it comes to goal
setting?
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Well, a good place to start is to just start asking
yourself what if questions Likewhat if I approach this goal
from a totally differentperspective?
What if I challenge myassumptions about what's even
possible?
You know, what if I gave myselfpermission to dream bigger,
bolder, weirder?
Speaker 1 (10:56):
I love that, giving yourself permission to play, to
experiment.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Exactly, and you never know, those unconventional
approaches, those outside thebox ideas.
They might just lead to themost innovative and fulfilling
outcomes.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Okay, this next prompt, prompt five, is one I've
always been curious about.
It asks what role doimagination and visualization
play in your goal setting?
I've heard athletes usevisualization all the time to
improve their performance, butI've never really tried it
myself.
I guess I always thought it wasa little, I don't know, hokey,
but I'm totally willing to beproven wrong.
What's the science behind it?
Speaker 2 (11:29):
It's funny you should say that, because I used to
think the same thing.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
But our brains are amazing, right, and they're
actually not very good atdistinguishing between what's
real and what we vividly imagine.
So when we repeatedly visualizeourselves achieving a goal, our
brain actually starts creatingneural pathways as if we were
actually experiencing it in reallife, and that, in turn, can
boost our confidence, increaseour motivation and believe it,
(11:53):
or not even improve ourperformance.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
Wow.
So it's not just wishfulthinking.
We're actually rewiring ourbrains for success.
Okay, I'm sold.
I'm definitely going to betrying that.
Okay, last prompt in thissection, and it's one of my
favorites what's anout-of-the-box reward you could
give yourself for meeting a goal?
I love this because itencourages us to think beyond
the typical rewards like a newgadget or a shopping spree.
(12:16):
It's about finding rewards thattruly resonate with us.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Right, and it goes back to what we were talking
about earlier, about aligningour goals with our values, like
what truly motivates you at yourcore.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
What would make you feel genuinely proud and
fulfilled?
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Yes, exactly.
So, instead of rewardingyourself with like a material
thing, maybe it's an experience,like a weekend getaway or
tickets to a concert you've beenwanting to see.
Or maybe it's about giving backin some way, like volunteering
for a cause you care about ordonating to your favorite
charity.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Those are great examples.
It's about finding thoserewards that are meaningful to
you personally, that light youup inside and that enhance your
life in a way that a new pair ofshoes just can't.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Okay, we have covered so much ground today, from the
practicalities of setting smartgoals to the power of
visualization, to the importanceof celebrating those small wins
along the way.
We've explored a whole range ofideas to help you unlock your
goal-setting potential.
But before we wrap up, I wantto make sure we tie it all
together.
So, as we start to bring thisdeep dive to a close, what are
(13:18):
some key takeaways you think ourlisteners should keep in mind
from all these amazing journalprompts?
So, as we start to come thisdeep dive to a close, what are
some key takeaways you think ourlisteners should keep in mind
from all these amazing journalprompts?
Speaker 2 (13:30):
You know, going through these prompts, what
really struck me is how muchthey emphasize that goal setting
.
It's not just a one and donekind of thing.
It's not like you make a to-dolist and you're done.
It's more about creating thisongoing conversation with
yourself.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Oh, I like that An ongoing conversation with
yourself.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
So it's about like checking in regularly, seeing
how things are going, makingadjustments as needed Exactly,
and those prompts we talkedabout, like figuring out when
you're most productive or howyou deal with distractions.
Those are all about becoming astudent of your own habits and
tendencies.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
That's such a good point.
It's like that old sayingknowing others is intelligence,
Knowing yourself is true wisdom.
And that's really what this isall about, isn't it?
Not just setting any old goals,but figuring out what works for
you within that framework ofgoal setting.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Right, and I think that's really what Clara Penrose
is getting at by framing theseas journal prompts, not just
like a list of tips or whatever.
It's an invitation to go deeper, to get curious about yourself,
to customize your approach overtime.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
It's about making it a habit, not just a one-time
thing.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Love it.
Okay, so, before we go, I thinkit's only fitting that we leave
our listeners with a littlesomething to ponder, you know,
something inspired by all thesefantastic prompts we've
discussed today.
What do you think?
Hmm, okay, well, throughout ourdeep dive today, we've talked a
lot about taking action, aboutbreaking those big, sometimes
overwhelming goals down intosmaller, more manageable steps.
(14:54):
Well, I'm going to leave youwith this.
Think about one goal you'vebeen putting off, maybe even
feeling a little stuck on.
Got it Okay.
Now ask yourself what's thevery next concrete step I can
take today to move toward it,even just a little bit.
You don't have to have it allfigured out, just that first
step.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Ooh, I love that.
Small steps, big impact.
That's a wrap on this deep dive.
Until next time, happy goalsetting everyone.
Hey everyone and welcome.
Get ready, because today we'rediving into a topic I know
you're going to love Goalsetting.
We found this really cool blogpost well, more like a treasure
trove of ideas, really onlistallioncom, and I couldn't
wait to unpack it with you.
The post is called 50 JournalPrompts for those Exploring Goal
Setting Approaches A bit of amouthful right.
(00:21):
Trust me, it's full of gems.
It was written by Clara Penroseand published on April 29th of
this year, and you know it'sinteresting.
Lasallian also seems to selljournals, so this post is like a
clever way to get you thinkingabout hey, maybe I need a new
journal for all these awesomegoal-setting ideas.
Smart, right.
Anyway, I know you all are busypeople and the last thing you
need is information overload.
So today's deep dive is allabout extracting those aha
(00:44):
moments, those immediatelyactionable tips, the surprising
insights that make you rethinkthings just a bit.
Okay, so the first section ofprompts is all about the goal
setting basics, and I thought wecould jump right in with prompt
three.
What small step can you taketoday towards that goal?
Because, let's be real, we'veall been there.
We set these big, hairy,audacious goals and then, bam,
(01:05):
life happens.
What are your thoughts on that?
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Oh, it's so true that overwhelm is real.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
You know, one thing I find fascinating about this
prompt is the psychology behindit.
There's actually a ton ofresearch on something called the
Zeigarnik effect.
Essentially, it means ourbrains are wired to remember
unfinished tasks more thancompleted ones.
So even by taking a tiny steptowards your goal, like today,
right now, even you create thisloop in your brain that makes it
(01:29):
harder to ignore.
It's like subconsciouslynudging yourself toward what you
want to achieve whoa, seriously, I had no idea about that.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
So it's like we're actually like rewiring our
brains just by taking action.
That's wild, okay.
This next one prompt reallyspoke to me.
Who can help you achieve yourgoal?
And I think it's especiallyrelevant these days.
We're constantly bombarded withmessages about being
independent, like the lone wolfhustling away.
It's almost like we're made tofeel bad for needing help.
(01:57):
It's true, and it's such amisconception.
Think about it Athletes theyhave entire teams supporting
them.
Coaches, trainers,nutritionists, even massage
therapists.
Nobody achieves greatness in avacuum, so why do we think we
have to reach our goals alone?
Having a support system,whether it's a mentor, a trusted
friend or even an onlinecommunity, can be a game changer
(02:18):
.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Right, and it doesn't have to be like super formal or
anything, just someone to checkin with, hold you accountable
or even just celebrate thosesmall wins with.
And speaking of small wins,that brings us to prompt nine,
which I thought was justbrilliant.
How can you celebrate smallvictories on your way to the big
goal?
I mean, it's so easy to getcaught up in the end goal that
(02:38):
we forget to appreciate thejourney.
You know, it's like that oldsaying enjoy the journey, not
just the destination.
But it's easier said than done,right, celebrating those small
victories is like givingyourself permission to
acknowledge your progress, tosavor those wins.
And it doesn't have to beanything big or fancy either.
It could be as simple as liketreating yourself to your
(02:59):
favorite coffee after aproductive work session, or
taking a break to do somethingyou enjoy, whatever helps you
stay motivated and reinforcesthat positive momentum.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
It's like giving yourself a little bris of
dopamine along the way.
Okay, let's switch gears a bitand talk about your goal-setting
strategy, which is the nextsection in this blog post.
I thought prompt one in thissection was particularly
interesting what time of day areyou most productive for working
on your goals?
I'm a morning person throughand through, but I have friends
who swear by late night worksessions, Like how do they even
(03:29):
function before noon?
I don't know.
It's fascinating howdifferently our brains seem to
be wired.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
You know, it really is remarkable, and it highlights
the importance of understandingyour own personal rhythms and
energy levels.
There's no one-size-fits-allapproach to productivity.
This prompt is all aboutencouraging us to become more
self-aware.
Like are you a night owl or anearly bird?
Do you thrive in short burstsof focused work or longer
stretches?
Once you figure that out, youcan optimize your schedule to
(03:55):
align with your naturaltendencies.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Absolutely.
It's about working smarter, notharder.
Okay, this next one, promptfour, is a question I think we
can all relate to.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
How do you prioritize multiple goals?
I mean, really, who isn'tjuggling a million things these
days?
It's like the default settingfor modern life.
Prompt forces you to get realwith yourself, like what really
matters.
Are we saying yes to too manythings or are we being strategic
about where we're putting ourenergy, making sure it aligns
with what we actually care about?
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Right, it's so easy to get caught up in that do it
all mentality, like we have tobe firing on all cylinders all
the time.
But the reality is sometimessaying yes to one thing means
saying no to something else, andthat's okay.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Exactly.
It's about making consciouschoices like how are we actually
spending our time, our energy?
There are a million differentsystems out there for this
ranking systems, time blocking,the Eisenhower matrix but the
core of it is finding what worksfor you, what helps you stay
focused on the things that trulymatter.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
The Eisenhower matrix that's my jam helps me separate
the urgent from the important.
Speaking of important, thisnext prompt, prompt eight, got
me thinking.
How do you balance long-termand short-term goals?
I don't know about you, but Istruggle with this all the time.
It's like you get so caught upin the day-to-day you lose sight
of the bigger picture, you know, or you're so busy dreaming big
that you never actually takethose first steps.
(05:23):
It's tough.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Oh, it is a balancing act for sure.
Have you ever heard that quote?
I think it's a Chinese proverbthat says the best time to plant
a tree was 20 years ago.
The second best time is today.
It speaks to that tension.
Right, gotta have that longterm vision but also be willing
to roll up your sleeves and getto work in the present.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
I love that.
So how do?
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Yeah for sure.
One thing that I find helpfulis to think of short-term goals
as like stepping stones thatlead to your long-term
aspirations.
So let's say your big dream,your long-term goal, is to write
a novel.
Right?
A short-term goal could besomething like I'm going to
commit to writing for 30 minutesevery day, no matter what.
Or I'm going to join a writinggroup for accountability.
(06:11):
Each of those small steps.
They move you closer to thatultimate goal of writing the
novel, but they also provide asense of accomplishment along
the way.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Right.
Instead of looking at thismassive, daunting mountain,
you're just focused on takingthat next step.
I love that.
Ok, are we ready to dive intothe challenges section?
This part's called goal settingchallenges for you, and I'll be
honest honest.
Some of these prompts are alittle um confronting in a good
way, like prompt one right abouta time when you failed to meet
(06:41):
a goal and what you learned fromit.
Oof that one hit me right whereit hurts oh yeah, that's a
powerful one.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
it's so easy to get trapped in that shame spiral
when we don't achieve a goal,but this prompt, it's like it
flips the script on us.
It's not about dwelling on thefailure itself, it's about like
mining it for the lessons youknow.
So what went wrong?
What could you have donedifferently?
And, maybe even moreimportantly, what did you learn
about yourself in the process?
Speaker 1 (07:05):
It's about turning that failure into fuel for
growth.
I love that reframing.
Exactly it's all aboutcultivating that growth mindset,
that belief that your abilitiesaren't fixed, that you can
always learn and grow from yourexperiences, even the messy ones
.
Okay, let's talk distractions.
Prompt2 asks how do you handledistractions that interfere with
your goals?
I mean, is this not thestruggle of our time?
(07:27):
Like our phones are practicallydesigned to hijack our
attention spans.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
It's true.
Social media, the news, thatconstant fear of missing out,
it's a recipe for derailing eventhe most focused person.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
The key, I think, is to be proactive about it.
Identify your personalkryptonite, those things that
tend to pull you off track, andthen experiment with different
strategies for managing them.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
OK, so give us some strategies.
What are some things thatactually work?
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Well, it really depends on the person and the
specific distraction, but somepopular tactics include things
like the Pomodoro technique,that's a time management method,
or creating a dedicatedworkspace free from distractions
, even if it's just a corner ofyour kitchen table.
And then there are things likewebsite blockers to limit social
media time, or even justpracticing mindfulness to become
(08:12):
more aware of when your mindstarts to wander.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Oh, those are all great tips, but sometimes it's
not even external distractionsthat are the problem, right?
Sometimes it's us.
We get in our own way.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Oh, 100%.
We can be our own worst critics, our own worst enemies
sometimes, and that leadsperfectly into prompt five,
which asks what do you do whenyou feel overwhelmed by your
goals?
We've all been there.
We set these amazing, ambitiousgoals and then the reality of
what it takes to actuallyachieve them hits us, and it's
like whoa hold on a second.
We're drowning in to-do listsand self-doubt.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
It's so important to have those coping mechanisms in
place for those moments, thosestrategies for hitting the reset
button when you need to.
So, practically speaking, whatare some healthy ways to deal
with that sense of overwhelm?
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Well, I think the first step is just acknowledging
it, right, don't try to powerthrough it or pretend it's not
there.
Sometimes just naming theemotion Like okay, I'm feeling
overwhelmed right now, that initself can take some of its
power away.
And then it's about breakingthings down, right?
Remember those stepping stoneswe talked about?
Speaker 1 (09:11):
Right, focusing on that next manageable step
instead of the whole massivegoal all at once Exactly.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
And you know, don't be afraid to reach out for
support, whether it's a friend,a mentor, a therapist.
Sometimes just having someoneto listen and offer
encouragement can make the worldof difference.
Ok, are you ready to shiftgears a little bit and get into
something a little more?
I don't know fun.
This next section is all aboutbringing some creativity into
the mix.
(09:38):
It's called Creative Approachesto Goal Setting and it's all
about thinking outside the box,which I love.
And this first prompt, prompttwo, immediately caught my eye.
It asks how can creativityenhance your goal setting
strategies?
Because I don't know about you,but when I think goal setting,
I usually think spreadsheets andto-do lists, not exactly the
most, you know, inspiring tools.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
No, not at all.
I'm all about those color-codedspreadsheets, but even I have
to admit they don't exactlyspark joy, you know.
So how do we tap into that morecreative, playful side when it
comes to setting goals?
Speaker 2 (10:10):
That's such a good question.
I think a lot of thetraditional advice around goal
setting emphasizes logic andanalysis, which is important,
but there's this whole otherside to it too, and that's where
things like intuition andimagination come in the ability
to connect seemingly unrelatedideas.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Oh, that's so interesting.
It's like we're encouraged touse one part of our brain, that
logical, analytical part, butthere's this whole other part
just waiting to be unleashed.
So, like, how do we actually dothat?
How do we unlock that creativepotential when it comes to goal
setting?
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Well, a good place to start is to just start asking
yourself what if questions Likewhat if I approach this goal
from a totally differentperspective?
What if I challenge myassumptions about what's even
possible?
You know, what if I gave myselfpermission to dream bigger,
bolder, weirder?
Speaker 1 (10:56):
I love that, giving yourself permission to play, to
experiment.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Exactly, and you never know, those unconventional
approaches, those outside thebox ideas.
They might just lead to themost innovative and fulfilling
outcomes.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Okay, this next prompt, prompt five, is one I've
always been curious about.
It asks what role doimagination and visualization
play in your goal setting?
I've heard athletes usevisualization all the time to
improve their performance, butI've never really tried it
myself.
I guess I always thought it wasa little, I don't know, hokey,
but I'm totally willing to beproven wrong.
What's the science behind it?
Speaker 2 (11:29):
It's funny you should say that, because I used to
think the same thing.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
But our brains are amazing, right, and they're
actually not very good atdistinguishing between what's
real and what we vividly imagine.
So when we repeatedly visualizeourselves achieving a goal, our
brain actually starts creatingneural pathways as if we were
actually experiencing it in reallife, and that, in turn, can
boost our confidence, increaseour motivation and believe it,
(11:53):
or not even improve ourperformance.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
Wow.
So it's not just wishfulthinking.
We're actually rewiring ourbrains for success.
Okay, I'm sold.
I'm definitely going to betrying that.
Okay, last prompt in thissection, and it's one of my
favorites what's anout-of-the-box reward you could
give yourself for meeting a goal?
I love this because itencourages us to think beyond
the typical rewards like a newgadget or a shopping spree.
(12:16):
It's about finding rewards thattruly resonate with us.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Right, and it goes back to what we were talking
about earlier, about aligningour goals with our values, like
what truly motivates you at yourcore.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
What would make you feel genuinely proud and
fulfilled?
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Yes, exactly.
So, instead of rewardingyourself with like a material
thing, maybe it's an experience,like a weekend getaway or
tickets to a concert you've beenwanting to see.
Or maybe it's about giving backin some way, like volunteering
for a cause you care about ordonating to your favorite
charity.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Those are great examples.
It's about finding thoserewards that are meaningful to
you personally, that light youup inside and that enhance your
life in a way that a new pair ofshoes just can't.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Okay, we have covered so much ground today, from the
practicalities of setting smartgoals to the power of
visualization, to the importanceof celebrating those small wins
along the way.
We've explored a whole range ofideas to help you unlock your
goal-setting potential.
But before we wrap up, I wantto make sure we tie it all
together.
So, as we start to bring thisdeep dive to a close, what are
(13:18):
some key takeaways you think ourlisteners should keep in mind
from all these amazing journalprompts?
So, as we start to come thisdeep dive to a close, what are
some key takeaways you think ourlisteners should keep in mind
from all these amazing journalprompts?
Speaker 2 (13:30):
You know, going through these prompts, what
really struck me is how muchthey emphasize that goal setting
.
It's not just a one and donekind of thing.
It's not like you make a to-dolist and you're done.
It's more about creating thisongoing conversation with
yourself.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Oh, I like that An ongoing conversation with
yourself.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
So it's about like checking in regularly, seeing
how things are going, makingadjustments as needed Exactly,
and those prompts we talkedabout, like figuring out when
you're most productive or howyou deal with distractions.
Those are all about becoming astudent of your own habits and
tendencies.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
That's such a good point.
It's like that old sayingknowing others is intelligence,
Knowing yourself is true wisdom.
And that's really what this isall about, isn't it?
Not just setting any old goals,but figuring out what works for
you within that framework ofgoal setting.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Right, and I think that's really what Clara Penrose
is getting at by framing theseas journal prompts, not just
like a list of tips or whatever.
It's an invitation to go deeper, to get curious about yourself,
to customize your approach overtime.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
It's about making it a habit, not just a one-time
thing.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Love it.
Okay, so, before we go, I thinkit's only fitting that we leave
our listeners with a littlesomething to ponder, you know,
something inspired by all thesefantastic prompts we've
discussed today.
What do you think?
Hmm, okay, well, throughout ourdeep dive today, we've talked a
lot about taking action, aboutbreaking those big, sometimes
overwhelming goals down intosmaller, more manageable steps.
(14:54):
Well, I'm going to leave youwith this.
Think about one goal you'vebeen putting off, maybe even
feeling a little stuck on.
Got it Okay.
Now ask yourself what's thevery next concrete step I can
take today to move toward it,even just a little bit.
You don't have to have it allfigured out, just that first
step.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Ooh, I love that.
Small steps, big impact.
That's a wrap on this deep dive.
Until next time, happy goalsetting everyone.
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