SMART Goals Are Dead But Sustainable Practices Are Not!

Do you use traditional goal setting to accomplish what you want in the new year? Has it worked for you up until this point? Today we are going to re-examine goal setting and New Years Resolutions and look at non- traditional ways to create our future visions. You will find out why SMART goals are dead, and sustainable practices are not. 

I love the new year, more than you know. Matter of fact, I’ve always struggled with it a bit, because it always seemed to fall short. New years is my favorite holiday, but often people don’t even consider the specialness of it. I love new years because it’s a time to reflect on the past, and more importantly, have hope and excitement for the future. Should we not celebrate our lives and our futures? If you don’t take time to dream of your future and the possibilities during this time of year, then when would you ever?

Why are you reading this after New Years?

Now you may be wondering why I’m publishing this after new years. It’s to prove a point. It’s never too early or too late to start aiming for something more in your life. If you didn’t reflect and project what happened and what you want in the future, it’s not too late to start now. Start right where you are! SMART goals are dead, but your future is not!

For a long time, I have heard about goal setting, and I always heard about the typical SMART goals. SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound. My guess is, the whole point of this system is so you can know what you’re aiming for, and it will give you clarity.

The methodology should work in theory but I don’t know that it’s practical. There have been a few times, where I had a specific goal in mind. Like paying off debt. I knew I wanted to pay off $106,000 dollars as quick as possible; I guessed it would take three years. SMART goals worked in that that situation, but it doesn’t always apply. Like you, I have set those SMART goals and got nowhere near the desired outcome. I can’t say it was for lack of effort either!

SMART goals are dead, and here’s why!

-Specific- Just because you are precise and say you want to do something in or for a specific amount of time doesn’t mean it will happen. You could also do what you specified and give up afterwards!

-Measurable- Just because it’s measurable doesn’t mean you feel accomplished when all is said and done. You just know how close or far off you were from the mark! You may even achieve or exceed your goals, and then feel let down.

-Attainable and Realistic- I don’t know how achievable or realistic your goal has to be. I understand why it’s mentioned, but I also think it’s limiting. You can dream big dreams all the time. That dream may sound unimaginable to you, but if you want it so bad, and you’re going to go after it like crazy. You just need to keep picturing the next step, and advancing to the next level, you can eventually get there. You don’t have to know the whole process, just figure it out as you go!

Obviously every goal isn’t attainable. After a certain age, you could no longer be a navy seal or be in the NWBL. There are situations where it’s not possible. There are also times when you should dream big and throw out being achievable and realistic. If you had asked me five years ago, would I say it was possible or practical for me to do public speaking? Absolutely not! It was my biggest fear. Now, I’ve been doing Toastmasters for a few years. That was something that seemed so unattainable and unrealistic, but hear I am, doing the thing that previously felt unattainable. Leave yourself open to possibilities for the future!

-Timely or time-bound- If you set a time frame and miss it, that doesn’t mean anything’s wrong with you. Although often you feel like something is. If you gave it your best shot, that should be enough! There is a difference between sitting around doing nothing for your life, but as long as you’re taking action and have general time frames, that may be good enough.

For some people, this whole idea of goals can be so overwhelming and not to mention shameful. What happens when you don’t hit your target? Does it mean you’re a failure? Is your whole identity wrapped up in accomplishing this goal? I don’t know about you, but I don’t want that!

Getting to the finish line

Have you ever hit your goal, and then felt disappointed somehow? Maybe the goal isn’t where the magic is. I know when I ran my first Marathon. Training was tough. Brutal even after the 15-mile mark. Here’s the thing. The training was more important to me than the actual accomplishment. I had heard that the practice was more important, while I was training, but thought no way. Except it was true. Another weird thing…once I finish a marathon, what is left? Nothing. I found that I don’t train unless I sign up for another marathon…which is why I keep signing up for them.

What are we spending our time on? If we are doing things that don’t light us up, why? Whose goals are you chasing? Your goals or your parents? Your spouses? Are you just doing something for appearances? Yes, I’m asking a lot of questions here, but I want you to reflect and determine if SMART goals are dead for you, and if there is a better way to approach things. There is no wrong answer here. Do what works for you!

Is there a better way to set goals?

If SMART goals are dead, then what’s next? What should you do to set goals or resolutions? I looked to some influencers to find the answer that may be healthier, more sustainable, and more realistic. Ultimately, if you are trying to improve or change a behavior, you likely want long term results, not a short term one, where you revert to old behaviors.

First, let’s look at author and podcaster Jeff Goins and see what he had to say about goals. Jeff suggests that you ask yourself what new thing wants to live in you, and what wants to die (what you want to stop doing). He also says you could pay attention to what has worked in the past and you want to keep doing. Jeff also says you can exchange goal setting for treating your life as story. In every story there is a hero who wants something, and overcome conflict to get it. Picture yourself as the hero in your own story. When you are going through adversity then imagine the Ordinary to Badass logo, you with a freaking cape on your back being a total Badass. You will get through this tough time! When you’re going through the tough time, put it into perspective; It’s just your hero’s journey!

Next, I looked at Nicole Walters. In her podcast, she said, “shift away from feeling like you’re something that needs to be fixed and with a resolution and recognizing that you’re already complete and ready to take on 02020.” Why are we always thinking that we need to be fixed? As if something in us is inherently wrong. You do not need to be fixed. You are good as you are. We can always strive for more, but that doesn’t mean you have to get rid of part of you. Ultimately you want to love yourself and accept yourself for who you are.   

You may think a part of you that needs to be fixed, is something that occurred because of a past hurt or trauma. You don’t need to fix that trauma, but you may need to address it. It can be helpful to see a therapist and work out how you are feeling, but remember you are who you are today, because of that trauma. The more you don’t try to fix it, and just understand it, the better off you’ll be.

Are your new goals and habits sustainable? Will you be able to keep up with them after January 2020? In case you haven’t heard Business Insider said 80% of people have given up on their New Years Resolutions by February. That’s insane? No wonder SMART goals are dead! They aren’t helping you or doing you any favors. Something in the SMART goal system is broken, which is why we will pivot and try something new!

Now let’s talk about Author James Clear, who is the king of creating sustainable habits. James says, “New goals don’t deliver new results. New lifestyles do. And a lifestyle is a process, not an outcome. “

 This year, focus your energy on building better habits, not chasing better results.” Let’s focus on the long-term benefits you want and what systems we can put in place to get you there. James Clear argues that if you wanted to have a running habit, then you should start small and try to be 1% better every day. Who can’t be 1% better? So, you could go out and run for 5 minutes every day for the next 30 days. Five minutes seems easy enough, right? Ask yourself, what lifestyle do you want to live this year?

Maybe we don’t need goals at all! Brooke Castillo says your “Thoughts create feelings; your feelings create action, your actions create results. If you want results, focus on your thoughts. Our thoughts are so powerful. What you say to yourself matters! If you tell yourself you can’t accomplish something, why would you ever be able to? Know that whatever you’re saying to yourself in your head can affect the feelings that come up for you. And then our feelings are what creates action. If you’re feeling crummy about something, you’re probably not going to take action on it. Oppositely, if you’re feeling great, and you’re saying good things to yourself, it creates better feelings, then you’re more likely to take action and do something about it.

So, if you want results, start focusing on your thoughts. Brooke recommends that you don’t try to change your thoughts; you just start listening to what you’re saying to yourself. By listening to yourself, you can recognize if it’s not realistic or if it doesn’t make sense. Maybe you’re telling yourself a story that’s not accurate, but at least just start paying attention to what you’re telling yourself. Sometimes just paying attention to it and noticing it can help. Just sit with your thoughts. 

So, let’s use the example of weight loss. If you’re telling yourself that you are fat, you’re ugly, and nobody would ever love you, then your thoughts are going to create a feeling of like inadequacy. And that’s not going to make you want to take action if you’re always telling yourself, “you are fat.”

Something that I’ve come to realize over the years is that I cannot be trusted when it comes to what I think about my body. Previously I called myself fat, or thought to myself, you look gross. I’ve come to realize it’s crap! If I were to look at an old picture of myself, I’m likely to think, dang, I would love to look like that right now. But then I remember at the time that photo was taken. I didn’t want my picture to be taken, because I didn’t think that I was thin enough. I would find something to pick apart, even my smallest flaw.

Nowadays, I’ve had to challenge myself and challenge my thoughts, and I have said, that’s not true, because you thought you were fat before and you were not. You can do that too. Look at the mean things you are saying to yourself, say that’s not true because and list three reasons why what you said to yourself wasn’t valid! 

Sometimes I think it’s essential to look at other possibilities of what could be true, because we can get so caught up telling ourselves a particular story, and it’s not always accurate. That’s my little rant about weight and how you talk to yourself!  

Lastly, let’s look at Jasmine Star. Jasmine journals about the past year (2019) and writes down anything she can think of. She then writes down the wins and then the lessons (not failures) from the past year (2019). For the upcoming year (2020), she asks herself what actions must you take to get to where you want? She also lists her intentions. She described the difference between a goal and an intention. Jasmine said a goal is based on the outcome, and an intention is a way of being (how you want to feel).”

Sit down and do some journaling. Try writing down Jasmine’s method. See if it changes how you feel about your past and your future. The idea isn’t to judge yourself; it’s to learn from your past experiences and be excited for the future that lies ahead.

Speaking of being excited about the future, have you ever head Jack Canfield talk about “the come as you will be party?” The “Come as you will be party” is where you show up as who you want to be ten years from now. Dress how you will dress in the future. Talk as if you had accomplished everything you wanted to achieve in those ten years. If you’re going to be an author, you will talk as if you were an author! This acting as if party can really help you to get to where you want to go! It will help you to understand how you’d feel if you accomplished that goal, and make it more real for you.

If you’d rather listen to this in the audio form, check out the ordinary to Badass Podcast, episode #20.

Listen, whether or not you feel SMART goals are dead, I want you to determine what works best for you and sets you up for success. Also I’d love to hear from you. Which method resonates the most with you? Reply and let me know!

I know You will be a total Badass in 2020!

Marie

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If you liked this article (SMART goals are dead) check out my previous one, How to Pursue Your Goals Without Feeling Guilty.