When we think of goals, I think a lot of us tend to think kind of abstractly about them. For example, a friend of mine says it’s her goal to move out of her parents’ house and into her own place, but when I ask her when she’s planning on accomplishing that, she shrugs and says something like: “hopefully soon!”

With goals, we have to be direct. If we’re not, these abstract “goals” are really more like ideas. You can have a ton of great ideas, but if you don’t act on it & make a plan to make that idea into something, it remains as just that: an idea. A thought.

If you want to start getting what you want you’ve gotta turn these ideas into goals… and put them into action. Here’s how:

Step One: Write it down.

As Sir John Hargrave once said, until it’s on paper, it’s vapor. Writing stuff down really makes it register in your brain, and also sends a signal out to the universe like “hey! I want this thing!” To get the most out of this, actually, write your goal down on a physical piece of paper — not just on your computer or phone. Studies show that when we physically write things down, something clicks more in our minds. That’s why it’s often suggested that you write things down in class or use physical flashcards instead of online ones.

By writing your goals down, you’re also acknowledging that you want more than where you are or what you have right now. In other words, you’re discontent. When your brain registers that, it’ll work with you more to try to solve this discontentment. This will get your mind on your side and really motivate you to move forward and act on what you want.

Step Two: Ask Yourself Why You Want It

This is where we get really detailed. Ask yourself: why do you want this thing? How will you feel once you get it or once you accomplish it? How will your life change for the better? For the friend I mentioned earlier who wants to move out of her parents’ house, moving out would give her greater independence and freedom. When we visualize what our lives would look like after getting to the final destination of our goal, we get the incentive we need to move us closer to it.

When you’re clear on the “why”, you realize your purpose. The purpose of your goal is not just what you’ll get after achieving it, but rather how it will change your life for the better. And it gives you the motivation you need to move you closer to your goal.

Step Three: Feel Certain About It, Or Tell Yourself You Do

Usually, goals feel really out of reach. I get it, that’s fricken scary. But if you want to achieve whatever it is you want, you have to remove any doubt from your mind. Tell yourself you got this because you do.

There are going to be things that get in your way– that’s natural.

You, yourself, most likely will get in your way. That’s also natural. So it’s absolutely imperative that you hold on to this ultimate truth: you will power through, and you have what it takes to make it. No ifs, and, or buts. Don’t focus on a negative outcome. Don’t say things like “I don’t know how to do it!” or “I don’t know how I’ll get there!” Just feel with absolute certainty that you WILL do it and you WILL get there. Trust me on this.

Step Four: Practice, Reminders, and More Practice

Ok so you did the first three steps– now it’s time to do them again… all the time. It’s not enough to set your goal once and never look at it again. Remind yourself of your goal every single day by reading through what you’ve written about it, really thinking about why you want it & picturing yourself already having it. And remember to feed yourself empowering thoughts about your goal too: remind yourself you can do it.

In PrimeMinds, one of our exercises is to create a “goal card”– a card where you’ll write down your big goal & keep it somewhere you’ll look at it often, like in your wallet and/or on your vision board. The more you remind yourself of your goal & the more you get emotionally involved with it, the closer you’ll be to achieving it.

Remember…

Do small things every day to bring yourself closer to your goal. If your goal is to have your dream career but you don’t even know what that career is, spend a little time each day researching careers based on what interests you even in the slightest. If your goal is to open a restaurant but you have no idea how to start reading everything you can find on it. Even better, start reaching out to restaurant owners (anywhere in the world thanks to the internet!) and ask them about their journeys. You’d be surprised how willing people are to talk about their paths with you!

All of this stuff takes time, commitment, and clarity. But more than anything, it’s so crazy exciting. Get amped about your goals! Even if they feel far away now, the more you practice this stuff and remind yourself how close you’re getting to achieving it all, the more full of energy — and purpose– you’ll feel. Just gotta keep going, step by step, and day by day!

It helps to have an accountability partner in all this, especially when it feels overwhelming to know where even to begin. That’s why we made PrimeMinds. We’re here to help! If you want to have ultimate clarity on your path and start achieving the big things you know you’re destined for, we got your back.