Are you someone that likes to set resolutions in January? If not resolutions, how about goals or intentions? Many of my clients love the energy of the new year and WANT to set goals for themselves. They feel energized and excited about the possibilities and what can be achieved in the new year.
However, many (including me) struggle with goal achieving. The traditional way of setting goals, or our perception of it, feels very much centered on pressure, high performance at the expense of everything else. Us sensitives aren’t interested in those feelings so many times we fizzle out on the goals and then beat ourselves up for not being disciplined or accountable enough to achieve them.
If this sounds familiar, know that you are not alone. It’s normal for those of us who are sensitive or struggle with ADD/ADHD to get into these patterns that often paralyze us to inaction.
2024 can be different…if you want it to be
Setting goals is not just about envisioning a destination; it involves creating a roadmap that aligns with your core values, aspirations, and personal strengths. However, for highly sensitive people, the journey towards goal attainment may present unique challenges. Heightened sensitivity to external stimuli, emotions, and environments might impact how you approach and persevere through your objectives.
Here are some strategies to navigate the difficulties we sensitives often face when goal setting and achieving:
- Self-Compassion and Acknowledgment: First and foremost, recognize your sensitivity as a strength rather than a weakness. Understand and embrace the fact that being attuned to emotions and nuances most people miss offers you a rich perspective and a deeper experience with the world and those in it. Because of this, try to set goals that are authentic and personally fulfilling. Invite your goals to align with the depth of your experience.
- Mindful Goal Setting: Engage in a reflective process to identify goals that resonate with your core values, purpose and how you want to feel. This is a big step as you will be more likely to achieve goals when they align with feelings and your personal belief system rather than material outcomes. Be sure to consider how each goal aligns with your sensitivities and how achieving it contributes to your overall well-being.
- Make sure your goals are right-sized: Highly sensitive individuals may feel overwhelmed by the enormity of their goals. I’m not suggesting that you don’t dream big. DREAM BIG! Just make sure that your action steps/intentions are manageable so you don’t self sabotage.
- Establish Boundaries: Recognize the importance of setting healthy boundaries to protect your energy and focus. Clearly define the limits of your commitments, ensuring that you allocate time and resources to self-care and recharge when needed.
- Cultivate a Supportive Environment: Surround yourself with a network that understands and appreciates your sensitivity. Seek guidance and encouragement from friends, family, or mentors who can offer valuable insights and support throughout your journey.
- Celebrate Progress: Cultivate a mindset that values progress over perfection. We tend to start out on our journeys thinking that if we achieve this “thing” we will feel awesome, and that’s not always the case. Acknowledge and celebrate every step forward, recognizing that the journey is as important as the destination, often times more important.
Moving forward
Remember, your sensitivity is a unique gift that can enhance the depth and authenticity of your goals. By understanding and embracing your nature, you’ll pave the way for a fulfilling and purpose-driven journey towards success. Find your clarity and give yourself a loose structure on moving forward.
If you resonate with this conversation and are looking for a step-by-step process on how to create goals, our course Spiritual Goal Setting: 5 Steps to Setting Realistic Goals By Putting Yourself First can support you. Learn more. Of course if you have questions please reach out.