Creating clarity

Bring your life into focus

One of the challenges we are often faced with is that whilst we know something must change for us, we lack the clarity of both what to change exactly and what it is that we want instead. How many times have you sat down and given actual thought to the things you want in life? Right now, how many goals have you set for yourself?

At the start of the year, people often set some new year resolutions, but months in how many have stuck with them and how many were actually clearly defined, rather than hopeful wishes, so that you are working on them throughout the year?

7 steps to gain clarity

1. What's your why?

In the different areas of your life, identify your values by asking yourself what's important to you about that area. Take career as an example - what's important to you about your career? What are you looking for in a job? What kind of things would annoy you if they were present in a role? What do you believe you offer a company? What beliefs and purpose are driving you? Who will you be in a new work environment or in the next chapter in your career? Do this for all areas of your life where you feel the need to make changes.

2. Create your vision

When you look to the future, what time scales are you working to? One year, five years, or more? Create your vision of what you want your future to look like; what are you doing, who do you have around you, where are you spending your time, what are your dreams and ambitions?

3. Set your goals

Be specific with your goals, detail them and set a date by which you want to have achieved them. Write your goals down. State them in a positive term as though you have the outcome already. Ask yourself 'how will I know when I have achieved them?'. Identify the steps to reaching a successful outcome. Consider alternative options to achieve your goal. Make sure you're clear about the first step and that it is achievable, allowing you to use this as a springboard on which to build momentum.

4. Be focused

Be 100% focused. If you're not, then you aren't going to achieve the outcomes you want. If you're not paying attention, you'll not only miss out on possible opportunities, you might not even realise when you have reached your end point.

5. Take action

There is no point figuring out your why, creating your vision or setting goals and having plans if you then don't act upon them. If you do nothing, then nothing will change. It's not about being perfect at the first attempt, the important thing is to make a start and to see where your actions take you. You can always adapt along the way to achieving your goals, and you may find that you'll gain even greater clarity if you do, so make a start now.