Achieving Goals by Improving Your Character

Achieving(əˈCHēv) Goals by Improving(imˈpro͞ov) Your Character(ˈkerəktər)

By Steve Pavlina

Often a change in character is a crucial(ˈkro͞oSHəl) part of shifting your identity to become more congruent(kənˈgro͞oənt,ˈkäNGgro͞oənt) with your goals and intentions(inˈten(t)SH(ə)n). For example, suppose you want to become more successful in your career(kəˈrir), and you set a goal to reach a certain position. Maybe the main(mān) reason you haven’t yet reached that position is that your character attributes(ˈatrəˌbyo͞ot əˈtriˌbyo͞ot) are out of sync(siNGk) with it. Perhaps you aren’t disciplined(ˈdisəplind) enough, confident(ˈkänfədənt) enough, or resourceful(rəˈsôrsfəl) enough to get there.

Once you can identify the character qualities you’re missing, you can consciously develop them. But as long as you remain in the dark about these deficiencies(dəˈfiSHənsē), it will be tough(təf) to reach your goal because you won’t yet be the kind of person who can achieve it. It’s like trying to lift more weight than your muscles(ˈməsəl) can manage.

Select one of your goals or intentions, especially one where your progress has been disappointing(ˌdisəˈpoin(t)iNG). Now ask yourself if a person with different character attributes would be more capable of achieving this goal than you are. What kind of person would find your goal easy to achieve?

Ask yourself the following questions:

What would a person with more self-esteem(əˈstēm) do in my situation(ˌsiCHəˈwāSH(ə)n)?
What would a person with more courage do in my situation?
What would a person with more self-discipline(ˈdisəplən) do in my situation?
What would a person with more confidence(ˈkänfədəns) do in my situation?
What would a person with more compassion(kəmˈpaSHən) do in my situation?
What would a person with more gratitude(ˈgratəˌt(y)o͞od) do in my situation?
What would a person with more centeredness(ˈsen(t)ərd) do in my situation?
What would a person with more flexibility do in my situation?
What would a person with more curiosity do in my situation?
What would a person with more resourcefulness do in my situation?
What would a person with more wisdom(ˈwizdəm) do in my situation?

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By asking these questions for each of your goals, you’ll end up with a list of character qualities to develop. By strengthening(ˈstreNG(k)THən) these qualities, you’ll become the kind of person who can and will achieve your goal.

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https://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2007/01/achieving-goals-by-improving-your-character/