One of the good things about setting goals is that it forms the basis for initiating a chain of behaviors directed at goal-achieving. As long as you stay with your plan, you will stay active in pursuit of your goals.
It’s a really simple concept but an important one. If you have something to do, there’s pretty good chance that you will do it.
If you’ve got a job or a social obligation or a concert for which you’ve bought a ticket, there is a built-in expectation that you will show up Plans can change due to illness, family emergencies, or other unforeseen circumstances – but the default position is to follow through with the planned activity. In other words, you follow through with your plans unless you’ve got a really good reason not to do so.
This is a major lesson that I try to impress upon my headache patients and other psychotherapy patients. Don’t wait until you feel good to start planning. Make your plans and then follow through unless you are too impaired to do so. Let activity be your default position.
It is an equally important lesson for those of you who are are planning to make positive changes in your life. If you are starting a diet or exercise program or applying for a job or planning to join an organization or starting to reach out to others socially, set your goal and and set the time to get started on your first step – and then the next step and the one after that. And then, follow through.
It won’t always work. A deadline at work or a severe migraine may occur to interfere with your plans – but make your plans with the expectation that you will be able to keep them. Then think about what can go right, and let activity be your default.