In this blog, I show you how to combine setting SMART goals and introduce you to the ELEVATEpathway, my 7-step guide designed to help you reach your goals and elevate your life.
As the very clever Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung said “Life really does begin at forty. Up until then, you are just doing research”.
Age is just a number, and as a woman over 40, YOU have the power to achieve your dreams and live a fulfilled life, on your terms.
One of the fundamental keys to success in any area of life is setting goals.
What is the ELEVATEpathway and what are SMART Goals?
The ELEVATEpathway is a 7-step transformative journey designed to guide you towards your goals and aspirations, while empowering you to become the best version of yourself in the process. Each letter represents a crucial step in your journey to success.
Developing the ELEVATEpathway stemmed from my own journey of self-discovery going into my 40s. Despite what could seem outwardly to others as having achieved some of ‘life’s accomplishments’, I grappled with questions of identity and purpose. Often feeling behind and constrained by fear, comparison, and self-doubt. I still struggle with all of these, but feel more emotionally equipped to manage them now.
Despite these struggles, I remained committed to personal growth, realising the importance of setting, and achieving goals, important to me. While resisting self-criticism and comparison.
I learned the value of perseverance and goal setting. Realising the importance of dreaming big and breaking cycles of negativity.
All of this lead me to start The Happiness Strategy and create the ELEVATEpathway a 7-steps journey designed to guide you towards your goals and aspirations, while empowering you to become the best version of yourself in the process.
My aim with the Happiness Strategy is to guide and support other similar women to break cycles of doubt and embrace their full potential.
SMART goals provide a clear framework for setting objectives that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
By integrating the principles of SMART goals with The ELEVATEpathway steps, you can empower yourself to set clear objectives, take decisive action, and elevate your life over 40.
Here are some suggestions of how you can integrate both the ELEVATEpathway steps with setting SMART goals.
1.Envision
Start by Getting Clear With Your Goals and take time to really visualise what you want to achieve. Use the E in ELEVATEpathway to envision your future self and the life you desire. Picture yourself living your dream life and identify the specific goals that will get you there.
Use the SMART goal framework by setting Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound objectives. Visualise your desired outcomes clearly, identifying specific actions and timelines to achieve them.
2.Learn
Continuously Educate Yourself and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to reach your goals. Use the L in ELEVATEpathway to learn and grow, seeking out resources and opportunities for personal and professional development that will support your journey.
Apply the SMART principals to your learning goals by setting clear objectives for acquiring new knowledge and skills. Define what you need to learn, how you will measure your progress, and set achievable milestones to track your development.
3.Effort
Take Consistent Action! Dedication and consistency are crucial to reaching your goals. Use the E in ELEVATEpathway to emphasise the importance of effort and perseverance in pursuing your aspirations. Commit to taking small, actionable steps each day towards your objectives.
Implement SMART goals to guide your efforts and ensure consistent action. Define specific tasks, set measurable targets for progress, and establish a realistic schedule to maintain dedication and keep going.
4.Vitality
Maintaining Your Mental and Physical Well-Being through self-care is an important contributor to staying motivated and focused for continued progress. Use the V in ELEVATEpathway to prioritise your vitality, ensuring that you nurture your mind, body, and spirit as you pursue your goals.
Use SMART goals to prioritise self-care and well-being effectively. Set yourself specific targets or aims you want to achieve around mental, physical, and emotional health. Try to get clear with how you can stay on track with your goal, without feeling burnt out or overwhelmed. Its not a marathon, so you don’t have to do it all at once.
5.Adapt
Be Flexible and Open to Change. Adjust your approach as needed to overcome obstacles and challenges. Use the A in ELEVATEpathway to embrace adaptability, recognising that setbacks are a natural part of the journey, and that flexibility is key to overcoming them.
Apply the SMART approach to adaptability by allowing yourself to set flexible goals and deadlines around the goals. Define clear objectives that allow for adjustments and revisions as needed, ensuring that your goals remain relevant and achievable despite changing circumstances. Goals are rarely achieved in a linear line.
6.Track
Monitor Your Progress and Track Your Results. Stay accountable and on track by making necessary adjustments on your journey to achieving your goals. Use the T in ELEVATEpathway to track your milestones and celebrate your achievements along the way.
Apply SMART goals to monitor your progress and measure your results. Set out how you will measure success or know that you have achieved your next step or a key milestone in your journey. This helps to keep you accountable, see the progress that you are making or make the necessary changes you need to make along the way.
7.Embrace
Embrace Both Successes and Setbacks. Learn from the challenges, setbacks and failures, along the way, and let them drive you forward. It’s important to also recognise your achievements throughout your journey and celebrate them! No matter how small they might seem, or what stage of your journey your are. Use the E in ELEVATEpathway to embrace the ups and downs of your path, recognising that each experience is an opportunity for growth and learning.
Incorporate SMART goals into your approach to embracing successes and setbacks. Decide how you want to celebrate your progress and wins. Maybe you have a glass of bubbly, maybe you, throw a party or buy yourself a gift to mark your progress. Whatever you do, make a note of the learning and growth that you are making. It can be the journey and not the destination that’s most rewarding.
My overall wish for you is that you can take something away from these words and the process. I encourage you to take some time to really get clear and envision your goals, continuously learn, and grow, put in the effort, make time for self-care, adapt to change, track your progress, and embrace the journey.
With determination, focus, and perseverance, you can turn your dreams into reality and create a life that is rich in purpose, fulfilment, and joy.
Remember that you dream, or desire is YOURS and it doesn’t matter if it may seem to others a small goal or a great big audacious goal. The most important point is that you continue to move forward, each small step taking you in the direction of what you desire.
I hope that you find this helpful and feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
I truly believe that life begins at 40, and I’m here to help you realise your dreams and live life on your terms. So, are you ready to take that first step with me?
Let’s do this together—one goal at a time.
If you are ready to take your goals to the next level with more personalised support and accountability?
Let’s chat! Schedule a free discovery call with me. Book here
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Keep ELEVATING YOUR LIFE, learning about yourself, and, above all, STAY HAPPY