5 Qualities You'll Need to Achieve Your Goals
You have big dreams, goals that are worth achieving. But when you look at where you are and compare it with where you want to be, achieving your goals seems almost impossible. This is why most people relegate their biggest goals to the category of “impossible dreams,” thinking they’re inaccessible and unattainable, nothing more than mental entertainment that helps us avoid the harsh reality of life.
The most interesting thing about all of this is that people don’t know what they’re capable of until they try. It doesn’t matter how ambitious your goal is, if you start to walk towards it, you’ll be that much closer to achieving it. But in order to achieve your goals, you need to do a little more than that.
On top of clearly defining your goals, establishing a plan of action, discovering what truly motivates you, and developing habits that will keep you on the right path, you must also develop a set of abilities or qualities that will help you along the journey.
Qualities that you need to achieve your biggest goals
Success requires the development of certain qualities. It doesn’t matter how big your goal is, how difficult it is to achieve, or what you have to do to get there. They all require certain abilities that you need to stand firm in your commitment.
1. Be positive and optimistic
The first step for setting out on the path towards your goals involves having a positive, optimistic mentality. This attitude should be maintained with every step. It should be the engine that drives your actions and provides feedback each time you get one step closer.
However, it’s not always easy to stay optimistic. You have to be proactive if you want to maintain a positive attitude. Avoid people who hold you back and surround yourself with positive, optimistic people. If this isn’t possible, you can always remember the saying “better to be alone than in bad company.”
“Even the longest path starts with the first step.”
-Kalimán-
Start the day by listening to or reading something inspirational, something that will help you find motivation easily. Write a diary of progress, where you make note of all of your triumphs and how you overcame your obstacles. Fill it with beautiful words, even if you didn’t have a good day.
2. Be persistent
There’s always going to be people who laugh at you, who tell you that you can’t do it, or who make you doubt your reasons for fighting for your dream. But you have to be persistent. You can’t let words of criticism and discouragement invade your mind.
If other people are too toxic or harmful, or if they take up a lot of your energy, maybe you should consider changing your strategy. Big results can be found with little changes. A little change won’t put you on the wrong path, it will just guide you to a less torturous one, even if it is a little bit longer.
3. Be resilient
Sooner or later you’ll encounter people and situations that will try to throw you off the path to success. On these occasions, try to develop resilience, which is the ability to move past emotional pain and adversity. This will help you to be persistent and remain optimistic.
Resilience involves restructuring your psychological resources to adapt to new circumstances and needs. This means that, on top of overcoming adversity, resilient people are capable of going one step further and using these situations to grow and maximize their potential, turning obstacles into opportunities for growth.
4. Be ready to learn
There’s always something new to learn that will help you advance and grow. Being open will help you to be successful. You should keep your mind open to the possibilities and opportunities around you.
Surround yourself with people who can teach you new things. Be open to new experiences. Take risks and find new solutions when you find out what isn’t working. Learn to think before you say no to something, and take your time to reflect and evaluate the options.
“Take the attitude of a student, never be too big to ask questions, never know too much to learn something new.”
-Og Mandino-
5. Be flexible
Being adaptable will allow you to make the most of every situation. But in order to be flexible and adapt yourself to every circumstance, you have to travel lightly, free of excess emotional weight. You should be able to shed the weight and leave behind your complexes and feelings of guilt.
“Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”
-Bruce Lee-
