We all have dreams and goals that we want to achieve in our life for our better and happy living. We don’t just dream, but we start working on it. In the initial few days or weeks, we see a sudden elevation in our energy level to achieve our dream, but as the weeks pass by, the elevation declines. Only a few people are able to hit the gong and the rest of them lose their track in between the journey to unlock their achievements. It may be due to numerous reasons, in which some of them are able to manage the life’s difficult challenges and some of them are just so crashed out that they lose their basic ability to cope with the unwanted situations and feel shattered. Some of them highly lack motivation and some of them don’t take it as seriously as it meant to be.
However, many of us lose our motivation and focus along the way and give up on our dreams. Why does this happen? And how can we prevent it?
To get any kind of achievement, one should “know” and “follow” the respective PROCESS.
What is the Process?
The process is a series or set of actions that we perform with a specific intent or purpose in mind to get something from point A to point B (end product).
For example, if we want to bake a cake, we need to follow a process that involves gathering the ingredients, mixing them, pouring them into a pan, baking them, and decorating them. We can’t skip any of these steps or do them in a random order. We need to follow the process to get a delicious cake.
Similarly, if we want to achieve our dreams, we need to follow a process that involves setting a clear and realistic goal, breaking it down into smaller and manageable tasks, taking action every day, tracking our progress, and celebrating our achievements. We can’t expect to achieve our dreams overnight or without any effort. We need to follow the process to get the desired result.
Why is Following the Process Important?
Following the process is important because it helps us:
- Stay focused and motivated: By following the process, we can see the big picture and the small steps that lead to it. We can also measure our progress and see how far we have come and how much we have left to go. This keeps us motivated and prevents us from getting distracted or discouraged.
- Avoid mistakes and failures: By following the process, we can avoid common pitfalls and errors that can hinder our success. We can also learn from our mistakes and failures and use them as feedback to improve our process and performance.
- Achieve our dreams faster and easier: By following the process, we can achieve our dreams faster and easier than if we were to wing it or rely on luck. We can also enjoy the journey and the outcome more, knowing that we have earned it through our hard work and dedication.
How to Follow the Process?
To follow the process, we need to:
- Know our why: The first step is to know why we want to achieve our dreams. What is the purpose and the benefit of achieving them? How will they make our life better and happier? Knowing our why will help us stay inspired and committed to our dreams.
- Set SMART goals: The second step is to set SMART goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. SMART goals will help us define what we want to achieve, how we will achieve it, and when we will achieve it. SMART goals will also help us track our progress and evaluate our results.
- Break down our goals into tasks: The third step is to break down our goals into smaller and manageable tasks that we can do every day. Tasks will help us take action and move closer to our goals. Tasks will also help us overcome procrastination and overwhelm by making our goals more achievable and less intimidating.
- Create a plan and a schedule: The fourth step is to create a plan and a schedule that outline the tasks we need to do, the resources we need to use, and the time we need to allocate. A plan and a schedule will help us organize our tasks and prioritize them according to their importance and urgency. A plan and a schedule will also help us manage our time and energy more effectively and efficiently.
- Execute our plan and stick to our schedule: The fifth step is to execute our plan and stick to our schedule. This means doing the tasks we have planned and scheduled, without skipping or postponing them. This also means being consistent and disciplined, and not letting anything or anyone distract or derail us from our process.
- Monitor and adjust our process: The sixth step is to monitor and adjust our process. This means checking our progress and results regularly, and comparing them with our goals and expectations. This also means making changes and improvements to our process if needed, based on the feedback and data we collect.
- Celebrate our achievements and reward ourselves: The seventh and final step is to celebrate our achievements and reward ourselves. This means acknowledging and appreciating our efforts and accomplishments, and giving ourselves a pat on the back or a treat. This also means sharing our success with others and inspiring them to follow their dreams.
A Tale of a Mirror
To illustrate the importance of following the process, let’s use a simple story.
Everyone has a mirror at their home. Some of us have it in our bedrooms, some in our bathrooms, some over the basin or some of us might be using it as a decorative piece or as an artefact.
A lonely hanging mirror or a wall-mounted mirror does nothing, it just reflects the image of the object placed in front of it. As the days pass, it catches little dust, there is dirt deposited on it and small white patches or tear drop like patches (if it is in your bathroom or over the washbasin) are formed on its surface. The same mirror which showed us a clear image before now shows the same object vaguely and distortedly. We suddenly realise that there is something wrong and we decide to clean the mirror.
Cleaning of the mirror “follows” a process. We already “know” that to clean the mirror one needs two things:
- Cleaning liquid or soap or detergent.
- A clean cloth or clean water or just a small wiper.
We apply the detergent on the mirror and start rubbing it with a soft scrub in order to remove the white patchy spots. As we start scrubbing, the mirror gets more white patches (detergent bubbles) and now we can’t even see a trace of ourselves during this process. But do we panic or get frustrated by thinking that the whole soul purpose of the detergent is to clean the unwanted dirt but it has made the mirror dirtier? No, right? Because we’re patient and we already know that the mirror will cleanse and shine like a brand new purchase once the detergent is wiped off. It takes its own transition time and the process to get the desired result.
Similarly, if we want to achieve something new in our life which we have never achieved before then we have to do something new in our life which we have never done before, but first we have to make ourselves aware of the process to achieve it and follow it very patiently.
“You grow more, when you know more
You know more, when you listen more
You listen more, when you read more.”
This is the essence of following the process. By reading more, you can learn from the experiences and wisdom of others who have achieved what you want to achieve. By listening more, you can get feedback and guidance from mentors and peers who can support you in your journey. By knowing more, you can make better decisions and avoid common mistakes that can hinder your progress. And by growing more, you can become more confident and capable of achieving your dreams.
So, don’t give up on your dreams, but follow the process with patience and perseverance. You will unlock your achievements sooner than you think. Remember, the mirror is always there to reflect your true self, but you have to keep it clean and clear.