INFPs & Reaching Goals
By: Paula L. Jones
One of the most beautiful aspects of an INFP's personality is their imagination. As this is the case, it isn't uncommon for INFPs to come up with a variety of goals.
When it comes to taking action to successfully achieve the goals, things can become quite challenging.
So, listed below are three steps INFPs can take to increase the likelihood of achieving their goals!
When it comes to taking action to successfully achieve the goals, things can become quite challenging.
So, listed below are three steps INFPs can take to increase the likelihood of achieving their goals!
Make Plans
What to do: Once you've set a goal, the next thing to do is plan how you're going to achieve it. For me, this means breaking my plans down into daily actionable steps that are fairly simple. For example, if I'm trying to write a 300-paged novel, I might set the goal of writing one paragraph every day. Or, on days when I'm super busy my daily goal will become even more doable by becoming "Write one sentence today." Seriously, one sentence. Because that's simple and doable.
So, even if you have to plan ahead for the next year, and literally write out a daily to-do list for the next year, it's worth it if it'll help you move closer and closer towards your goal.
What not to do: Where I often go wrong with this step is overburdening myself with unrealistic daily goals. For example, I might set a daily goal of writing 20 pages of my novel every single day for three weeks straight. That's not realistic considering my physical limitations and the fact that I have a day job. When I set unrealistic daily goals, I can't achieve them, which discourages me and makes me feel like I can't achieve the big, long-term goal. So, don't be like me! Set realistic and achievable daily goals!
So, even if you have to plan ahead for the next year, and literally write out a daily to-do list for the next year, it's worth it if it'll help you move closer and closer towards your goal.
What not to do: Where I often go wrong with this step is overburdening myself with unrealistic daily goals. For example, I might set a daily goal of writing 20 pages of my novel every single day for three weeks straight. That's not realistic considering my physical limitations and the fact that I have a day job. When I set unrealistic daily goals, I can't achieve them, which discourages me and makes me feel like I can't achieve the big, long-term goal. So, don't be like me! Set realistic and achievable daily goals!
Seek Out Sources of Inspiration
What to do: Find someone who has achieved the goal you're looking to meet (or a similar goal) and learn what they did to be successful. You might find this person among family/friends, on YouTube, Instagram, or perhaps they're even a celebrity.
Thanks to google, social media, and podcasts like National Public Radio's How I Built This, it's easier than ever to find out exactly what steps people have taken to achieve their success. So, find someone who inspires you and learn from them!
What not to do: We may hear the phrase, "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," from time to time and it's probably true. But does imitating someone else really help us find joy in reaching our goals? Not necessarily. There's a difference between admiring someone as a source of inspiration and idolizing someone while imitating them as much as possible.
Idolizing can be dangerous because no one's perfect. In fact, it can be self-defeating to put someone on a pedestal and try to copy their every move. Eventually, they'll do something to topple that pedestal, and then what will happen to you and your dreams?
So, it's much better to see people as they are -beautiful yet flawed- and take what we can learn from their experiences to apply in our own lives.
Thanks to google, social media, and podcasts like National Public Radio's How I Built This, it's easier than ever to find out exactly what steps people have taken to achieve their success. So, find someone who inspires you and learn from them!
What not to do: We may hear the phrase, "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," from time to time and it's probably true. But does imitating someone else really help us find joy in reaching our goals? Not necessarily. There's a difference between admiring someone as a source of inspiration and idolizing someone while imitating them as much as possible.
Idolizing can be dangerous because no one's perfect. In fact, it can be self-defeating to put someone on a pedestal and try to copy their every move. Eventually, they'll do something to topple that pedestal, and then what will happen to you and your dreams?
So, it's much better to see people as they are -beautiful yet flawed- and take what we can learn from their experiences to apply in our own lives.
Do The Things
What to do: Every single day, follow the daily 'to do' list you've created for yourself to help you reach your goals. And if you have a setback, don't get discouraged and give up. Remember that by following tomorrow's plans you can get back on track! So, keep following your plans, one little step at a time, until you reach your goal!
What not to do: Don't overthink it. Don't get to week three of your step-by-step plan and say to yourself, "Can I really do this? I think I might need to give up." That's fear talking, it's trying to get you to overthink everything and throw in the towel. Shut it down by ignoring it and pushing forward!
What not to do: Don't overthink it. Don't get to week three of your step-by-step plan and say to yourself, "Can I really do this? I think I might need to give up." That's fear talking, it's trying to get you to overthink everything and throw in the towel. Shut it down by ignoring it and pushing forward!
Additional information on this topic can be found in the YouTube video below.