Do you have plans and goals in your life? I’m sure you do because everyone does. They might be as simple as finishing a home project or starting a new hobby, or as grand as becoming a famous personality or traveling the whole world.

No matter what and how big your dreams are, it’s important that you make it a habit to write them down on paper.

Yes, you read it right – write them down on paper.

You might be thinking, how can such a simple task of writing down my goals on paper help me achieve them? Is this idea just another one of those articles that promote the Law of Attraction?

Well, partly it is, but there’s more to it than just “attracting your goals”. There are other reasonable explanations that prove why writing down your goals on paper can help you achieve them. But first I’d like to share to you two university studies about this topic.

In 1964, all members of the Harvard Business School graduating class stated that they have, at graduation, clear goals that they want to accomplish in life. Among them, 5% took the time to write it down on paper. In 1984, a follow up study was done and it was discovered that 95% of those who wrote down their goals were able to achieve them within 20 years. Among the “lazy” majority, only 5% of them were able to reach their expected goals.

An earlier study in Yale University also had similar results. This time, only 3% of the 1953 graduating class made written goals. Twenty years after, in 1973, it was found out that this 3% of Yale graduates were able to accomplish more goals than the rest of the other 97% combined.

Amazing isn’t it? But let’s try to enumerate some possible and more rational explanations for these results.

What happens when you write down your goals?

• It becomes a written contract to yourself which usually sparks a personal motivation to achieve them.
• It makes you define clearly what your goals are. Writing them down encourages you to state what you want in greater detail.
• It frees your mind of perpetually thinking and “remembering” your goals.
• It stimulates creativity and motivates you to think about the next step.

How do you write down your goals?

1. Write your goals down on a big and clean piece of paper.
2. Add more details to each of your goals.
3. Set a deadline for your goals. Be realistic with the date.
4. Come up with a plan on how you’ll achieve your goals. Stimulate your creativity.
5. Again, write down this plan, which now becomes a new goal in itself.
6. Repeat everything until you’ve unloaded everything in your mind.

What happens next after writing down my goals?

The next obvious step after writing down your goals is to start working to achieve them. Notice that by writing them down and doing the process above, you are able to break down your goals into smaller and simpler tasks. Furthermore, you’ve probably made for yourself a concrete plan of action that will help you succeed in your goals.

By writing out your goals, they become embedded on your subconscious mind and crystallized in your consciousness… Never lose sight of your goals. Never let the business of the everyday allow you to forget about your life goals. By thinking about them constantly and acting on them daily, you will steadily create the brilliant life you know in your heart you deserve. – Robin Sharma, personality development expert

A great way that can help you achieve your goals through writing is mind mapping. This is an extremely powerful tool for learning, brainstorming, and stimulating creativity. Don’t miss this topic and subscribe to Ready To Be Rich.

References:
Fieger, Leslie. “Elements of Success“. 4 April 2005.

———
Photo courtesy of heater™ and PartsnPieces