Hello friends! I’m Robin, the Heart Whisperer, and today, I’m here to share with you a powerful tool that can turn your dreams into reality: S.M.A.R.T. goals. Picture this tool as your guiding light through the labyrinth of life, helping you nurture your heart’s deepest desires into blossoming realities.

You may wonder, what exactly are S.M.A.R.T. goals? These are the blueprints to your dreams. 

I started my college career in Interior Design and spent hours on end learning to draw blueprints. These powerful drawing helped the builder know exactly what to build and where. Every light switch, every plank of wood, every window was drawn on the blueprint so the builder knew exactly how to create it.

Imagine if a person simply said, “I want to build a new house!” How far would they get? Would anything actually be created from that desire? No. Until they sit down and decide what kind of house? How big will it be? How does it fit on the lot? How many rooms are needed, etc. There are thousands of very specific decisions that need to be made to move forward.

Just like creating the blueprints for a house, we can take our goals and create a clear and specific blueprint using SMART goals. Let’s dive right in and discover how to craft and utilize them to unlock your true potential.

S – Specific:

The first step in setting a S.M.A.R.T. goal is to make it specific. Instead of saying, “I want to be healthier,” be precise. Say, “I want to lose 20 pounds in six months by eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly.” See the difference? Specificity creates a clear path for your heart to follow.

M – Measurable:

Now, let’s make your goal measurable. You need to be able to track your progress. For our example, this means having a way to measure your weight loss journey, such as weighing yourself regularly and recording the results. Measurability allows you to celebrate your small wins along the way.

A – Achievable:

Dream big but also be realistic. Ensure that your goal is achievable with your current resources and abilities. Going from zero exercise to running a marathon in a month may not be attainable, but setting a goal to complete a 5k run in three months might be more in line with your capabilities and resources. This smaller goal can prepare you to reach the bigger goal.

R – Relevant:

Your goal should align with your heart’s deepest desires and your overall life purpose. Ask yourself if this goal resonates with your values and passions. If it doesn’t, it might not be the right goal for you. Your heart should be fully invested in this journey.

T – Time-Bound:

Lastly, set a timeframe for your goal. Without a deadline, your dreams may remain unfulfilled. The three-month time frame in our example provides a sense of urgency and commitment to your heart’s desire. Remember, the heart loves a good adventure with a defined destination

To see the magic in action, here is a generic goal that has been re-defined as a S.M.A.R.T. goal:

Generic Goal: “I want to get better at painting.”

Now, let’s turn this into a S.M.A.R.T. goal:

S – Specific: “I want to improve my oil painting skills by learning and practicing various techniques.”

By adding specificity, we now know exactly what aspect of painting the person wants to improve – oil painting techniques.