How to use one of the most scientifically backed goal setting frameworks to make your 2023 the best ever

At the end of every year, I reflect on the past year and plan for the coming one. Setting goals has helped me achieve massive results in my businesses and personal life. However, goal setting is not always easy. Many people don't see the value in it, they are stuck in a routine of working, eating, watching Netflix, and sleeping. Others don't know how to set effective goals. And, if you don't accomplish your goals, it can make you feel frustrated and tired.

Most goal-setting frameworks are flawed. They focus on positive thinking and setting big, audacious goals, while research suggests something completely different.

So, what is the best way to set goals? How do you set effective goals so that 2023 will be your best year yet?

In this newsletter, I will show you:

• Why goal setting is important
• Common roadblocks that prevent people from setting goals
• How God has created us as creators and how we can accomplish our goals
• One of the most effective, scientifically-backed frameworks for goal setting that you can use in your life and business to make 2023 your most fulfilling year yet.

Let's dive in.

Why is goal setting important?

Goal setting is important for several reasons:

1. Provides direction and focus: Goals give you a clear sense of direction and allow you to focus on what is most important.
2. Increases motivation: Having specific and challenging goals can increase motivation and a sense of purpose.
3. Helps prioritize time and resources: By setting goals, you can prioritize your time and resources more effectively.
4. Improves performance: Setting goals and working towards them can help improve performance and increase the chances of achieving success.
5. Facilitates measurement of progress: Goals provide a way to measure progress and make adjustments as needed.
6. Aids in decision making: Goals help in identifying the key areas that need focus and aid in decision making.
7. Helps to understand what you really want: Setting goals helps you to understand what you really want to achieve in your life, career and other aspects of your life.

Goal setting is an essential part of personal and professional development and can help you achieve greater success and fulfillment.

Why people are not setting goals

1. Fear of failure: Some people may be afraid of setting goals because they fear they will not be able to achieve them, leading to disappointment and failure.
2. Lack of motivation: Without a clear sense of direction or purpose, people may not feel motivated to set goals.
3. Limited understanding of the process: Some people may not understand how to set effective goals and may be overwhelmed by the process.
4. Prioritizing immediate tasks: People tend to focus on immediate tasks, and may not consider setting goals as important.
5. Procrastination: People may put off goal setting because they don't want to take the time to think about what they want to achieve.
6. Lack of confidence: Some people may not believe in their own abilities to achieve goals, and may not even try to set them.
7. Limited understanding of the benefits: Some people may not understand the benefits of goal setting, such as increased motivation and improved performance.

We are made to be creators

Around me I see a lot of passive people, especially passive men. They go to work everyday, binge Netflix series at night, go to bed and follow the same ritual the next day.

God hasn’t created you to be passive. He has created you to be a creator. He, as Creator, has made you to CREATE.

Genesis 1:27 (NKJV) says: “27 So God created man in His [own] image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

As crown of creation, God created man and woman. He created them in His own image. What does “in His [own] image” mean? God in itself has no image. There is no one like Him. He forbids people to make images of Him. It has to mean something different. The essence of the creation was that God transcends nature. He is outside of space and time and is able to create what He wants.

Creating man and woman in His image means that He created the one being capable of itself of being creative.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Genesis: The book of beginnings

We as humans are the only species that are able to create. To be creative. We have the ability not only to adapt to our environments, but to create environments that we want. To shape the world like we want it.

How do we create?

1. “Then God said: “Let there be light.”” (Genesis 1:3a NKJV). He spoke and it was. God thought about the world, He imagined it and He spoke. Creating something starts with the vision, the idea, the imagination. From there we give it language, we speak it. Because we can speak, we can think. We humans, shape our world by speaking. Just as Solomon said in Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV): “Life and death are in the power of the tongue.”
2. “and there was light” (Genesis 1:3b). It’s one thing to imagine a vision, but it’s another to execute on this vision. We, humans, have received the power of will to execute and to make this vision a reality. We start implementing through exercising our will and do the action steps necessary. We create habits that can help us execute better.
3. “And God saw the light, that it was good;” (Genesis 1:4a). We are called to create something good. Not something bad. We are called to create something that cares for the well being of others.

In summary, we create by envisioning, speaking it out and acting on it. While we are creating, we need to create something inherently good.

How do you effectively set goals?

Research has shown that positive thinking alone will not help us further in goal setting. It can actually backfire because it usurps the energy we need to execute well.

Over the last 20 years, scientist have done more than 100 studies on goal setting and created a practical, evidence based framework for it called WOOP.

WOOP stands for:

W ish - What is your wish, a wish that is challenging, but feasible?

O utcome - If your wish is fulfilled, where would that leave you? What would be the best, most positive outcome? How would fulfilling your wish make you feel?

O bstacle - What is your main inner obstacle that holds you back from fulfilling your wish? (Read my newsletter about inverted thinking to learn more about this)

P lan - What can you do to overcome your obstacle? Make the following plan for yourself: “If... (obstacle), then I will ... (action or thought).”

The WOOP framework helps you to think about your wish, the obstacles that might come your way and help you plan to overcome these.

If you want to know more about the WOOP framework, watch this video below:

I used the WOOP framework for one of my goals for 2023:

Wish - Multiply 40 trainers to 100 for Business for Movements by the end of 2023.

Outcome - 200 business will be started around the world. This would make me feel very excited because people’s lives will be completely changes. Children can go to school, new people hear about Jesus and people have food on the table.

Obstacle - Several trainers might fall away or don’t want to multiply or share with others.

Plan - Pray for these leaders. Develop coaching relationships on a weekly basis with some key leaders. Develop a leadership development training on character development.

What are your goals for 2023?

How can you be a creator?

What can you create together with God?

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