How to Convince Yourself That You Can Achieve Your Goals

Have you ever felt certain you could accomplish something? It could be getting a degree, writing a report about a book you've read, or even losing a few pounds. You feel excited and motivated to do it, but for some reason, you don't believe it's possible. Learning how to convince yourself to take action and trust in your abilities is key to strengthening your self-belief throughout the journey.

Build a Strong Argument for Why You Should Complete the Task. Studies suggest that the most effective way to persuade yourself to do something is by constructing a solid argument. People tend to put more effort into convincing themselves of something they don’t believe, compared to something they already trust. Therefore, if you want to convince yourself to believe in something, you need to back it up with reasons for taking action.

• Grab a piece of paper and list all the benefits of completing the task. For example, if you’re trying to convince yourself that you can earn a degree, write down advantages like enhancing your skills in a specific field, gaining valuable job-related knowledge, receiving formal education, building connections with industry leaders (such as professors and fellow students), and acquiring a broader global perspective.
• Consider all the benefits you aim to achieve and list them. Then, read the list aloud and remind yourself why this task matters. Repeat these benefits daily or whenever you need a boost of motivation.

Assess Your Skills to Complete the Task. Sometimes, we argue with ourselves about not being capable of doing something by pointing out our perceived lack of skills for the task. Preempt this issue by identifying that you are the right person to take it on.

• For example, when considering university education, you might highlight your grades, leadership ability, extracurricular involvement, writing and speaking skills—all potential assets to help you earn a degree. These strengths can fuel your determination and boost your confidence to successfully complete the task.
• If you're struggling to identify your strengths, seek feedback from others. Talking to parents, teachers, bosses, or friends may help clarify your positive traits.

Understand What’s Necessary for Success. A hidden reason why you might doubt your ability to succeed is the tendency to overestimate the demands of the task. You may feel unsure and believe the task is too difficult or impossible. However, gathering more information or clarifying what you already know can make the task seem more achievable. Here are ways to gain a clearer understanding of the task:

• Research. Seek out all available information on the subject to strengthen your knowledge base and increase your confidence in completing the task.
• Ask someone who has done it. Talking to someone who has completed the task can provide answers to your questions and ease your concerns.
• Observe someone performing the task. Watching others complete the task helps you understand the steps involved. Plus, if they can do it without special skills or training, it shows you can do it too.

Break Down the Steps as If You Were Teaching Someone Else. Once you know what’s required to complete the task, explain the steps to someone else. Learning from experience is one of the most thorough ways to solidify your understanding of a topic. By teaching others, you can confirm your own grasp of what you’re sharing.

• Make sure the other person can understand and ask questions about the specific topic. If you can explain what needs to be done and answer any questions they have to clarify, then you're likely ready to take on the task yourself.

Repeat Your 'Magic Words'. Your knowledge of 'magic words' may come from sounds chanted during yoga or meditation. This is a valid thought process but is limited in scope. A magic phrase can be anything that energizes you and shifts your mindset. These are positive affirmations that position you for success.

• Your magic words can be anything from single words to entire quotes, like: "I will find a way, or I will make a way." Find words that inspire you and repeat them throughout the day.

Reflect on the Lives of Those You Admire. Role models aren’t just for children or young people. No matter your age, you can always draw inspiration and learn from others.

• Look at teachers, colleagues, bosses, or public figures whose lives you admire. Observe their actions and learn from them. When guided by someone with strong ethical values, you’ll naturally start making positive choices in your own life.
• However, this guidance doesn’t have to come from people you know personally. You can be inspired by global leaders, authors, or entrepreneurs. Pick up a book or watch a documentary about their lives and learn from their experiences on the path to success.

Spend Time with Those Who Believe in You. Trusting yourself is a rewarding experience. However, when motivation is low, you can be significantly uplifted by spending time with those who have faith in you.

• Recognize that the people you spend the most time with will have a major impact on your life—whether positive or negative. Surround yourself with those who support you, and those whom you can support and encourage in return.

Visualize Your Success. Visualization is a mental exercise where you activate your imagination and senses to achieve a certain state. This technique trains your brain to be prepared for real-life situations. Therefore, its effectiveness in reaching goals is remarkable.

• To visualize, decide what you want to achieve. Then, imagine yourself at the point of success. It could be a career dream or significant weight loss. Think about how your body feels in connection to that success. Who’s with you? What thoughts arise? What emotions do you feel? What sounds and smells surround you?
• Practice this exercise daily, either in the morning or before bed.

Commit to Short Time Periods of Work. Large tasks can be overwhelming when you think they will take too long to complete. However, to maximize productivity, spending less time on a task can often yield better results than spending too much time on it. In fact, researchers have proven a cycle known as the ultradian rhythm (the body’s natural 24-hour biological rhythm), where the body moves from a state of high alertness to lower levels of energy.

• Tell yourself you will work on a specific task for 90 minutes and then take a break. This gives you the opportunity to work with a sharp mind and focus. Furthermore, you’ll have time to relax and recharge before tackling the next phase of work.
• To practice this, prepare yourself for completing the task. This way, you won’t feel forced to work for hours on end until it’s done.

Identify Your Personal Values and Beliefs. Lacking a clear understanding of your personal values is like trying to get somewhere without a GPS or map. Your values help guide you through a variety of situations, ensuring a more satisfying life. To begin identifying your personal values, answer the following questions:

• Who do you respect the most? What qualities do they have that you admire, and why?
• If your house were to catch fire (with everyone and pets safely out), which three items would you save and why?
• When have you felt truly content in life? What is a moment that brought you the most satisfaction?

Set Goals That Align with Your Personal Values. After narrowing down a short list of essential values, develop S.M.A.R.T. goals that support these values. Once you have established goals that allow you to live in harmony with your values, take action each day to move closer to achieving them. S.M.A.R.T. goals are:

• Specific – Answer the questions: who, what, when, where, which, and why
• Measurable – Determine how you will track progress toward your goal.
• Attainable – Ensure the goal is achievable with your available resources, skills, and abilities.
• Realistic – The goal should challenge you but still be attainable and represent a destination you're willing and able to reach.
• Timely – The deadline for the goal should be realistic, including any urgent circumstances.

Eliminate Excuses. One of the most common mental barriers to completing a task is the story we tell ourselves every day. If you ask yourself why you haven’t reached a goal, your response is often filled with unfounded reasons. These are excuses, and they must be eliminated from your plans in order to succeed.

• Remove excuses by being strict with yourself. Any excuse you make is just a way to avoid change.
• Setting S.M.A.R.T. goals will help remove some of the justifications. For other barriers, like lack of time, money, or resources, take a close look at your life and determine what can be cut. Remove unnecessary activities or spending to prioritize what matters most. Don’t wait until all conditions align perfectly. Make purposeful changes to your life that support your success.