I’m in Malvern for the Autumn Flower Show, and yesterday evening, I walked in the hills overlooking the showground. It’s a beautiful ridge walk and took about two hours. You can make it easy or hard depending upon the route you take up each mini hill.

On this beautiful autumn evening, my thoughts drifted to the goals I set at the start of 2019 and our progress towards them. This year has been a journey of discovery as I have written and learnt more about motivation and how we achieve goals.

If you had asked me twelve months ago, I would have said that goals were all important and that without them, making any significant progress would be impossible. I’m not sure this is true anymore.

Today, my focus is on habits. I only think about my goals in the sense that they give me an understanding of what habits I need to create. From that point on, all my focus is on the habits themselves.

Long before you achieve your goals, you must develop a pattern of habits that make success possible. The leadership guru, Tony Robbins often says, “tell me your habits, and I will describe what your life looks like!”

Let’s consider some simple examples:

If you want to lose weight, then develop the habit of eating healthily and exercising. If you want a better relationship with your partner, then develop habits that cultivate connection.

If you want to be fit, then develop the habit of exercising each day.  If you want to feel happier, then develop the habit of expressing and feeling gratitude for what you have right now.

This list is endless, and it is up to you to work out the associated habit or habits that will help you reach your goals and dreams.

Habits are simple things that define the life you lead. It’s not the big goals we set that make the difference but instead the tiny little actions we repeat and nurture day after day and week after week.

Nobody can do this for you.

So today and every day, I urge you to think less about your goals and more about the habits you have. As you consider your habits, ask yourself if they are moving you closer or taking you further away from your destination!

Together, we climb the mountain, not in giant leaps but one small step at a time.