Developing More Clarity Through Writing

One of my favorite topics to speak on is goal setting; specifically, the importance of writing down your goals. On a small sheet of paper, I’ve written down my aspirations on one side and my affirmations on the other. I copied and laminated this sheet of paper, keeping one in my wallet, and the other as a bookmark. I always say: when you think, it’s best to think on paper. I believe that a goal that’s not written on paper is really not a goal at all; it is an empty wish with no intent, action, or energy behind it.

Have you ever written down directions before driving to a destination? Of course you have. In the same way, when it comes to your goals and the paths it takes to reach them, you’re likely to get lost unless you write things down. Committing intentions, plans, and visions to paper helps develop clarity. You can define and refine your goals every step of the way, systematically increasing your chances of achieving what you desire.

According to success expert Brian Tracy, clarity is what counts for roughly 80% of success and happiness in this life. Lack of direction or focus is one of the most common causes of underachievement and personal frustration. Those who take the time to write clear goals accomplish much more in a yew years than most do in a lifetime. Your success in life is directly correlated to how clearly you have understood and catalogued your desires.

The more you write and rewrite your goals, the more you dedicate positive thoughts to them. The more positive thoughts you have concerning these dreams, the more quickly your aspirations will materialize. When you develop clarity about your desires, you can take the necessary actions to achieve them. The opposite is also true: the less time you spend writing down your goals, the less thought you are giving them. As a result, you will take fewer and slower actions to achieve them—if you move towards them at all.

If you’re like many people, you probably write to-do lists: household chores, job-related tasks, vacations, even the grocery list. Yet how many times do you write out on paper exactly what you want to achieve in life? How many of your long-term or short-term goals do you put to paper? Those are the big-ticket items that can actually improve the quality of your life for the long term. Yet you can easily lose sight of these visions as you plow through the minutiae of tedious to-do lists.

Get in the habit of writing your goals down. Make several copies of your list and hang them on your walls, mirrors, or doors—places where you’ll see them everyday. Remember, it’s imperative to become increasingly clear about what you want to achieve. By writing, rewriting, and reviewing your goals, you program your subconscious mind until it becomes second nature to take the necessary actions to achieve your dreams.

The fact that you’re reading this article now is a great start. By doing so, you’re affirming that it’s important for you to get clear about your future. All you need to do is take the next step towards the life you deserve: write down your goals. Describe your ideal future in the present tense, as if you’ve already achieved these dreams.

Close to 3% of adults write down their future dreams and work on them daily. That’s why you often hear the saying, “3% of the people have 97% of the success.” In order to have the life you want and deserve, commit your goals to paper. Give them positive thought, and take the action you need to achieve them. Doing so will allow you to move yourself into the top 3% of people in society.