When you have achieved a goal, take the time to enjoy the satisfaction of having
achieved the goal. Absorb the implications of the goal achievement, and observe
the progress you have made towards other goals.
If the goal was a significant one, or one that you had worked towards for
some time, take the opportunity to reward yourself appropriately.
Feedback: Failure
Where you have failed to reach a goal, ensure that you learn the lessons of the
failure. These may be:
that you didn't try hard enough
that your technique was faulty and needs to be adjusted
that the goal you set was unrealistic
etc.
Use this information to adjust the goal if it was set too high, or to set goals
to acquire new skills or build stamina. Feeding back like this turns everything
into a positive learning experience - even failing to meet a goal is a step
forward towards perfect technique!
Remember that the fact of trying something, even if it does not work, often
opens doors that would otherwise have remained closed.
Feedback: Success
Where you have achieved a goal this should feed back into your next goals:
If the goal was easily achieved, make your next goals harder
If the goal took a dispiriting length of time to achieve, make the next
goals a little easier
If you learned something that would lead you to change goals still
outstanding, do so
If while achieving the goal you noticed a deficit in your skills, set
goals to fix this.
Remember too that goals change as you mature - adjust them regularly to
reflect this growth in your personality. If goals do not hold any attraction any
longer, then let them go - goal setting is your servant, not your master. It
should bring you real pleasure, satisfaction and achievement.
