It’s great having an objective, a destination that excites you on your journey of dance. The next stage is to choose smaller goals to act as waypoints towards your dance dream. Without them, your dream is likely to stay a dream. And that makes you nothing but a dreamer.
Although using the SMART method we discussed earlier is an excellent way to get started, there are still plenty of pitfalls that can frustrate you and even cause you to give up on your dance dream. Use the checklist below to stay on track.
1. Are your goals personal?
No matter what goals you set, make sure they excite you like your dance dream itself. Here’s the key part: focus on pleasing yourself first. Any goal that focuses on gaining the respect and admiration of others over personal growth will ultimately feel hollow.
2. Are your goals flexible?
No matter how well you plan, there’s always going to be some unexpected discoveries that cause you to redefine your goals, or even your dance dream itself. Letting your goals shift isn’t giving up, it’s refusing to give in to changing circumstances.
3. Are your goals visible?
You may not want to tell other people about your dance dreams, but you must tell yourself. Make a checklist of goals, express it as a mantra or poem, create a vision board - whatever works for you. Then, place it in a highly visible area, and look or read it every day. Our minds need constant reminders to stay focused on our goals
4. Are your goals positive?
What we think of is what we bring into our lives. What happens in your mind if I say ‘don’t think of pink elephants’? For the same reason, always express your goals in terms of the positive outcome (I want to nail a front split right down to the floor). rather than the outcome you are avoiding (I don’t want to mess up my splits anymore).
5. Are your goals evaluated?
Goal-setting is a skill like everything else, and we can learn by checking in with ourselves every time we hit a deadline. Did I meet my goal, and what helped me get there? Or if I didn’t, what could I have done better? Even if you fall short of your goals, it’s still a victory if you learn something in the process.
I’ve achieved my dance dream! What now?
What indeed? Remember that satisfaction comes from the journey - every dance dream eventually becomes hollow, unless you reach beyond to a new one. So set a new goal, and remember to have fun along the way!
Sources:
Inspire - Goal Setting For Dancers: How to Keep it Smart, and Keep it Positive
Rebecca Brightly - How to Nail Your Dance Goals in 2012
STEEZY - How to Set Up and Achieve Your Dance Goals