Exercise 3: Focusing on Your Top Growth Goal

Listen to This Exercise

You can listen to this exercise here ➤. If you’d like a PDF version with lined pages to write your answers, you can download it at the bottom of this page.

Introduction

Deep within us, we all want to grow, achieve, and become the best version of ourselves. But with so many areas for improvement, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. This exercise will help you identify your top personal or spiritual growth goal for the year ahead—the one that excites and motivates you most.

By focusing on one goal, you’ll give yourself the best chance of success. This step-by-step process will guide you in defining your goal, making it clear and actionable, and setting yourself up to achieve it.

Instructions

1. Find a Quiet Space
   Set aside time in a peaceful environment where you can focus and reflect.

2. Identify Your Top Goal
   Reflect on what area of personal or spiritual growth feels most important to you right now. Make a list of possibilities, then choose the one goal you feel excited and ready to pursue this year.

3. Make It Specific
   Write down your goal in a clear, specific way. For example, instead of “I will learn more Torah,” say, “I will learn for 30 minutes each morning using Artscroll’s Daily Dose of Torah.”

4. Describe the Outcome
   Imagine achieving your goal. What does it look like? How does it feel? Write a vivid description of what success will mean to you.

5. Understand Your Why
   Reflect on why this goal is important to you. Dig deep and identify the core motivation behind your goal—it’s the key to staying inspired.

6. Define Your How
   Think about the steps you need to take to achieve your goal. If you were explaining this to others, how would you describe your plan? Write it out clearly.

7. Set a Deadline
   Choose a realistic timeframe for achieving your goal.

8. Anticipate Challenges
   Identify potential obstacles and plan how you will overcome them.

9. Identify Who You Need to Be
   Reflect on the character traits or values you need to embody to achieve your goal.

10. Take the First Step
    Decide on your first actionable step. Schedule it for the earliest possible time and make a firm commitment to follow through.

Bonus Step: Create Your “WHAT, WHY, HOW, WHO” Manifesto

A “WHAT, WHY, HOW, WHO” Manifesto is a powerful way to keep your goal front and center. It’s a short summary of your goal, motivations, action steps, and the traits you need to embody. Reading it daily helps you stay focused and inspired.

• WHAT: Clearly state your goal.
  Example: “I am committed to learning Torah for 30 minutes every day.”
• WHY: Write your most important reason(s) for pursuing this goal.
  Example: “Because I want to deepen my connection to Hashem and my heritage.”
• HOW: Outline the steps you will take to achieve it.
  Example: “By setting aside time each morning, following a structured learning plan, and staying consistent.”
• WHO: Describe the character traits or values you need to embody.
  Example: “I will be disciplined and focused, ensuring this goal remains a priority.”

Conclude your manifesto with a short prayer to Hashem, such as:
“Dear Hashem, You are supremely kind and merciful. Please help me stay focused, motivated, and consistent as I work toward this goal.”

Write your manifesto somewhere you’ll see it daily, and commit to reading it aloud each morning with energy and conviction.

Want a PDF to Write Your Answers?

You can download the PDF version here ➤ with space to create your manifesto and plan your goal.

When you’re ready, continue to Exercise 4: Seeking Support for Your Journey ➤ to build accountability and gain encouragement.