The Secret to Realizing Your Dreams
In his book Getting Things Done, author David Allen wrote, “We know that the focus we hold in our minds affects what we perceive and how we perform.”
Therefore, as you visualize the lifestyle and quality of life that you would like to have in the future, always remember that the secret to realizing your dreams is to maintain that image in your mind.
In fact, the greater your understanding of what is important to you, the easier it will be to “paint a picture” in your mind of what you are working toward. Whatever you identify and claim for yourself will become the basis for your life goals.
Consider these helpful tips to increase the effectiveness of your goal-setting strategies:
1. Your goals must be meaningful to YOU
Lou Tice, who founded The Pacific Institute and created the Investment in Excellence program, teaches that goals themselves have little value unless they bring depth and meaning to your life as you work to achieve them.
2. Know what you want
Make sure the goal is something you REALLY want. If your goal is something someone else said you should do, or is something you feel like you need to do, then it is unlikely to motivate and inspire you.
3. Build an image of the end result
Make it a practice to visualize reaching your goal. Continue to build a stronger and clearer picture in your mind. You will naturally move toward that which you think about.
4. Ask yourself if you are ready for change?
Consider what life will actually be like when you achieve your goal. Are you ready to accept the end result? Often individuals don’t achieve their goals because subconsciously they don’t want to deal with new circumstances or their self-image does not allow for the change.
5. Is there a conflict?
Evaluate whether or not your goals conflict with one another or with the goals of someone close to you. This knowledge, even on a subconscious level, can prevent you from moving toward your goal. Once you acknowledge the conflict, then you can look for ways to resolve it.
6. Decide on a time frame (maybe)
Some goals should not have a deadline because a time limit can cause stress and decrease the joy of the journey. For some types of goals, target dates are appropriate and motivating; but for other goals, deadlines can stifle creativity and possibility thinking.
7. Make a wish
Goals often begin as a “wish” for yourself, for your family, for your job, for your retirement, for your community, and so on. It is your opportunity to dream BIG. When you dare to dream big, you step out of your current reality and open up your awareness to resources, solutions, and opportunities you never thought possible!