Tuesday, 11 February 2014 04:59

Goal setting get's a coach of it's own: Process.

Setting goals has recently undergone a major evolution. Namely, in how we apply it to actually pull things off.

We now understand that focusing not on what we want, but on how we're going to get there is a naturally more powerful mindset for actually getting there. This has shown tremendous results in my own life, having applied the method and contemplated it deeply since reading online of the new revelation. Somewhere I read that studies show visualization of process is more empowering and motivating than visualization of the goal as complete. This is deep and revolutionary.

Visualization Goes To the Way

Remember all the talk about imagining yourself driving a Lamborghini , or at the head of a fancy table as ceo of a big successful company and how you can imagine how that feels to be directing that many resources toward the vision of the organization and how you're the one who's calling all those shots. We were told to visualize our lives as we'd like them to be, visualize ourselves as healthy, happy, wealthy, confident, or the proud new owner of an Olympian gold metal.

Some problems were found with simply visualizing the desired outcome.
Most frustrating, is the fact that the minds eye and what's really happening in our immediate surroundings don't line up. This can lead to low morale, lack of motivation, and a general cognitive dissonance. That method for matching the brain to the intent is not debunked. It is now expanded into a more inclusive visualization process. Therapists and coaches are using this more and more to connect people to HOW they are going to achieve a goal.

The key is to visualize the process

Try this exercise: Pick something in your life that you'd like to accomplish. For instance, creating a beautiful painting. Now, imagine a painting hanging on the wall, a masterpiece that You created and had your heart and soul exposed there hanging in painted immortalization. Imagine all your friends and family drinking wine in your living room and telling you how amazing of an artist you are. Or just imagine yourself looking at the completed work and feeling content and happy at the creation. Let yourself soak in the feeling of having done the work. Feel good about the accomplishment for a moment.

Now take that feeling, that sense of having good feelings about what is complete. Put yourself in the shoes of that moment, and ask yourself "What did I do exactly to get to such a wonderful state of completion?" and go through it in your mind, in as much detail as you can muster. You may have gone out of your way to make sure you had a space that was quite and sunny for a few hours each Tuesday to paint in solitude, picked up the specific colors that you needed at the paint store, sketched out your concept before hitting the canvas, told your neighbors you wouldn't make it to the bbq because your Tuesdays are committed to your art..,, etc.

This helps to connect us to the path underfoot, and not just stand gazing at the castle at the top of the hill as if we'll be transported.

How we get there implies that we have a destination. So goal setting is still a major key.

I know visualization can bring about magical results through the power of attraction,

and then a pile of cash in your third eye might be the key to getting paid.

But I'd bet a path toward financial freedom based in stability is built on concrete actions.

Any thoughts?