Have no Time to Set Goals? Think Again! Part Two
Learn to Visualize
The starting point for effective goal setting is to spend some quiet time alone and in a comfortable setting. Sometimes I’ll use my office, close the door and shut off my phone while other times, I’ll go to the beach or to a park. It is essential that you have at least 30 – 60 minutes of uninterrupted time, preferably more.
When I lived in New York, I’d often go to my cabin on 40 acres of secluded land and sit overlooking the pond. Occasionally I’d get a visit from a humming bird or a family of deer. Their input was always appreciated.
Bring a pad and pen (or laptop computer) and get alone in a relaxing setting. Let your mind wander. Play comforting music or light a candle if that helps you. Just let the events of your day go and settle into a relaxed state.
Here’s how you can organize it. Take one page for each of the major areas of your life including your business, relationships, spiritual life, health and fitness, education, fun and adventure, workshops and seminars, community service. Make that area the heading of the page. Then insert sub-headings on the page for 10 years, 5 years, 1 year, and each quarter. Leave sufficient space between each section.
Begin asking yourself questions like: Where do I want to be in ten years? Where will I live? What will my house look like (a center hall colonial, Tudor or contemporary beachfront house)? Who am I with? Am I married (with kids… how many)?
Go through every major area of your life asking similar questions about your business, relationships, spiritual life, health and fitness, education, fun and adventure, workshops and seminars and community service.
Spend five to ten minutes on each of these areas and write down what comes to you. It’s not important if it seems unlikely or impractical. The key at this stage is to just write it down.
Invariably, somewhere during this process Mr. or Mrs. Doubtfire will appear and beginning telling you why your dreams are unachievable, even ridiculous. I suggest that you smile at him/her, thank them for sharing their thoughts and go right back to what you were doing. Don’t get into a wrestling match with your internal naysayer. Don’t evaluate or analyze. Just keep on dreaming and writing. There will be plenty of time for practicality later.
You’ll probably want to switch over to a word processor for the next step if you haven’t already. Take each of the goals that you’ve listed and rearrange them in order of priority. Which is the most important goal in each category, the second most important goal in each category, the third, etc? Can you see that your life is starting to come together in a new and more powerful way?
Pathfinder is offering consumers who visit their website a free tax savings special report & CD titled “Tax Secrets of the Rich”. For information about these tools visit http://www.taxsavingconcepts.com
