Setting goals gives us direction and focus. By attaining goals, we learn what we’re capable of, which improves our self-esteem. However, the journey to the destination is rarely a straight line; we inevitably run into obstacles, setbacks, and naysayers. When difficulty strikes, our willpower is tested, and it can be tempting to give up and abandon our dreams. Most of us are taught to work towards a goal, to push forward. But few of us realise that this pushing requires us to use more force which uses an enormous amount of energy. There is a better way. By choosing to live FROM a goal, we benefit from the quantum field, source energy, or the law of attraction to support us as our goal becomes magnetic. The situations, people and circumstances we need come into our lives at the right time. So how can we switch from pushing uphill to getting in the flow of working FROM our goals?
Here are six steps to live FROM your goals instead of towards them.
- Make sure the goal is authentically yours
- Visualise yourself in achieving the goal
- Be the person who achieves the goal
- Let it go
- Take inspired action
- Repeat
Make sure the goal is authentically yours
A goal needs to be authentically yours in order to live FROM it. If you are unaware, you can become trapped in setting goals for reasons other than your own. For example, if you have a goal of losing 10 kilos, it can be your own and, at the same time, driven by the desire to make your partner happy because you THINK you should. You can recognise it as yours only if you have an honest answer to “Why.” For example, losing 10 kilos can be a part of something bigger yet. This could be the idea of living longer, having more energy for your young family and being present for the best moments of your life. In other words, a solid justification based on this dream will assure you that you are on the right track and that you are living your own life.
Visualise yourself in achieving the goal
Visualisation techniques allow your brain to practice what it will be like once you achieve your goals. Through the use of our imagination, our minds can create our reality. I first learned about this technique many years ago when I stumbled across The Psychology of Winning by Dr Denis Waitley. I wanted to become a professional fitness competitor and knew I needed an edge, and this book came at the right time.
Of course, as soon as I shared my goal, I was met with a barrage of naysayers. They said it was impossible; there was too much competition, and it required too much sacrifice. The list went on and on. I chose to ignore those comments and focus on my dream. I visualised standing on the stage, being called out to the front of the line and receiving the medal around my neck. I imagined the audience clapping, the lights on the stage, people congratulating me and the feeling of finally achieving my pro status.
Every morning and evening, before I went to bed, I would repeat this visualisation. Eventually, it became second nature, and I could recall it as if it were a memory. Of course, I still had to commit to the daily training regime, meal prep and cardio. However, the effort seemed meaningful, making it easier for me to stick with it. The moment finally arrived, I heard my name called to come to the front of the line. I received the medal around my neck and my professional status. It was as if it had already happened. The interesting thing was that I needed to place in the top two in my division to earn my pro card. Ironically, I got second place. I realised I had inadvertently limited my potential by only focusing on achieving professional status. When using visualisation techniques, don’t let your limiting beliefs prevent you from visualising all that is possible for you!
To live from your goal you can take the power of visualisation to the next level and establish triggered visuals. Our minds are notoriously good at connecting experiences; it’s why when you hear a particular song, it can trigger powerful memories and a flood of emotions. You can set yourself up for success by creating your triggers for the subconscious mind to act on.
For example, you can spend time listening to a song you love while visualising something positive. Then, when the time comes for you to perform, you can replicate that sensory input and capitalise on the visualisation.
Be the person who achieves the goal
What would someone who has your goal be doing in their everyday life? In my case, a professional fitness competitor committed to regular training, planned meals and tracked progress. I had become a professional fitness competitor through my actions. Someone fit works out regularly, and someone who is wealthy reviews their finances regularly and respects money. Someone who is in a loving relationship is loving, and shares love. You don’t attract what you want; you attract what you are.
Live From Your Goal and Let it go
Because we’ve learned that effort = results, we can strangle the life out of our goals. We expect things to happen in our time frame, and when things don’t work out the way we’d hoped, we spiral into negative thought patterns. We say to ourselves; This will never work out; maybe I should give up, or Why hasn’t this happened yet? We’ve jumped from being the person who has already achieved that goal into someone who doubts they will accomplish the goal.
When we allow doubt and fear to drive our actions, we use force and waste precious energy trying to control the uncontrollable. Someone who already has the things they want doesn’t question their reality; they accept it. Wealthy people don’t ask, “Why don’t I have the money I want?” They don’t ask because they ARE wealthy. Healthy people don’t ask, “When will my health improve?” because they ARE healthy. If you have imagined or visualised yourself being the person who achieves your goals, you ARE already that person. All that is left to do is become, believe and receive!
Take inspired action
Action is essential to achieving your goals. So how do you know when to act? When would someone who has achieved their goal take action? Their action would be natural and from a place of flow. When you live from your goal, any action you take is from a source of inspiration or clarity and is never an action from fear or doubt. Accepting your new paradigm allows you to be in the receiving mode of Inspired ideas, which lead to inspired action. You can learn more about inspire action HERE.
Repeat
Keep checking in with yourself, learning which emotions and actions are remnants of your old self—that person who has not achieved is in a perpetual state of waiting for things to change. Keep bringing yourself back and visualising and acting from your new self. To live FROM your goal involves shedding your old self, and it will try to hold on to the old patterns and way of being to survive. When the old self returns, instead of admonishing it or shaming it, honour it as it was essential to get you to this point and bring yourself back to being the person you were meant to be
Your life is NOW, and you can LIVE from your goal. You don’t need to wait anymore.
Dr Seuss said it best in his book Oh The Places You’ll Go.
“The Waiting Place…
…for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.NO!
That’s not for you!”
