Going for the Goal

Am I the only one who's wondering where 2018 has gone?  I can't believe we've already kicked off the month of August and I'm feeling like these next few months are going to disappear in the blink of an eye.  Realizing that this year is officially half-way through, I've been reflecting on how well (or not) I've been accomplishing the goals I set for 2018 and refocusing my monthly intentions in a way that will help me manifest all the goodness I'm seeking.

Setting intentions (or goals, whichever you'd rather call them) can be intimidating and for years I avoided setting monthly goals because I was worried that they'd just be added stress to an already chaotic life. My perspective on setting intentions has completely changed though because I've made a consistent effort to set monthly goals and have worked to achieve them.  To my surprise, what I thought would be added stress has turned into a clear means of calming the chaos and bringing some focus back into my personal life.

I've learned over time, that in order to attract the things I want in my life I must put those intentions out into the world.  I have to let people and, more importantly, the universe know that indeed there are things that I want to achieve in life.  Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm sure you're thinking that all sounds a little too woo-woo, but trust me, it works!  If we aren't willing to speak about our dreams, think about our dreams, feel what it would feel like to have our dreams come true we are unlikely to attract the experiences or opportunities that help us achieve our goals and meet our intentions.

If we have doubts about our ability to reach our goals or fulfill our intentions, the negative energy that is associated with those feelings will hold us back. They will keep us from being able to fully harmonize with the desires of our heart and soul.

"See it, believe it, be it!"

This is a mantra I've started using when I am feeling hesitant about reaching my future goals.  If we're unwilling to believe "it" will happen, no-one else will believe it either and surely we won't attract the people, opportunities, or what some might call the luck, needed to achieve whatever your "it" might be.

Here are some tips I use to assist with the goal setting process.

1. Journal about your emotions/feelings prior to setting your goals.  This simple step will help you get very clear about the areas in your life that need your attention.  Are you feeling overwhelmed by one particular aspect of life?  Is there something you've been avoiding for a while?  Are there situations you face that make you uncomfortable?  Diving deeper, especially through journaling, I've found has helped me uncover the areas of  my life that I want to improve upon.  When you journal and put down your true feelings it will become clear exactly where you need to focus your energy.

2. Keep it simple!  We often think of goals as these elaborate plans or schemes that will take years and years to accomplish.  No wonder I used to be hesitant to set goals and chase after them!  Have you heard the question. . . How do you eat an elephant?  Simple, simple, answer. . . one bite at a time of course!  The same goes for setting your goals.  While they may be elaborate or complex life accomplishments, it helps to set smaller goals that will ultimately help you achieve the end result.  When you break things down and keep it simple, the intention seems far more manageable and less scary than some elaborate desired end state.

3. Be specific!  Keep your goals simple, but be detailed about them.  Instead of saying, " I want to be better at saving money" your intention should be, "I want to save $100 each month."  By outlining the details of your intention it's clear later down the road what you're trying to achieve.  I've found that if I'm not specific about my goals I waffle back and forth about how I'll reach the end result when it comes time to execute.  The more detailed you are in setting your goal the less room there will be for falling off the wagon later on.

4. Create actionable steps.  Being specific is only half the battle.  With a specific goal or intention, you know exactly what you want, but it's also important to outline how you're going to get there.  Without a clear path or direction it's easy to get derailed on the way to achieving your goals. Outline the actions and steps you'll take to ensure you meet the specifics of your goal.  Continuing with the saving money example above, actionable steps would include cooking all meals at home or no online shopping.  Now with actionable steps I know exactly what to do or what to avoid to achieve my goals.

Once you've set your goals, post them everywhere, talk them up, repeat them to yourself or tell a friend who can help you remain accountable!  I have sticky notes slapped up nearly everywhere to help me remember my actionable steps and my goals posted on the fridge and at work too.  I verbalize what I'm hoping to achieve to those closest to me so they can check in on me every once in a while to make sure I'm staying on track.

Our goals don't have to be scary.  They don't have to intimidate us or add stress to our lives.  I promise!

See it, believe it, be it folks!

Love, Light & the Highest Vibrations,

Lon