GOALS...THEY HONOR WHO YOU ARE

As a year comes to a close my ritual is to say “goodbye” to the year by expressing thanks for all of the blessings in my life. Soon after savoring those blessings my focus shifts to the upcoming year. My feelings run the whole gamut of emotions ranging from anxiety to excitement. My thoughts vary from what am I most concerned about to what I want to happen. Becoming clear as to what it is I want helps me get centered and gives me direction. I have found that having goals has been an essential step in making my life work. There is also a magic that occurs when working with goals. The benefits may be different than what you expected and benefit you in ways that pleasantly surprise you for the long term.

Through the years I have had conversations about goals with many people that I have worked with. For many people there is a tendency to understate what it is that they want. Their goals are modest. Their theory being that if their desires are modest then they won’t be disappointed. We all have been disappointed by life at times and it hurts. Because of this as the years have gone bye we have learned to lower our expectations and accept the status quo. Some of us feel that goals are personal and best kept to ourselves.

Goals can be a powerful ally in transforming our lives. Our whole life has been molded by the goals we have had in the past. Some goals we have reached and others we haven’t. It is my belief that reaching your goal is not as important as who you become in the process. Goals are not an end all but a beginning. Let’s face it…once you have reached your goal you will set another one. And this is true no matter what aspect of your life we are talking about. There always will be a next level to reach for. By having goals you create a focus so that in the process you become more than who you are now. The real benefit is in the process not the result. By reaching for your goal you become an expanded person. Every aspect of your life will be affected positively. The only downside to using goals might be when you become obsessed with reaching them. So be careful not to become attached to the outcome. If you don’t reach your goal who says you have to be disappointed. That is a choice you make. Just set a new one and go on from there and take with you all you have learned.

Perhaps an example from my own life will help to make some of these concepts more real. My son, Josh a college student at UCSD also works at a gym as a personal trainer. The company emphasizes that the trainers must enroll members in the trainings. My son was motivated to be one of the top enrollers for the month. Does it matter whether he reachs his goal? Like most of us he will have many other goals in the future. But what matters is who he has to become to reach his goal. He has to learn about connection and becoming empathic with others which will require him to get out of his comfort zone. He has to become knowledgeable about physiology and nutrition. Most importantly he has to learn to listen and to be totally present. Josh did well and was one of the top enrollers for the month. More importantly is what he learned in the process of reaching for his goal of becoming a top enroller. This will benefit him in all that he does now and in the future.

What about you? How can you use goals to take your life to that next level? Perhaps you want to experience more happiness or more confidence. As you begin this year what is your wildest dream…the one that you might feel embarassed to share with another person? So I ask you. What is it that you really want this year? What is your burning desire?

I love Marianne Williamson’s perspective:

Our deepest Fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the glory that is within us. As we let our light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

Imagine becoming the person you always wanted to be. Take a minute or so and experience this person fully. See yourself living your life now as if you were this person. Instead of thinking about who you will become in the future, think about being that person now.

What is in your way is your resistance which shows up as the reasons and excuses why you can’t be that person. Stop resisting and declare yourself. Once you accept the truth of who you are, that you are already there, the resistance goes away.

Let’s say it doesn’t quite happen this year but you get pretty close. Let’s say you don’t even get close but you did better than last year. Or perhaps you do as well as last year which was a great year. Would you be disappointed?

Lets share our gift with others. Lets share our light. Please feel free to share Letters on Life with those in your circle.


Journey ON

Mark

JOURNEY ON is a blog dedicated to personal and professional development. Mark Susnow, an executive and life coach inspires others to experience more fulfillment and success in their life. A former trial attorney for 30 years and musician, he integrates what it takes to be successful in the world with the inner wisdom unfolded to him through years of yoga and meditation. His articles reflect this journey in an inspirational and motivational way. 415-453.5016. To find out more about Mark and his services, be sure to visit his website www.InspirePossibility.com

posted @ 2:53 PM

Labels: inspiration and motivation