Practicing Seeking

A Better Way to (Finally) Achieve Your Goals

So many times, I’ve offhandedly thought about goals, intentions, and desires like this:

  • I wish I could lose 10 pounds before vacation . . .
  • I really should read more good literature this year . . .
  • I’d like to spend some time volunteering for local charities . . .

Inevitably, the thoughts fade away, and those intentions never become realities.

Where do I go wrong? It’s not that I have a negative mindset. In fact, the goals and intentions are quite positive. So, why don’t I follow through?

Perhaps it’s that I don’t take the time to create the mental focus that will help me clarify exactly what I want to achieve. Instead of stating vague intentions, I should strive for greater specificity.

For example, what thoughts, beliefs, and actions would I utilize for losing those 10 pounds? I need to pinpoint the exact things I want to do;  specificity is the “secret sauce” to achieving a goal.

Set Clear Intentions to Access the Law of Attraction

“Manifestation” is currently a popular topic. Universally, the experts agree that the process of setting intentions or goals is the first step in manifesting good things into your life.

What exactly is “manifestation” and how does the Law of Attraction work?

In an article for Psychology Today, Tchiki Davis, Ph.D. states that manifestation is the process of employing desires, thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and actions to turn your goals and intentions into reality. She further states that having a growth mindset — wherein you believe you’re capable of achieving your goals — leads to positive outcomes.

To get clear about what you really want, Davis advises spending time in meditation to raise self-awareness and to crystalize your ideas and beliefs about specific goals. If you develop positive attitudes about exact goals, you’re more likely to put in the time, effort, and energy to achieve them. Additionally, you’re more likely to attract positive energy and assistance from other people along the way.

According to Deepak Chopra, M.D., everything that happens in the universe begins with intention. This means that all our accomplishments and deeds have their infancy in our minds where they emerge as intentions, goals, and desires. Released into the fertile ground of the subconscious, intentions grow and come to fruition.

Be Specific and Create Clarity

In an article for Oprah Daily, Kimberly Zapata echoes Davis’ advice. She notes that manifesting your desires through the Law of Attraction starts with knowing exactly what you want. The catch is that this initial step requires us to think about our intentions deeply enough to clearly define them. They can’t be mere, fleeting thoughts.

For example, an offhanded wish to develop deeper friendships might signal a desirable intention, but its exact meaning is a bit fuzzy. Alternatively, defining your ideas about deep friendships reinforces the intention. Perhaps developing deeper friendships entails spending meaningful time with a group of close friends, calling or texting on a regular basis, inviting friends over for dinner, and offering help when needed. When you can clearly visualize what the accomplished goal would look like, the pathway to achieving it becomes more obvious.

Remember that Action is the Key to Achieving Goals

Some of the current writings on the topic of manifestation and the Law of Attraction are downright spooky. They’re full of language that makes manifestation appear to be magical — and thus, misleading. The process is not like rubbing Aladdin’s lamp to release the genie.

It’s important to take action to achieve goals; the clarification process is only the first step. In an article for Psychology Today, Denise Fournier, Ph.D. applauds the positive-mindset aspect of manifestation. However, she asserts that “committed action” is the most important ingredient in manifesting our goals and intentions. Fournier emphasizes that after setting clear and specific goals, we need to exert the effort necessary to realize them.

Your Turn

Think about times in your life when you achieved your goals or when desirable outcomes entered your life. How did those positive results occur?

Did you set clear intentions that eventually came to fruition?

How did you formulate your specific goals and intentions? What was your process?

If you’d like to start a conversation, I’d love to read your thoughts in the comment section!

-Carol Benton

Photo: Pexels.com

 

 

 

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