How closely do you need to plan your action steps in advance when it comes to setting goals and achieving them?
When you set a goal, do you need to be able to see every step on the road ahead, or is it enough to focus on the end result and let the intermediate steps evolve along the way? This is a key question and you will find varying opinions expressed by different experts on personal goals.
I've tried both strategies and, in my view, it's best not to specify all the small steps you are going to have to take to achieve your desired goal.
Why?
Well, I'm assuming that you have set a new goal - one that you haven't successfully achieved before. If you've never done it before, you're not likely to know all the logical steps you need to take.
Even if you read a book explaining what to do, there will still be a learning curve.
THE LEARNING CURVE
So what is this learning curve you face whenever setting goals and achieving them?
If I have a question on goal setting, I usually go back to that classic book Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Matltz. Maltz explains that we have an automatic success mechanism in our brains.
However, this mechanism is not in the part of the brain we use for everyday logical thinking. The learning curve involves a trial and error process using both your logical conscious mind and your creative unconscious mind.
Here is what Maxwell Maltz advises:
- Use the conscious forebrain to set a goal
- Think about how to achieve it
- Cultivate a burning desire to achieve the goal by consciously thinking about it
- Relax and let the unconscious mind find the best way to achieve the goal
- Take action
As you can see, some of these points involve logical conscious thinking, whereas others require you to trust your unconscious mind.
The strategy of letting your unconscious mind come up with possible solutions needs to be followed continuously - not just when you set your goal.
This enables you to climb the learning curve and gradually make progress towards your desired result.
A key point is not to jam your creative mechanism by over anxiety about success or failure, or worrying that you don't have the answer.
Assume that the answer is out there and that, if you relax, the answer will find its way from your unconscious mind and make itself known to you.
- Visualize your goal as if it is already in existence and believe it to be so
- Focus on the goal - the end result - and do not worry about how to get there
- Take action and, when you make mistakes, simply correct your course
- Continue with actions that move you towards your goal, and let go of what isn't working
- Trust your unconscious creative mind to find the answers
Copyright With thanks to
No comments:
Post a Comment