How come some people set goals and achieve them seemingly easily while others struggle to get anywhere in life?

Norman Vincent Peale gave us an answer when he said that “All successful people have a goal. No one can get anywhere unless he knows where he wants to go and what he wants to be or do.”

There are however some rules for powerful goal setting and an easy way to remember them is by making them A.U.T.H.E.N.T.I.C.™

A – Aspiring and Actionable

When setting a goal it is important to word it in the positive. Say what you want, not what you don’t want.
Example: Instead of: “I don’t want be be alone anymore” say: “I enjoy a fulfilling relationship with my partner”

Also choose a goal about which you can take some kind of action. What can you do personally to work towards it?

U – Ultimate and Uncluttered

To achieve a goal there is work involved. So why settle for mediocre when you might as well go for the ultimate goal? Often the amount of effort to go for the big dream is even less than that for the mediocre one.

When writing down your goal, make it short and memorable, so that you could tell it someone in 10 seconds or less.

T – Thyself and Tingling

Make it YOUR goal, not someone else’s. Only if YOU really want it, you will have the power to achieve it. Too often we are tempted to adopt other people’s goals as our own, especially if they are very clear and generally inspiring. Better double check whether your looking for approval from your environment by achieving what would be an acceptable or respectable target in your circle of influence. If you decide that you would attempt this goal with or without consent from others, go for it!

Check whether your goal makes you tingle. Does it give you goose bumps or butterflies in your stomach? Does it excite you? Is it something you will be tenacious about?

H – Healthy and Honourable

When you achieve your goal – will it be good for you, good for others and good for the greater good or your community? Only if it is ethical you will get the divine support to achieve it.

Make it something that when you think back, you will be proud of.

E – Emotional and Evidence

Get some emotions involved, but choose the empowering ones. What about the goal will motivate you when the going gets tough?

How will you know that you have achieved your goal? What will you see, hear, feel, smell, taste? What pictures, sounds or feelings are involved (this is where you get really specific!)

N – Non-negotiable and Numerable

Make your goal non-negotiable. It may take some time and you might have to go some detours, but never let someone talk you out of it. If you have been given the desire for it, it means that you have the strength to pursue it too.

Have a goal where you can measure the results, ideally by physically creating some kind of ‘hardware’, that you can measure in numbers. If your goal anticipates a state, like being more relaxed, assess your current situation on a scale from one to 10 and then define some measurable criteria: “I know that I am more relaxed when I can turn off my mind for 10 minutes”…

T – Timeframe and TEAM

By when would you like to achieve your goal? Goals are dreams with deadlines. Start your goal with “By the 17th of September 2010…..” or even “By 6pm tonight …”

Who do you need to support you? Together Everybody Achieves More. Who would you like to have on your team to cheer you up when you’re down, who holds you accountable, who can complement your strengths and compensate your weaknesses? Who can give you the tools and strategies you need to succeed?

I – Inspiration and “I” language

Make your goal as inspirational as possible. How is your goal representing who you are? What is your intention, the real purpose for you wanting to achieve this goal? Can you be an inspiration for others?

The most powerful statements begin with “I am…” or “I have…”. Choose everything that comes after that wisely, because your words become your actions, your results, your character and ultimately your destiny.

C – Choice and Commitment

You have a free will to choose your outcome – your pain and your pleasure. Which pain do you want to let go of? What is the pleasure you want to gain?

What’s your level of commitment? How far will you go? Are you ready to leave your old you behind and become the person you need to be? If you are willing to pay the price, the goal is within your reach. It is never too late become who you might have been!

Often these feelings are feeding from each other, creating a downward spiral that leaves us with bitterness, as ‘victims’ and in an un-resourceful , very stressful  and often painful state.

From here, physical or mental violence, anxiety or depression can be only one step away.

When dealing with painful and stress promoting emotions, the only way to respond is with emotions  that get you in balance –  physically, mentally and spiritually. For the above feelings, one of the best and most resourceful responses is forgiveness.

The effects of forgiveness on your body

• reduces the stress and the adrenalin level (which initiates our fight or flight modus)
• lowers blood pressure (which cools down excitement)
• slows down the heart beat (which reduces the risk of heart attacks)
• decreases the risk of gall and kidney stones (which often develop through continuous  living on a high stress level)

The effects of forgiveness on your mind

• allows you to connect with your inner resources (instead of using external stimulants like sugar, alcohol or drugs)
• helps you to relate to your own power and strength (instead of giving it away)

The effects of forgiveness on your spirit

• creates a positive chain reaction of supporting emotions like understanding, compassion, connection
• enables you to feel peaceful

How do you get to a state of forgiveness?

Forgiveness isn’t something that automatically comes to you, but it is a state that you can reach easily, if you commit to the process of change.

An important presupposition is to recognise and accept the value of forgiveness and how it can change your life for the better.

Forgiving is an active choice to do so. This doesn’t mean that we excuse or give permission to repeat or continue the hurting person’s behaviour. By you forgiving, it doesn’t make the hurtful action better, right or acceptable.

But it does mean that you are no longer willing to accept the state of being a victim and that you have chosen that you won’t give away your personal power, integrity and worthiness.

Actions of your body:

Take a deep breath. Sounds simple and it is. When you focus on your breath, you give your body the opportunity for a short break. A deep breathe in provides the body, especially the brain, with much needed oxygen to work more effectively and find a better solution.

It also erects the body, which in return sends signals of confidence to the brain. If you can manage to put on a smile, even better, because that will send ‘happiness hormones’ to your body and helps to release physical tensions. It is ok to fake it; your brain doesn’t know and doesn’t care – the effect is the same.

If you can, walk (physically) away from the situation. A quick walk or a hard workout will help you channel the adrenalin that is released to fight or flight.

Have you got a trampoline? Get on to it and start jumping! Jumping and hopping (maybe on a swiss ball) also release hormones that get you back on the road to feeling better quickly and as a result forgiveness and happiness will come even more easily and effortlessly.

If you feel like punching something, punch your pillow, a punching bag or the couch. Whatever you need to do,  get rid of it and be mindful to let it go in a way that is safe for your body, mind and soul – it will help you to clear the way to forgiveness faster.

Actions of your mind:

Forgiveness is an act of imagination. Instead of seeing or visualising yourself getting angry, acting out or even getting physical, you can quickly imagine how you walk away from the situation, do something that soothes your soul or imagine yourself calming down.

Actions of your soul:

Forgiveness does not mean to suppress your feelings. Let them out. If you feel like screaming, get in the car, the toilet or somewhere else where you are by yourself and scream, stump your feet, get some relief. You will get a clear head and you can start to think of a better way to deal with the situation.

Forgiveness is a state of awareness. It is not about denial, but one of conscious choice.

By letting go of grudges, you will find yourself moving away from defining your worthiness by other people’s action. You will be able to draw on powerful resources that make you feel better, in tune with yourself and the universe.

As a result you will feel peaceful and in control of your feelings instead of being controlled by them. You will feel in charge and you are, because it is your own responsibility

The act of Forgiving

Forgiveness can be challenging for the very reason, that often it is not done in one go. Some events need to be forgiven daily before we can heal.

Forgiveness is a divine act that helps us to connect with our spirit, with who we really are. It is one way to experience ourselves and an opportunity to realise that we are spiritual beings who live in a physical body and have human emotions – and choice.

What does I Ging mean?
The “I” means “changes in the flow of life energy (“Chi”) and “Ching” is the word for classic.  The I Ging is often referred to as the “Book of Changes”, and the philosophical backbone to Chinese medicine, astrology and architecture as well as physical education like T’ai Chi Chuan or Qi Gong and the principles of Feng Shui.

Where does the I Ging come from?
I Ging is the essence of 6000 years of ancient wisdom, which initially has been passed on verbally before it was eventually written down, still being polished, adjusted and refined over time.

It consists of 64 sacred hexagrams, each of them a different combination of six solid and broken lines.

Examples:

hexagram 30-fire

hexagram 47-affliction

hexagram 61-inner truth

What does it mean?

Each line has a symbolic meaning (from top to bottom):

1. Spirit (religion, tao, the end or ‘beyond’ things)
2. Structure (organising, leading, ideals)
3. Choice (decisions, finding solutions or the road)
4. Emotions (exploration and evaluation)
5. Connection (with people, finding a place in the world, environment)
6. Reality (action, matter, the way one stands on the earth, beginnings)

Using the I Ging
The I Ging can be used as an oracle, a suggestion or a guide, depending on your preferences. Working with the I Ging has become an art. In the beginning there was only a Yes or No answer, then the system has become more and more complex by broadening the possibilities for interpretation. Adding imagination again has lifted the interpretation process to another level.

Because of its complexity, it may take several attempts until the I Ging reveals the information you are looking for.

What can you  expect?
As always, what you put in is what you get out. The quality of the questions you are asking the I Ging will determine the answer you get. At the same time, a question/problem well stated is a problem half solved.

The I Ging can help find answers to questions that expect a complex answer, allow to balance two outcomes, focus on special times, ask for clarification, describe a state or situation or simply asks for a comment.

At least, the I Ging offers an opportunity for self reflection, which is always a good thing.

We are having a Shed-Warming Party!

Come along on Friday, the 2nd of October from 3pm ’til late
Unit 22/Insight Commercial Park
547 Woolcock Street, Mount Louisa, Qld

View Google map but note: the building is so new, that Google maps has not yet realised that it is there. It seems to be in the blue, but trust me, there is a ‘Dancefloor’ for Change!

People like Anthony Robbins stand on his shoulders and Brian is still one of the best selling authors and speakers when it comes to achieving personal and especially business goals.

His company operates internationally and has helped over 4 million people achieve their goals so far.

‘ Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life‘ is designed to help you understand the impact the way we think has on the results that we get. The program promises to show you how to

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• improve your relationships
• enjoy higher levels of health and fitness and
• achieve all your goals

After experiencing the power of thought myself, I highly recommend ‘Change your thinking, change your life’

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Unlock your full potential to live the extraordinary life you deserve. Develop unshakable self-confidence and break down barriers that once stood in your way. Become a “no limit” person and realise that you can do anything you decide to accomplish. Learn how changing your mind set can revitalise your life, business and relationships.

Although it has been written and published quite a while ago (precisely 1937), every word is still valid – today maybe even more than ever.

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Have a sneak spreview