Creative Bent: Goals vs. Affirmations
Yesterday, one of my consulting clients asked the difference between Goals and Affirmations. Good question, actually. I'll give you my take on it - not sure if this is the "official take," but we'll give it a shot.
As I've worked with my various motivational speakers over the years, the consensus seems to be that Goals are what you put to paper, then organize according to priority, then assign timelines. As Mark Victor Hansen always says, "Goals are simply dreams with deadlines."
A lot of times, people will write their goals for the year or the month or even the day - but they won't take a few moments to then prioritize them, or they won't apply estimated timelines as to when they'd like to have the goal accomplished.
It's important that you do all three. I know the last item there can be a bit of a wiggle - sometimes you really don't know how long it will take to achieve a specific goal, but put a date down anyway - even if it's 5 years from now or 10 months from now. This helps provide order in your mind as to what really is your priority, and what you have there on the back burner that you'll be moving to next once the goal is achieved.
One note: It’s easy to put a long timeline on a goal that you don’t know how to accomplish or might be a bit afraid to tackle. If you succumb to this tactic, you’re going to be pushing that goal back every single time you look at your list. When you set your deadlines, ask yourself, “If I had all the pieces in place to make this happen, how soon would I want this goal completely fulfilled? Then write down THAT date. I’m serious.
As you’re reminded in the movie, “The Secret,” and as I’ve told you many times in this blog – it’s not your job to determine exactly how a specific dream is going to be accomplished. It’s your job to have passion for it and want it badly enough that you think on it every day and apply action to it every day – no matter how small that action might seem. Start moving in the circles … start seeking out the people who have the pieces to what you need to get this thing accomplished.
So, that’s what I consider a Goal.
Affirmations are positive, present-minded statements you create for yourself that you say out loud, memorize eventually (one would hope) and write on a daily basis (daily affirmation writing is a phenomenally fast track to moving your dreams into reality, I assure you.)
Affirmations don’t necessarily have to be focused on the goal list you’ve created, but you’re going to find that they’re quite similar in nature as what you’re focusing on daily in your life should quite likely be your Goal, don’t you think?!
Choose a goal. Here's how your Affirmation will be different . . .
So, say your GOAL is to lose 10 pounds by June 1st.
Your AFFIRMATION does not state this. You want your affirmation to be a visualization of what you are becoming … what you’re looking like … how you’re feeling … the benefits you’re experiencing … once that 10 pounds has lifted from your body. So, an Affirmation might be:
I am so happy and grateful now that my body is at its perfect weight. I’m much more lean and my clothes fit loosely on me now. I’m feeling marvelously healthy, vibrant and energetic with this trimmer me.
Say your GOAL is to bring in more clients (and income). Write an AFFIRMATION about the enjoyment of PRESENTLY working with these people, and list some of the great things they bring to the table:
I am so happy and grateful that clients who specifically need our product are suddenly coming in the door from all avenues and venues. They are delighted they’ve found us. They recognize that we provide exactly what they’re looking for and yet we still delight them with added benefits they never expected. They pay us in full – with a smile – and are always recommending us to their friends and peers.
Are you beginning to see the difference? Now, your affirmations don’t have to be this long. And, they can be 10 times longer. I have a single affirmation that takes an entire page every day I write it (It’s an important one!)
But there are specific points you want to keep in mind when you write your Affirmation:
1. Bob Proctor recommends you start each affirmation with “I’m so happy and grateful now that” as it states gratitude immediately and also incorporates the present tense, NOW.
2. Always write in present tense.
3. Never, never use negative words. Don’t write that you’re losing 10 pounds. Write that you’re lean and trim. Don’t write that your clients never fight you about payments. Write that they pay you in advance, in full.
4. Write the affirmation on a small card and put that card somewhere in the path of your daily routine of life so that you’re constantly coming across it. Put it in your trouser pocket each morning. Tape it to your car’s radio station so that you see it every time you look down. Tape it in an obvious spot on your computer monitor or on your coffee pot … anywhere that you’ll see it or even touch it several times through the course of the day.
5. Then, set aside just 10 or 15 minutes each morning (or evening, or both) and write your primary affirmations in a journal. You don’t want 15 affirmations – for one thing, you can’t focus on all that number. You only want a handful at MOST. If you bring your primary affirmations down to just one or two, you’re doing even better. I know you’re impatient, but Universe will work with you more quickly and efficiently when you’re able to remain focused on a single purpose.
After you write each one, stop and read it. You don’t want this to be a “writing lines punishment” kind of thing like our elementary school teacher might have assigned you for troublemaking. This is your life! This is your passion! Shift it up, change it up – when you have a couple extra minutes, write different scenarios around that affirmation. As an example, I have a Client Affirmation that I write every day. Underneath it, I’ll write scenarios around that Client Affirmation that further draws the big picture of my perfect client.
6. Say your Affirmations out loud. Somehow this just sort of solidifies its importance to you – and assures God and all his creatures working in your behalf, too.
7. Then – and most importantly – believe that it is already done. How’s that for a closing thought?
Now, you've probably noticed that the Affirmation process is a bit lengthier and involved than simply writing your Goal down at the beginning of a year and shoving it in a desk drawer somewhere. Yes, it does involve more work and focus. I guess the question to ask yourself is this - just how bad do you want it?
As I've worked with my various motivational speakers over the years, the consensus seems to be that Goals are what you put to paper, then organize according to priority, then assign timelines. As Mark Victor Hansen always says, "Goals are simply dreams with deadlines."
A lot of times, people will write their goals for the year or the month or even the day - but they won't take a few moments to then prioritize them, or they won't apply estimated timelines as to when they'd like to have the goal accomplished.
It's important that you do all three. I know the last item there can be a bit of a wiggle - sometimes you really don't know how long it will take to achieve a specific goal, but put a date down anyway - even if it's 5 years from now or 10 months from now. This helps provide order in your mind as to what really is your priority, and what you have there on the back burner that you'll be moving to next once the goal is achieved.
One note: It’s easy to put a long timeline on a goal that you don’t know how to accomplish or might be a bit afraid to tackle. If you succumb to this tactic, you’re going to be pushing that goal back every single time you look at your list. When you set your deadlines, ask yourself, “If I had all the pieces in place to make this happen, how soon would I want this goal completely fulfilled? Then write down THAT date. I’m serious.
As you’re reminded in the movie, “The Secret,” and as I’ve told you many times in this blog – it’s not your job to determine exactly how a specific dream is going to be accomplished. It’s your job to have passion for it and want it badly enough that you think on it every day and apply action to it every day – no matter how small that action might seem. Start moving in the circles … start seeking out the people who have the pieces to what you need to get this thing accomplished.
So, that’s what I consider a Goal.
Affirmations are positive, present-minded statements you create for yourself that you say out loud, memorize eventually (one would hope) and write on a daily basis (daily affirmation writing is a phenomenally fast track to moving your dreams into reality, I assure you.)
Affirmations don’t necessarily have to be focused on the goal list you’ve created, but you’re going to find that they’re quite similar in nature as what you’re focusing on daily in your life should quite likely be your Goal, don’t you think?!
Choose a goal. Here's how your Affirmation will be different . . .
So, say your GOAL is to lose 10 pounds by June 1st.
Your AFFIRMATION does not state this. You want your affirmation to be a visualization of what you are becoming … what you’re looking like … how you’re feeling … the benefits you’re experiencing … once that 10 pounds has lifted from your body. So, an Affirmation might be:
I am so happy and grateful now that my body is at its perfect weight. I’m much more lean and my clothes fit loosely on me now. I’m feeling marvelously healthy, vibrant and energetic with this trimmer me.
Say your GOAL is to bring in more clients (and income). Write an AFFIRMATION about the enjoyment of PRESENTLY working with these people, and list some of the great things they bring to the table:
I am so happy and grateful that clients who specifically need our product are suddenly coming in the door from all avenues and venues. They are delighted they’ve found us. They recognize that we provide exactly what they’re looking for and yet we still delight them with added benefits they never expected. They pay us in full – with a smile – and are always recommending us to their friends and peers.
Are you beginning to see the difference? Now, your affirmations don’t have to be this long. And, they can be 10 times longer. I have a single affirmation that takes an entire page every day I write it (It’s an important one!)
But there are specific points you want to keep in mind when you write your Affirmation:
1. Bob Proctor recommends you start each affirmation with “I’m so happy and grateful now that” as it states gratitude immediately and also incorporates the present tense, NOW.
2. Always write in present tense.
3. Never, never use negative words. Don’t write that you’re losing 10 pounds. Write that you’re lean and trim. Don’t write that your clients never fight you about payments. Write that they pay you in advance, in full.
4. Write the affirmation on a small card and put that card somewhere in the path of your daily routine of life so that you’re constantly coming across it. Put it in your trouser pocket each morning. Tape it to your car’s radio station so that you see it every time you look down. Tape it in an obvious spot on your computer monitor or on your coffee pot … anywhere that you’ll see it or even touch it several times through the course of the day.
5. Then, set aside just 10 or 15 minutes each morning (or evening, or both) and write your primary affirmations in a journal. You don’t want 15 affirmations – for one thing, you can’t focus on all that number. You only want a handful at MOST. If you bring your primary affirmations down to just one or two, you’re doing even better. I know you’re impatient, but Universe will work with you more quickly and efficiently when you’re able to remain focused on a single purpose.
After you write each one, stop and read it. You don’t want this to be a “writing lines punishment” kind of thing like our elementary school teacher might have assigned you for troublemaking. This is your life! This is your passion! Shift it up, change it up – when you have a couple extra minutes, write different scenarios around that affirmation. As an example, I have a Client Affirmation that I write every day. Underneath it, I’ll write scenarios around that Client Affirmation that further draws the big picture of my perfect client.
6. Say your Affirmations out loud. Somehow this just sort of solidifies its importance to you – and assures God and all his creatures working in your behalf, too.
7. Then – and most importantly – believe that it is already done. How’s that for a closing thought?
Now, you've probably noticed that the Affirmation process is a bit lengthier and involved than simply writing your Goal down at the beginning of a year and shoving it in a desk drawer somewhere. Yes, it does involve more work and focus. I guess the question to ask yourself is this - just how bad do you want it?
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home