Step 3 To Your Best Year Yet

Three weeks ago, we began the process of making 2009 your best year yet. If you are just joining us, you may find it useful to read two earlier posts where we introduced the Wheel of Life, and the role of imagination in creating significant improvement in your life experience. Last week, we built on the imagination theme, introducing the notion of inner visualization.

There are three elements to getting more of what you want out of life:

1. Know where you are going
2. Imagine getting there
3. Do the work necessary

Step One: Know where you are going

In the first post, we introduced the Wheel of Life as a way to help clarify your 2009 areas of focus. Simply stated, notice your relative satisfaction in each of the eight areas depicted in the Wheel. Then select two or three areas where improvement in 2009 would make a big difference to you.

Step Two: Imagine getting there

The role and power of imagination were briefly touched upon next. Imagination can be translated as "image in and act it out." If you can't imagine getting there, it's pretty difficult to muster the energy to even try.

Step Three: Do the Work Necessary

You knew there was a catch, right? Wouldn't it be great if all it took was having a goal and the ability to imagine getting there?

There are several tricky parts here and we are going to take the next couple of weeks to explore how you turn the goal and imagination into a satisfying reality.

The first trick is to select an area of focus and then create a realistic goal in that area. If you exaggerate the goal beyond the level where you can give yourself even half a chance, you are unlikely to follow through on the improvement.

Creating a "stretch" goal can be useful, but only so long as the goal bears some semblance to reality as you define it. If the goal is too small, why bother? If it is too big, why bother?

So, let's assume you have chosen a goal that is within the realm of imagination. How about one of those typical New Year's resolutions that come and go so quickly, something like getting in better physical shape by joining a health club.

So why do so many join, go a few times, and then fall to the wayside? The first answer is that your real goal is not about joining a club - it's about improving your level of health and fitness. There are lots of ways to get fit and improve your health. Joining a club may or may not be one of them for you.

Last week, we showed you a way to use your inner imagination to build stronger self images linked to the kind of success you might like. The power of the imagination doesn't have much to do with magic - "think and it will come to pass."

If you were to create a set of inner images of yourself already in good shape, enjoying the way you look and feel, perhaps "hearing" others comment on your improved state of health as well, you might find yourself beginning to lean more favorably toward what it takes to produce that state of improved health. If you were to imagine how good you feel after having exercised, you might find yourself moving more toward the exercise itself.

One of the tricks here is to persist in the imagination of a successful outcome, including how you would feel if you were successful, and then agreeing with yourself that you will not engage in the exercise unless some part of you really wants to - and then only so long as you really want to keep exercising.

Most people get hung up on perfection - perfection is pretty hard to attain the first day or two out. So, I prefer to suggest that people focus on the outcome and then doing something that is "directionally correct."

If you stay consistent with the inner images of a good outcome coupled with positive feelings about it, you may find yourself taking small steps in the direction of the outcome. If you haven't exercised in years, even 2 minutes is enough of a start in this way of thinking.

Give yourself the chance to feel good about yourself and the "direction" you are heading, rather than having to wait for the "perfection" of the outcome. This combination of imagination and micro steps can become increasingly inspiring as you begin to note choices you are making.

Now the next tricky part is to come up with a set of choices or activities you could choose that might help you get to your desired outcome. Notice I didn't say pick the one perfect choice or perfect plan. Just a set of possible choices.

So, your assignment for this week:

1. Choose an area from the "Wheel" that you would like to see improve next year
2. Imagine that the improvement has already taken place and create an inner "film" of your success
3. Create a list of activities that you could choose if you were so inclined, activities that would be "directionally correct" were you to enact them

For example:

1. If you chose something like becoming more physically fit in 2009, what would the outcome be when you are successful? Would you be able to run a mile in 12 minutes, swim 200 meters in the pool, increase your flexibility, or? Would you change your eating habits, avoid sugar, achieve a weight goal, or?
2. Next imagine yourself having achieved the goal and feeling great about it, with all the visual, verbal and emotional detail you can.
3. List some of the kinds of things you might do that would be on the way toward the outcome - again, just directionally correct, not perfectionally correct. Your list could include things like walk around the block, take a yoga class, pick a day and eat only vegetables and proteins, etc. Make a long list and include a range of choices. Keep in mind that you are not committing to these - they are just possible choices that are directionally correct.

Next week we will build on this, and show you a way to track your goals, your visualization or imagination and any steps you actually take toward the goal.

***

You can find out more about Russell Bishop at http://www.lessonsinthekeyoflife.com. Contact Russell at: [e-mail]
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The author of Lessons in the Key of Life, Russell is an Educational Psychologist, professional life coach and management consultant, based in Santa Barbara California.

Comments

[iPolitics]

good post

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

This is good stuff, Russell,

I love the idea of being "directionally correct". Very helpful, as most people tend to give up if their first step doesn't land on the goal. I always used to think I had one shot at getting to my goal and if I didn't succeed, that was it. I'd failed.

Now I see that it's all about taking those small steps, checking in to see what each step brings, what it opens us to. Using the imagination to visualize the end result as being already accomplished is critical, because at some level, it is. It's then just a matter of space and time to manifest at the physical.

I look forward to reading more from you on this. Thanks for your always great contributions.

Blessings your way,
Judith

[cayuse]

Great stuff. I saved your wheel of life. Planning and imagination works.

Affirmation are great too. Similarly to what you suggest for accomplishment, you can start thinking of feeling of JOY within and how it feels, first starting with yourself, then that which is around you, then the town, the state, the country, the world, the whole universe feeling joy, until you and the universe is joy itself.

[Russell Bishop - Huffpost Blogger]

Absolutely! If you want more peace in your life, how can you be more peaceful today, regardless oif circumstances surrounding you - Viktor Frankl was perhaps the best role model for this kind of thnking and being. And, if today I am more at peace, in joy, or otherwise loving, what experience am I bringing to the world?

Great insights Cayuse!

[nsoergel]

Step four: Create some extra time

You are clear about the goals and the steps required to achieve them. What you need next is the time do to all that stuff. This is about time management. A very effective way is to get up a little bit earlier every day and work 30-60 minutes on these tasks.

But you can also save a few minutes here and there over day to gain that extra time. The Time Management Master blog is a collection of more than 200 practical time saving tips at home, at work and on the go. It will help you to gain the extra hour every day you need to achieve your goals.

http://memytime.wordpress.com/

[Russell Bishop - Huffpost Blogger]

I couldn't agree more - creating time is an important element. One of the most important things a person can do is to assess where they are currenlty putting their and time and what outcome stems from that use of time. A simple exercise is to create a basic chart from, say 8 in the morning to six in the evening. Every 15 minutes during the day, write down what you are doing, or what you did during the previous 15 minute period. You might be surprised at how many different low value activities you chose each day.

If you are one who keeps a "to do" list, how about going over the list and making a note next to each item that indicates what value you expect to receive or create as a result of completing that item. Again, many will be surprised to see how much time goes into such small value work.

If you simply dropped the small value items, my experience suggests most people can generate as much as two hours a day in "found" time.

[lewes17266]

I will do this. I waste a lot of time.