Working to Visualise Your Life Goal
15 July, 2008 - General Business, Motivation - 9 Comments
Photo by Michael Dawes
Goals. So important in life. Without them, our life is without direction. Without purpose.
They are a powerful motivator. They’re there to keep us focused. To help us believe and achieve.
But what happens when your goal never seems real? What happens when you’re unable to effectively visualise your goal? What happens when your goal, no matter how dedicated and passionate you are about it, no longer sends you the energy you need?
My Life Long Battle
I have many dreams. Many goals. Many aspirations. But my ability to achieve them is hindered in my lack of ability to visualise them.
My next major goal in life is to take a year out and travel around Australia. I have my travel visa. I have the financial means. I have the freedom. And I have a passion for travel that sends shakes down my spine each time I talk about it.
But I don’t have a sense of reality.
Until I walk through the airport security check point, leaving behind all family, friends and my business, my goal of travelling in Australia for 12 months will never feel real. And so, I’ll spend countless hours searching Expedia, watching videos, viewing photos, watching TV travel programs and reading blogs of those people living my dream, until I eventually find the energy being sent from my goal to help me complete the necessary tasks to get me there. But it’ll be gone by tomorrow, and once again I’ll have to spend the day repeating the search for that vivid image and the energy it brings with it.
I can’t jump on a plane tomorrow. I have clients to complete work for before I leave. That is, in fact, the only thing stopping me from jumping on a plane tomorrow. Five pieces of work for five customers.
My inability to see my goal. My inability to see myself sat on a Gold Coast beach at sunset prevents me from simply getting the work completed. I get distracted. I get overwhelmed with the passion for my goal. And as such, I get no further to achieving that goal.
I’m feeling the need for smaller goals to bring about focus. To set goals just a few days ahead.
“Finish John’s Web site by Thursday.”
“Finish Katie’s search engine optimisation work by Monday”.
Life goals are fantastic, but it is often very difficult to picture yourself in your dream. You can believe in your ability to achieve it. You can be passionate about it. But painting the picture of you on the beach at sunset is far more difficult than you may imagine.
Focus on smaller goals with smaller time frames, and you will ultimately reach your destination of dream.
Do you find yourself struggling to complete a task, even though you know that is the only way you can achieve your goal? How do you make sure you achieve your goals? How do you keep focus? Share your story in the comments.
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Posted on 15 July, 2008 by Jamie Harrop
Filed Under General Business, Motivation |
9 Comments»
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I think it’s great to have those smaller goals to keep you on track to your greater/bigger goal. It’s a way to know your on the right path and making progress.
Erik Kareys last blog post..Overcome Project Fear, Start Your Project Today!
Hey Erik,
It’s fantastic to see a comment from you. I was just thinking about you over the weekend. I can’t believe your last comment was way back in November.
I hope you’re good and life is treating you well.
You’re so right. Smaller goals certainly keep you on the right path.
I definitely struggle with seeing the small picture, a weakness which I really need to overcome. Too often I look at the big projects or goals I have and am totally lost at where to dig in and get started just because I feel like I need to get everything done at once. Of course that’s impossible, and I sometimes end up doing nothing at all just because I don’t know where to start.
Sounds like you’re talking about the same kind of things. Breaking things down into manageable pieces is crucial.
Michael Henrecksons last blog post..Solve PC Problems and Lots of Others By Making a Fresh Start
Hey Michael,
That is exactly what I’m talking about.
I totally understand the “need to get everything done at once” problem. Eventually though, you just have to step back and focus on one thing at a time.
Thanks for the comment!
Hi Jamie,
I think you’re spot on when you say that the only way to focus in on a life goal is to break it down into “mini goals”.
All-encompassing life goals e.g. to set up a business; to win a gold medal at the Olympics; to be happy in life cover a wide range of sub-goals are what inspire us.
However, these mega goals are far too general to actually make them achievable.
The danger is that, by concentrating on the big picture, we totally lose focus on the stepping stones that will get us to the final destination.
It is much easier to achieve a life goal by consciously and deliberately working out the stages needed to get there.
For example, to win a gold medal at the Olympics could involve such sub-goals as: choosing a sport you like, are good at, or want to be good at (unless you have already done so); training regularly and eating healthily (also able to be broken down); entering local competitions, then national, then international… You get the picture
By doing this, we begin to believe that each sub-goal is within our grasp. The sub-goals become instantly more achievable because we can hone in on exactly what needs done.
And believing we can achieve a goal is a large part of actually doing it.
Wow. Longest comment in history, Scott?
What a fantastic and thoughtful comment.
“By doing this, we begin to believe that each sub-goal is within our grasp. The sub-goals become instantly more achievable because we can hone in on exactly what needs done.”
So, so true.
Thanks for the excellent comment, Scott.
Hi Jamie - like you, I like to try to visualise things in advance. And like you, I sometimes struggle to visualise myself in these situations.
Sterling at bizlift.com did a great post a while back which might help. It involved photoshopping images and putting yourself in them. Once you’ve done that - it might be easier to visualize yourself on one of those lovely beaches.
The title of the post was: Walking on Water Miracle Revealed. You Won’t Believe Your Eyes.
Hey Cath,
I just read that post by Sterling. It was really good. Thanks for the heads up.
Hope your day is going well!
Jamie, can I say with the purest intentions…
“Relax mate. Chill out.”
You’ll be in Australia before you know it. Make time to enjoy the present.
Kelly
PS. Where do you fly into?
Kelly@SHE-POWERs last blog post..SHE-POWER Women: Vered from MomGrind