We start strong in our goals and then we get into them a few weeks, even just a few days, and we start to lose the momentum and drive that is takes to achieve our goals. The effort starts to feel heavy and we get frustrated and feel like quitting. Does this sound like you?
If you are feeling like this or if you are one of those who have had a hard time sticking to you new ideas and a new achievement, completing it and seeing it come to fruition, this could make all the difference in the world to you and your success! Are you having the success you want in achieving your goals? What would you think if we told you there is “The Simple Step That’s Missing to Achieve Your Goals?” Would you want to know what that simple step is?
We have been taught by the best, even from people like Zig Ziglar about setting and achieving our goals. For years we have heard the 7 steps process or similar programs. We know that in goal setting we need to go through a process to determine our goal. I personally think there are way more than 7 steps or perhaps things that we should do to create the success we want.
Here are some things that I feel are important when setting our goals and achieving them:
We have even been given information on how to have our goal setting done with the S.M.A.R.T Goal setting plan. This plan assists you to find your Why. Why do you want it? What will your life be like if you achieve it? How long will it take you to reach your goal and so on. This is a great way to create it to be specific and measurable while finding it to be attainable and actionable.
While I know all of these are great ways to achieve your goals and they are huge in assisting us to set the goals that we want in our life, there is “The Simple Step That’s Missing to Achieve Your Goals”. That key piece is called Emotional Intensity.
For years we here at All Things Possible have been teaching clients and teaching at conferences about the Emotional Spiral. In the emotional spiral, we can see how our positive and negative emotions can begin to spiral into our highest highs or our lowest lows.
As we have emotions show up, and we all have them and they will all surface at one time or another, we must choose to decide how we want to respond to that emotion. We have to choose how we feel it and how long we want to hold onto it.
That sounds pretty cold and callused, but it is true. We choose how long we feel our emotions and how they control our lives.
To be more successful in your goal achievement and to add the missing step, we have designed a diagram of this emotional spiral, turning it sideways and adding a few little parts to give you an idea that you can wrap your mind around.
Imagine this emotional spiral as your goal achieving vehicle. Turn the spiral sideways and then add a steering wheel to the top and a gas and brake pedal to the bottom. (See the picture below.)
The first thing you need to decide when driving a car is where you want to go, then, you turn the steering wheel in that direction.
When driving your ‘Goal Car”, your direction is determined by your goals, plus your thoughts, plus your words.
Now back to driving an automobile, your velocity is determined by the amount of pressure applied to the accelerator pedal. While brakes are essential on your automobile, they just slow you down, or even stop you, when driving your ‘Goal Car.’
Yet, oftentimes, we spend more time with our foot on the brake, when trying to get our goals. Of course we don’t do this on purpose. Most people are not even aware that they are ‘riding the brakes.’
Here is how we ‘ride the brakes.’ Let’s say I have a goal to earn an extra $5,000 this month. Now, let’s make sure I am following all the steps to get my goal.
When we feel these negative emotions, it is like taking your foot off the gas and putting it on the brake. When driving your automobile, it doesn’t matter where you turn the steering wheel, if you are standing on the brake, your car isn’t going anywhere. There is also a lot of difference between lightly resting your foot on the pedal, and mashing it to the floor.
Emotional intensity equals pressure on the pedal. When you feel negative emotions, it’s like putting your foot on the brake. The intensity of your negative feelings determines how hard you step on the brakes of your ‘Goal Car.’ Let’s face it, most of the time, when we are feeling negative emotions, we don’t just feel them lightly, but quite intensely. Are you starting to realize how often we go through life with our foot on the brakes?
Now, we get to the point in our goal achieving quest, that we keep our ‘foot off the brake,’ how much pressure are we actually applying to the gas pedal?
It’s one thing to be positive, but how do we add intensity to our positivity? Well, I’m glad you asked; I am going suggest two tools, Imagination and Visualization.
Spend some time daydreaming. Use your imagination. Daydream about what it will be like, when you have achieved your goal. Stick with that daydream until you can actually feel those emotions while you are daydreaming, now, keep at it until you feel those emotions strongly.
Visualize what it will look like, when you have achieved your goal. See yourself with enough money to pay all your bills and still have plenty left over to buy something just because you feel like it. See yourself spending more quality time with your loved ones. See yourself on an exotic vacation with your family. Add details to your visualization. See your dreams in vivid colors. Imagine smelling the aromas, tasting the flavors, hearing the music, and touching the textures. Make it as real as if it has already happened. Invest so much time with your imagination and visualization that you already feel like you have succeeded.
Congratulations, you have just applied some serious pressure to the gas pedal of your ‘Goal Car.’ Unfortunately, I have some bad news for you, your ‘Goal Car,’ does not come equipped with cruise control, so if you want to get to your destination, it will be necessary that you apply constant pressure to the positive pedal. Consistency is the key to success. Make it part of your daily routine to spend time each day with a liberal dose of imagination and visualization. It’s all about Emotional Intensity, Baby! Just be conscious of your emotions and make sure they are positive emotions.
It may be possible to get to your destination in your automobile, by putting your foot on the gas half of the time and putting it on the brake half of the time, it will just take you twice as long to get there!
Watch our episode today,” Are You in the Driver’s Seat with Your Goals?” In this video we talk about this process in detail and give you three stories and examples of how this has worked in our lives and in the life of our client. When you work to achieve your goals the same way that you drive your car, (no road rage allowed here) you will find, it is so much easier to achieve your goals. Use this powerful piece to gain valuable speed and success in achieving your goals!