Achieving Your Goals by Lorraine Murray

Often, we have an idea or a goal we wish to achieve yet it remains elusive – whether it is losing weight, getting a new job, winning a contract or having enough time or money. Achieving these goals can seem an overwhelming task, but remember: the journey of a thousand miles starts with one step. Try these top tips for a goal you wish to achieve and you may just be surprised with the results.

1. Write it down!

You may have an idea or goal you want to achieve, but it just seems to circulate around your head with your thoughts taunting you. Although it might not sound logical, just writing down one sentence that describes your goal helps you to achieve it. It will help to visually store it in your brain, articulate clearly to yourself about what the goal actually is, and put your intention and energy into what you want to achieve.

2. Speak in the present tense

It may be that your goal statement is something like this: “I want to have a new car.” The statement is really focusing on the want rather than the goal you want to achieve. You don’t achieve your goal as you get what you ask for, that is, ‘wanting’. So, try to write down your goal in the present sense: “I am receiving a new car.” This brings you and your goal into the present and acknowledges that you are ‘receiving’ rather than ‘wanting’.

3. Clear, short and timely

Do not ramble on about the goal in your first sentence. Start off with one sentence that states your intention, then acknowledge the qualities that this goal should have. For example, if we take the idea of winning a contract, it could be: “I am receiving a contract that has the following qualities: excellent remuneration, reasonable working hours, friendly and professional employees to work with, within the next six months.”

4. All for the best

When setting a goal, it is also good to acknowledge that you will receive what is right for you. So, your statement can include the words “this, or something better that I am not yet aware of”. This allows you to receive exactly what is right for your own needs.

5. Visualisation

These techniques have been used by athletes and successful business people for years – the power of the mind is well documented and achieving your goal becomes within your reach if you allow yourself to visualise achieving it. If it is a new office/house, you could visualise the front door, receiving the keys, walking into the premises and how each room would look. Affirmations are effective, too, such as “I am successful in business” or whatever supports your goal. These should be repeated – out loud or mentally – to yourself at least 50 times a day (you can do it while you are travelling/getting ready for work or doing any other day-to-day activity).

Lorraine Murray runs Feel Good Therapies Ltd, which offers courses and workshops in visualisation, meditation and complementary therapies, and CDs for beginners in visualisation/meditation.