| My goal in life is to have no goals. They get in the | | | | fit, healthy, etc." What seems like a small |
| way of true progress.Plenty of successful people | | | | semantic difference is a huge shift in our |
| swear by goal setting. They're praising the wrong | | | | brains.The latest brain studies suggest that the |
| behavior. Brain research tells us that the goals | | | | most effective way to change our beliefs is to |
| don't matter--it's the intention that gets us where | | | | create a mental story of success. We need to |
| we want to go.Intentions and goals are not the | | | | picture ourselves as we want to be, and we need |
| same. Goals tend to be arbitrary and | | | | to talk about it. Here's the basic formula: See it, |
| number-oriented, such as the number of pounds | | | | say it, hear it.Our unconscious brain sees |
| lost, amount of money earned, number of hours | | | | everything in pictures. It does not filter images |
| spent in the gym, number of new clients | | | | based on what our conscious mind considers true, |
| introduced or new products developed. Intentions | | | | likely or possible. It literally does not distinguish |
| are big-picture statements about what fulfills you. | | | | between reality and fantasy. Think of the |
| It's a little harder to measure an intention, but the | | | | nonsensical dreams you've had!Language is most |
| results are more meaningful.Let's say you want to | | | | fully processed in the brain when there is a |
| lose 20 pounds. How will you feel when you do | | | | visualized image to go along with it. These images |
| that? What will your life be like if you are 20 | | | | and words become linked to create our "truth"-- |
| pounds lighter? Establishing an intention requires | | | | at least, according to our brains. And that's where |
| recognizing what will satisfy you.You want to lose | | | | it matters most.Say it out loud, and you're |
| weight so that you will feel healthy, strong, fit, | | | | engaging your aural learning skills as well.By |
| confident, attractive, and sexy. The number on | | | | intentionally creating new images through |
| the scale isn't what matters most--it's how you | | | | visualization, we literally create our own version of |
| feel each day.Here's a weight loss goal: I will lose | | | | reality, and as you've probably learned by now, |
| 20 pounds in five months.Here's an intention: I feel | | | | we tend to live in whatever reality we construct. |
| strong, healthy, fit, confident, attractive and | | | | Our potential is limited only by the mental images |
| sexy.The problem with typical goals is that we | | | | we choose to develop and store. It's that |
| tend to get bogged down by our "even though" | | | | simple--and that profound.Stop setting goals, and |
| statements. We tell ourselves that we are going | | | | start creating intentions. The secret is to include |
| to lose 20 pounds EVEN THOUGH we failed last | | | | ALL of these steps:SEE yourself in the |
| time, EVEN THOUGH we question our ability to do | | | | circumstances you desire. Picture it perfectly.Craft |
| so, EVEN THOUGH we don't think we'll be able to | | | | a one-paragraph story that you would like to be |
| maintain it. Our minds go directly to the negative | | | | true, and SAY it in present tense, as though you |
| images and we sabotage our efforts before we | | | | are describing your life right now.Repeat, repeat, |
| even begin!Here's a thought: Why not create an | | | | repeat. Demand to HEAR that same story every |
| intention that will get your brain to work for you | | | | night before you go to sleep.What's your |
| instead of against you?Intentions allow us to | | | | intention? Focus on feelings, not numbers. Picture |
| picture ourselves--and how we'll feel--when we | | | | it, and write it down. Repeat it to yourself until it |
| are successful. There's no room for failure in the | | | | becomes familiar and beloved--complete with |
| picture. We focus on the positive and powerful | | | | favorite parts, great pictures, and a happy |
| feelings we'll have.Intentions are always stated in | | | | ending.Stop pushing toward goals and start being |
| present tense, as though you are already where | | | | pulled by your intentions. Let your brain go to |
| you want to be. Instead of saying, "I will be | | | | work for you.See it, say it, hear it. You'll never |
| strong, fit, healthy, etc.", you say, "I feel strong, | | | | need another goal! |