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