As children, we had big dreams. When someone asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up, we would say: an astronaut. A movie star. A professional athlete.
The sky was the limit.
But as we got older, things changed. Maybe a parent or teacher told us we had to be practical and find a “real” way to make a living. Or maybe our own disappointments and failures caused us to narrow our horizons and accept this notion that we must settle for less when it comes to reaching our goals.
Either way, it’s time to change this limited thinking.
Picture your dream career. Go big here. Don’t worry if it seems impractical, silly, or even impossible. After all, these are just stories in your mind. Also, make sure it’s something you want—not something you feel pressured to do to gain approval from others.
Now, on a piece of paper, write down all the reasons you can’t have it: the economy, too much competition, you don’t have the right connections, you’re not talented enough, etc.
As you reflect on these reasons, you need to view them for what they really are: excuses.
Right now, you might be protesting: “But it’s not my fault! These are things that I have no control over!”
But notice what’s taking place here. When you categorize the items in this list as things which you have “no control over,” you’re giving up your power to the external world. Therefore, by allowing yourself to become a victim of circumstance, you’re creating this situation of lack.
This is not to say that you should punish yourself. After all, many of these beliefs operate on a subconscious level.
What you should do, though, is accept responsibility for whatever reasons are holding you back from accomplishing your dreams.
Accepting responsibility is an important first step in turning the tide. You see, once you discover that you created all the things you don’t want in your life, you’ll discover that you can also create all the things that you do want.
By doing this exercise, you may also discover that you’ve been harboring some resistance to achieving your goal. Maybe you resist dreaming big because you’re afraid you’ll be disappointed if you come up short. Or maybe you feel that you’re not prepared to handle a big change in your life.
Fear of disappointment and fear of change are what keep many of us from seeking out bigger and better things for ourselves. We remain chained to the familiar, settling for mediocrity because it feels comfortable.
Once you discover the ways in which you’ve been sabotaging your success, you’ll be able to turn off the autopilot and take control of your destiny.
Many motivational programs miss this important first step. They talk about goal-setting and positive affirmations, which are all well and good, but you can’t drive down the road to success before you clear away all the subconscious debris that’s blocking your path.
Next, it’s time to write down your goal statement. Write it in the present tense and in such a way that facilitates your letting go. Your goal should be specific yet concise.
Here’s another thing. Releasing your blockages and bringing your goals to fruition is like developing a muscle. It’s not exactly “difficult” in the way we normally think of the word, but it does take time and patience. When you’re training for a marathon, you don’t run the full 26 miles on the first day, right?
The same goes for goal setting. If you dream of becoming the CEO of a Fortune 500 company but you’ve never held a management position, you’ll have a hard time wrapping your head around this goal. This is not to say that you can’t achieve this goal—you’ll simply have difficulty overcoming all the internal doubts standing in your way.
So start with a goal that feels satisfying yet realistic and achievable.
An example would be, “I allow myself to have and enjoy the best job for me at this time in my life.”
Once you’ve achieved this goal and discovered the power within you, you can start aiming for bigger and bigger goals.
As Lester Levenson once said, the same rules apply whether you’re manifesting a penny or a billion dollars.
The only difference is your confidence in your abilities to stop creating the things that cause you despair and to start creating the things that bring you joy and abundance.
If you’d like to exponentially increase the rate at which you achieve your goals, the best way is to surround yourself with like-minded people who are also committed to realizing their biggest, boldest dreams. That’s why you should join us at the 7-Day Success and Life Balance Retreat from Dec. 26-January 1.
Become the MASTER of your life and watch all your wildest dreams unfold before your eyes.
