June 8th 2015  WonderFull Living Newsletter

6 Tips for achieving goals (in winter).

Hi Everyone, welcome to the beginning of winter and a very warm welcome to our new members. In Leura we certainly felt the change, fortunately for us we are making our way back to Townsville as I write this. But as winter is often a time of withdrawal, I thought it would be a good time to talk about internal effort. In order to create continuous success in our outer manifestation called life, we must consistently work inside to create a healthy and uplifting inner environment. Often in the winter months life slows down but it rarely stops, yet it’s a time we can easily become careless with our inner work as we become slack with our own self commitment. So imagine your inner environment to be a fertile garden bed that needs a bit of preparation to get it ready for the spring planting. To guarantee healthy and abundant flowers or vegetables, it pays to put in some effort to get the soil right. When setting any goals, it’s equally important to take time and plan our actions if we want to achieve our outcome and not get blocked by procrastination (or the winter blues).

Using just one of our many inner strengths, our ‘Power to Withdraw’ is quite appropriate to strengthen at this time, as it gives us an opportunity to reflect on our current situation in life and where we may need to make some necessary changes to continue moving forward. Silence and Detachment – two powerful virtues (or inner strengths) are also necessary and empower us to strengthen our inner gifts (I explain many powers in more detail in my book Will to Wonder). The reason why I mention this particular Power is because it helps us to step back from our external environment and situations and step back from our own thoughts and emotions, to observe what’s really going on. It helps us get clear on things that are holding us back (attitudes and beliefs that are no longer ‘working’ for us) and it helps us work out what to do next. This Power can help us to stop, breathe and still keep moving forward. Stepping back and becoming the observer allows us to become more present and aware in our life as we begin to notice thoughts, emotions and behaviours that are non-serving and need to be left behind. Maybe we notice that we start things but don’t finish them, or maybe we become aware that we simply don’t start. Perhaps we notice that we always seem to find ‘reasons’ (excuses) why not to do something. Or maybe we recognise that we allow ourselves to get caught up in other people’s dramas. Maybe we notice we are easily overwhelmed or stressed or anxious or depressed, or get drawn into self pity or self sabotage or blame!… This inner strength is well worth getting familiar with in a season where many things turn inward. It has nothing to do with cutting myself off but everything to do with learning to step back and observe before taking action or before reacting.

This amazing strength can also help us set short term goals to help us change any area in our life that may not be functioning as well as we would like.  I mention short term because studies show that human beings function more efficiently and productively when there isn’t a long wait for getting results. In fact, they show that people thrive when able to prove to themselves that they CAN achieve (not for other people’s approval but for their own purpose). So to help you along, I have shared just 6 tips that help me achieve my goals each time (especially in winter). You don’t need any money to get started, just a bit of imagination and creativity (these resources you already have within) so exercise them daily to strengthen them.

1. Set goals – you can start with small daily ones then build up to weekly, monthly, working towards longterm goals (if you wish) but have an aim or purpose each day to keep you motivated and life interesting.

2. Create an Action Plan (if you write a daily ‘to do’ lists, you are already an action planner, now simply make it more structured).

3. Take action! Break your plan down into weekly and daily, doable steps. DO something towards your goal each single day (no matter how small) because it activates the energy that motivates you on your mission. ie. a phone call or 10 minutes of research = ‘something’. Of course, the more the better but if that’s all you can realistically do, then you can ‘tick off’ your action for today.

4. Pay close attention to what kind of thoughts you are creating. Catch the negative ones and toss them out (our Power to Pack Up / Let Go is also useful here). Let the positive ones filter through and convert them into positive action.

5. Pay close attention to your language (same drill as your thoughts). Only use inner and outer language that motivate and inspire you.

6. Breathe and regularly ‘withdraw’  throughout your day, to observe, to recharge and to ‘check and change’ yourself.

Question: Do I have an aim (purpose) each day, upon waking?… If not, why not?

Consideration: What stops me from creating an aim for myself each day (not to be mistaken with ‘achieving’ for others) but something just for me?…

Activity to try: Check your thoughts before you go to sleep!… Reflecting on your day before retiring (reviewing) is a simple and very effective exercise. It prevents you from going to sleep in a stressed or regretful state. In your mind, tick off what you are happy with. Review (briefly) the things you’re not happy with, review it, then let them go – it’s wasteful to hang onto them.  Never go to sleep wishing you had or hadn’t done something. The day is finished, you can’t change it so let it go and plan to create a new and powerful day for tomorrow.

I trust this will be of some help for you, to keep you motivated and on track…

Let me finish with this relevant quote from W H Murray –

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”

Happy June, love Annemarie

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