So exactly how am I supposed to do that? It's a question we all seem to ask from time to time. You know pretty much what you want. But the route to get there is not at all clear. You feel stuck.
Perhaps your quest is for improved health, greater peace of mind, increased prosperity, or enhanced personal relationships. Well, breathe easy. There is certainly a way to direct your energy and intention in a focused way to propel you toward your intended result.
Here are 5 solid tips to get you past the dreaded "How-To Blues."
1. Picture your goal as accomplished. Re-run that joyous picture in your mind over and over, day after day. Yeah, you knew that already, but you may not be doing it.
Here's the "why." You need to absolutely believe beyond the shadow of a doubt that your intended result is possible. Once you "know" that it can be done, that you really are deserving of the life you desire, then your subconscious mind will get busy figuring out how to make it happen.
If you are stuck in the place where you're not sure that what you want is possible, you'll just keep spinning your wheels in that rut instead of moving forward.
2. Run the movie backwards. Once you get a clear picture as your intended result as achieved, then play the mental movie backwards. In other words, place your mind and your intention in the experience of having accomplished exactly what you set out to do. Then go backwards step-by-step to reveal the incremental processes that surely must have occurred in order to get you there.
Here's why. When you put your mind in "today's reality" and look forward toward the accomplishment of a big goal, you'll tend to see obstacles. Those obstacles can be discouraging. You might even give up.
On the other hand, when you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that your intended result is reachable and go backwards from that reality, you'll see solutions instead. It's much more empowering!
3. Study the situation carefully. You know the saying "the devil is in the details?" You can be doing 80% of the right stuff to reach your intended goal. And that remaining 20% can be the difference between success and failure. Don't make the mistake of thinking that your 80% effort should be enough.
Assuming an attitude of "it can be done," examine your situation very, very carefully. Look for small details you may not have noticed before. Then, one tweak at a time, perfect your strategy.
Here's a real-life example. Some years ago, I was the instructor for a morning aerobics class at a suburban Detroit gym. Many of the attendees were moms who dropped the kids off for school and then came over for their "me" time. They were a fun group!
One day, one of the moms stopped up to see me at the end of the class. "I've been working out for weeks," she said, "and I still haven't lost any weight. I'm starting to get discouraged."
I waited as she thought a bit and then continued, "Every day after class, I stop over to the mall for some Mrs. Fields' cookies to reward myself for exercising. Do you think it could be the cookies?"
Ha ha! She solved her own problem, didn't she? The devil was in the details.
4. Sleep on it. Sometimes your conscious mind gets bogged down. You already know what you think. You keep running through the same worn-out ideas (that didn't work) over and over.
Relax. Now you have a new strategy.
Formulate a question, the answer to which will provide exactly the break-through you're looking for. Then do something else for a while. Take a shower, cut the grass, do the dishes, take a nap. Let your subconscious mind take over and "incubate" your best solution.
Expect a fresh, perhaps even weird, idea. You might even come up with an idea you'd already rejected. (See how smart you were?) Now try it.
5. Ask an expert. You're not expected to figure out absolutely everything by yourself, of course. Not that you couldn't if you really put your mind to it. But there are times when it just isn't the most practical route to go. Sometimes you need a new viewpoint or some specialized knowledge.
No problem. Work through your project to the point where you can clearly see where the missing piece lies. It's kind of like working a jigsaw puzzle. You eliminate a few things, work through as much as you can, and then clearly identify the step you'll need help with. Do the background work yourself so you know exactly what the missing piece looks like.
Then here's what you do:
* Formulate a specific and clear question.
* Figure out who might have the background to answer that question.
* Ask.
* If the first person you contact doesn't provide the insight you need, find someone else.
* Repeat as needed!
There you have it. A clear plan for getting yourself unstuck!
Wellness Coaching offers a great support structure for getting yourself from where you are now to your intended result. Groups begin September 15, January 15, and May 15. It's not too early to start thinking about your next project!
Elizabeth Eckert can help you explore how simple everyday choices create health — or undermine even the best of intentions. With a background that ranges from energy medicine to structural bodywork to developmental psychology, this "Stick-To-It Coach" has the experience to support you in creating the healthiest possible expression of — you!
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