I recently had the wonderful opportunity to have a conversation with Stephen Shapiro, TV and radio show host, speaker and writer. He is the author of GOAL FREE LIVING, which is a very refreshing approach to goal achievement. I enjoyed reading his book and although the subject matter is anything but new, I still found it to be interesting and enlightening. So besides having a catchy title, being a coach myself made this particular topic even more provocative and compelling. After all, so much of the work that I do with people usually focuses around their goals and how they can achieve them. So, how can we obtain what we desire in a manner that supports us? How can we proceed to achieve our goals and still be happy in the process?
The following concepts are a basic overview of our conversation, which are combined with my own thoughts on the subject:
Looking at first things first; do you even truly know what your goals are? We think we know, but is it really our goal or someone else’s? Because the reality is that many people are not really following their true desires, but rather what they think is expected of them. The other thing to keep in mind is how can you know for sure that you really want a particular goal anyway, when you have never experienced it? Sounds like a conundrum? Well the good news is that there’s lots of hope here, but it has to do with your approach.
Going after your goals and achieving success really comes down to creating success your way by using your own definition, and crafting it as you go along in your journey. Your unique circumstances and personality will define your personal success story. To proceed you can start with an overall plan for your goals, but this is really only part of the picture. What’s really important to consider is how you view your goals and the spirit in which you pursue them. After all, getting too caught up in the end results can produce unhappiness and stress.
The remedy for this challenge lies in the proper balance between keeping your eye on the goal, while also being open to the unexpected opportunities that might come your way. This gives you the chance to enjoy the process of goal achievement, rather than being overly consumed by the chase. For in fact, it’s those unexpected opportunities that can be most fruitful. Rather than holding on too tightly to future outcomes that can be somewhat unpredictable, you can allow yourself to enjoy the circumstances that present themselves today. By allowing for uncertainty, you have the chance to let your goals evolve and change over time as you come to experience them, and you will in turn learn more about yourself in the process. By loosening up your approach and having a more relaxed attitude, the goals will be easier to achieve because you’ll be coming from a more positive place. With this positive feeling, based on the law of attraction, you will come to attract better outcomes. The by-product of this mindset is greater freedom, ease and harmony in your life, which ultimately equates to success.
So, thanks to Stephen, we can adopt a more user- friendly style that will create less stress in our lives and more happiness for us today….and tomorrow. Now doesn’t that sound like a great idea?
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