Happy New You: Goal Getting Fun by Shelley Stockwell-Nickolas, PhD
Happy New You: Goal Getting Fun
by Shelley Stockwell-Nickolas, PhD
You know you’re on track with your true self when thinking about a goal makes you smile. So how do you keep that smile on your face and make it happen? Here are my three steps to keep you in step with your smile:
Name it!
Claim it!
Sustain it!
NAME IT! What do you want to happen? A hole in one! Hitting the target! Success! More love! More money? Place your right hand on your heart and think about what you want. Imagine and feel the warm glow of enthusiasm emanating from the center of your chest. Now, wrap a sense of gratitude around it and notice the wonderful feeling inside of you. You know you’re ready and willing to make your dream real!
Once you have what you want in mind, regularly think about it. Make it a mantra. Chant it and you will stay enchanted. Upon awakening or when walking the dog, or when going to work… the more you think about your goal the more you stay the course and go in that direction.
As your thoughts hone in on what you want, think about the steps you will take to create it. Tell yourself specifically when you will take those steps. (Now is a good time.) If possible, find others who positively associate with your goal. (Don’t share it with naysayers and stay away from nasty news). Have a chat with a supportive friend or get to know or observe someone who makes similar things happen.
Even a conversation with your manicurist, barber or hairdresser can bring you life-changing insight. So can reading a relevant self-help book or taking a related on-line class.
All the while, think and imagine the outcome you want. I think of goal-seeking as a wonderful pro-active daily exercise where I take in a nice full breath of refreshing possibility. The beauty of fixating on what you want is that the more you think about it, the more you notice opportunities as they show up… DO THIS! Look at yourself in the mirror and praise yourself for following your dream.
CLAIM IT! What you say to yourself or others has a big impact on your outcome. To claim your goal, mark words you use in self-talk. Vividly bring to mind what you want as a done deal and tell yourself about it.
What will you think having made your goal real?
How will you feel and act having claimed your goal as a done deal?
Just thinking this way helps you feel great here and now. Your nervous system, the inner you, embraces such upliftment and sends a cascade or happy hormones through you. Your Higher True Self takes over to make it so. So talk to yourself in ways that embrace the rewards of having achieved your dream.
You can broadcast your goal to the world as well. Tell others what you’re going for. Kissing the Blarney Stone in Ireland is said to grant you the gift of gab. If you can’t make it to Ireland, a Toastmasters club could do the trick. There are Toastmaster clubs worldwide and they encourage you to share your vision and dream. When you do, you imbue yourself with confidence. And, if your goal is to be a better speaker, you get a double reward.
DO THIS! Create a symbol that represents making it happen. I like the Nike symbol… “Just Do It!”
SUSTAIN IT! You're a creature of habit. Once you reach a goal enjoy the ride. There will be more happy goals ahead… Yes, you can look back, but why bother, it’s difficult to drive the car if you look in the rear view mirror all the time.
Local Personality, Shelley Stockwell-Nicholas, PhD is a hypnotherapist, mindfulness and NLP trainer, artist and the author of 25 books. She certifies practitioners through the International Hypnosis Federation. You can call her at 310 541-4844.