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Achieve Your Goals by Starting with Your Feelings

This is the time of year everyone is talking about New Year's Resolutions and setting goals. I used to think that the "resolutions" themselves were actually the goals. Turns out I had it all wrong...

“Goals” are more like “stepping stones” that will bring you closer to the kind of life you want to live; what you’ve always dreamed your life would be like. It's what pulls you through when things get challenging and you feel like giving up. Having a great life is all about goals: big goals, small goals. Together, they assemble your life from dream to reality.

I've also recently discovered that goals are so much more than “physical” or material achievement. I've met many people whose amazing accomplishments have left them feeling spiritually unfulfilled, emotionally ill, physically broken, and deeply unhappy.

So aside from getting a raise or promotion, losing weight, meeting the love of your life; whatever your goals may be - what emotions do you want to experience by achieve those goals? Do you want to feel “sexy” again? Do you want to feel "strong" and “in control” of your life? Try to achieve those “emotions”, and the “physical” manifestation will follow.

Let's say you have a goal of losing 20 pounds. When you focus on how reaching that goal will make you feel, you won’t get stuck beating yourself up over the last few pounds if you are already feeling fabulous. And, that freedom from self-abuse will be what "pulls" you toward the completion of your goal - effortlessly.

It’s what some people call it the “Big Why”.

Why do you want to achieve your goal? Dig deeper than your initial answer. Your initial response to wanting to lose 20 pounds may be to look good in your clothes. Don’t stop there… Why do you want to look good in your clothes? Your next response may be that you want to feel confident about yourself. Well, then.... keep going - Why is that self-confidence so important? (See where I’m going with this?)

Perhaps that self-confidence is important to you because you will then feel empowered to do more of the things that you wanted to do and live your life to its fullest potential! This is the BIG reason!

Feelings like this will pull you forward when you feel unmotivated. They will be what gets you back on track when you fall off the wagon.

So, get in touch with your feelings (your REAL feelings); the root feelings of why you desire reaching any particular goal. Then make note of them whenever you write down your goals.

On a side note: make sure they are stated in the positive. Since the subconscious mind does not filter the “negative” – if you say, “I don’t want to feel tired” your subconscious mind only focuses on “tired” – and you will stay being tired.

Instead, say “I want to feel energetic and productive,” then your subconscious mind will actively work toward finding to achieve a more energetic life!

Your "do it now" action item: 
Make some time this evening to journal about what feelings and emotions you want to have through achieving your goals in 2014. Create a “Big Why” statement and remember to "go deep." Ask "why" you want to achieve a goal at least three to five times to get to the real "core" of your motivation. Then, keep this list handy to review and recharge whenever your feel stuck or fall off the wagon.

I would love to hear what you come up with. So feel free to leave a comment below.

As always - Enjoy Your Life

John Aaron Villarreal


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