Have you written them down?

About 12 years ago, Dr Chris Baker and her husband were stranded in Seattle. With a view of Mt. Ranier from their hotel room, they decided to use the day to write down their future goals. The results would change their lives.   (Photo by Dave Menke. Wikimedia Commons image)

One of America's greatest business philosophers was Jim Rohn. His "7 Strategies for Wealth & Happiness" gives excellent goal-setting guidance. 

A change in flight scheduling caused Dr Chris and her husband Claude to be "stranded in Seattle" for an extra day after a CE course. The extra day spent in that city would change their lives. 

One morning about 12 years ago, Claude and I found ourselves in a small hotel, our window overlooking Mt. Rainier in Seattle.  

We had missed a flight after a CE course, and while we needed to get home to patients and family, there was no way to do that.  The Universe had other plans.  

There we were with a gorgeous view of the snow-capped mountain, a couple of juicy delicious peaches and some cheese we had bought at Pike Place Market, sitting at our little desk-repurposed table.  

Many mentors and leaders in personal development talk about writing your goals down.  They say it's an important exercise. 

So, we wrote out our goals for the immediate future, and for one year, five years, 10 years and 20 years into the future. We wrote goals in categories; health, our relationship, each child, personal achievements, career and business, wealth, playtime, hobbies, adventure and travel, contribution and spirituality.  Each one was stated as our desired goal, “or better," because the Universe has a way of making it better.

Was it our view?  The breezy perfect air on our walks about the hotel?  The interaction together?  The goals themselves?  

Or was it the mystical energy we garnered in the experience and actions of all of that?  No matter.  We found ourselves more than excited, full of energy and expectation, and EVER SO GRATEFUL for the extra day we were “forced” to spend in Seattle.  It is the stuff of all our dreams. 

Then we wrote actions, daily disciplines toward each and every goal to get us going.

You know what?  Those goals have almost all been met. They have come to pass or surpass!  And we write new goals VERY frequently.  And begin actions toward them. 

Writing goals down does the following things:
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1. You define your goals.  You know your target.  (Can’t hit a target if you have no idea where it is.)   What would your goal be if you KNEW you could not fail?
2. You get excited about your goals.  The feeling is amazing!
3.  Your goals become approachable — and reachable.

Approachable means you start to crystallize what steps you can take to move toward the goals.  You now have defined not only the end-point goal, but the steps you can begin to take.  
​Don’t worry and fret over the actions. Just begin. You can do course correction. It’s like a GPS “recalculating”.  

This week - perhaps today - you can write ‘em down!  Write rapidly.  Again, don’t fret - just write.  Keep it simple - no excess words - just the endpoint: “dream house. pool. Virginia.”  Be a kid - no limits!  Make it fun.  

You’re on your way.

Love,