Written by Steven Kay, Steven Kay Media LLC
Talk Show Host & Producer, Media Buyer & Consultant
There are many people who talk about how to achieve goals. The message is usually the same or similar, although each of them may have a somewhat original or tweaked technique, and their own unique story, the basic principles of achieving goals are always the same. You must have a clearly defined goal and be as precise as possible, you must write them down and review them regularly, you must have a plan that breaks down your long-term goals into short-term goals and then into tasks that are steps towards your vision, and finally you must believe in yourself and your vision and exercise that faith and perseverance so that no matter what gets in your way, you will ultimately make your dream a reality. Yes, we’ve all heard it time and time again.
So if we all know what it takes, why aren’t more of us living our dreams? If we all know the steps, why haven’t we already arrived to our destinations, or at least walking the path toward them every day?
The answer is both simple and frightening. Even though we believe we can and will, and we tell ourselves that we can and we will, we also believe and tell ourselves we cannot. For every thought of confidence and belief we have in ourselves and in our dreams and in our ability to achieve our goals, we have two or five or ten thoughts that we believe we cannot.
Sounds crazy? Absolutely! Here’s a little reality check. Think of one of your goals. Name it. Write it down. Be as specific as possible (if it’s money, then how much, if it’s weight loss, then how much, etc). Now look at it and ask yourself this one simple question… Why have you not achieved this goal already? Ask yourself that question, but then here’s the important part, write down the answers. I’m serious. Write down every reason that comes to mind.
Whatever your goals are… make more money, travel more, spend time with family, be healthier whether it’s getting fit or losing weight, grow your company, hit a new sales level… whatever your specific goal is just ask yourself why you don’t have it yet. Be just as specific with the answers to this question as you are with the goals themselves, because in these answers you will find the things you believe in that stop you from getting what you want.
These are called limiting beliefs, and unfortunately they live up to their name. Even more unfortunate is that this is where we spend most of our mental focus when we are working toward our goals. These beliefs are what take our eye off of the target, and if it is true that what we believe becomes our reality, then this is why most never reach their true full potential.
The sad part is that we keep doing it to ourselves. I said this sounds crazy before, and it truly is. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
The good news is that we all have the power to change this, we can do it at any given moment and a moment is all it takes to change our life. There are many things we can’t control in life, and that’s where these limiting belief come from. For example, if your goal is to make more money but your limiting belief is that your boss won’t give you a raise, then yes, it is true that you really can’t control your boss but you can certainly control the quality of work that you do or where you work. If your goal is to make more sales but your limiting belief is that you don’t have enough contacts or the right clients, then the answer is get out there and meet new prospects and find the right clients! You see, limiting beliefs do also provide answers. Identifying them and writing them down is extremely important, because they can be tasks that you take on that will help you achieve that goal.
All you have to do is change your focus. If you stay focused on the goal, and everything you do takes you a step closer toward that goal, then you will get there. And the moment you find yourself doing something or even thinking something that does not serve that purpose, then all you have to do is stop doing or thinking it and get back to what does.
This is what I call “Breaking Beyond Belief.” You have to get your mind away from the limiting beliefs that stop you and stay focused on the belief that no matter what you will become what you are destined to.
———————————————————————————————————————————
Steven Kay, Talk Show Host & Producer / Media Buyer & Consultant, Steven Kay Media LLC, 713-STEVEN-K (713-783-8365), [email protected] , www.StevenKayLive.com .
