Goals! We all have them and we all want to reach them, but why is it so difficult. I have tried technique after technique and finally, I have found a method that works for me and I believe it can work for you.
One of the most powerful steps we can take in achieving our goals is to create a vision for ourselves. This involves asking questions. Who are you going to be in five years? What does your life look like? Who’s your partner? Who are your friends, where do you live, etc.
Taking time to think about the future in that way can really make a difference in your life and attaining your goals. Many people become victims to their circumstances. “Oh I’d love to do that, but …” That does not need to be the case. If we set a clear vision for ourselves and what we want to achieve, we can change our lives. And the good news is, it’s never too late.
A few years ago, I took a hard look at my life. I was 40+ pounds overweight, fighting a staph infection from an allergy I developed, mourning the loss of my father, and anxiously awaiting the announcement of layoffs at work.
I knew there was someone else inside me screaming to get out, a better version. Joey 2.0. I knew I had to start with getting control of my health and habits. I started to think about and visualize what version 2.0 would look like.
One night, as I was planking, attempting to get in better shape and trying to figure out my purpose, I found myself looking at my iPhone. As I was watching a motivational video narrated by Steve Harvey on YouTube it suddenly hit me. It was like I saw the rest of my life flash in front of me..… and then everything changed.
Just like technology, you continue to upgrade your iPhone or smartphone to the latest and greatest. Why?, because it’s running old software and programs that are slower and less reliable to the newest technology out there.
Why should we treat ourselves any different. We deserve to upgrade and evolve too!
And so it began … I set out and created a vision of what I wanted to look like and what I wanted to do in my life without setting limits. I began meditating and visualizing what I wanted in my life and where I wanted to be. I began writing down my long term goals every day. When I meditated I visualized my future self … and then reverse-engineered the steps I needed to take to get there.
Every night when I was planking, I would visualize what I was going to look like when I had ripped abs and more importantly how that was going to feel. It was like slipping on a new avatar of this new person I wanted to transform into. So, instead of waiting until I was fit enough to become that person, I just became that person as if the goal was already achieved.
This caused me to begin carrying myself different, with more confidence. I became motivated to execute the tasks necessary to actually become that person. Everyday I took two actions in the direction of that goal and I began to achieve it. Creating that vision of myself and writing down those goals was my key to reaching my goals.
I had created a new algorithm for my life and meanwhile, I began to get rid of everything that was getting in the way of that vision. I unfollowed any distractions on social media and started following positive and motivational accounts that aligned with my future vision, everything that was serving a purpose … We have to train and reprogram our minds and tell the AI (artificial intelligence) that this is what I want you to bring into my life. Give me the good stuff … feed me this positive message, etc.
If you create a vision, you will be constantly reminding yourself of who you want to be and your purpose. This will allow you to stay committed and do whatever it takes. You’ll begin to let go of your stories and your excuses. You’ll let go of all the reasons you currently have that are formulating your identity of yourself and you’ll learn how to become who you are destined to be.
It starts in your mind! Create that visualization and impress that vision through conscious efforts into the subconscious mind. This causes new neuropath ways to develop and creates new thoughts, emotions and behaviors.
Over time your behaviors will start to change. As you follow and chase your dream it gets bigger and has less limitations.
You begin to realize that what stands between us and where we want to go is achievable.
So, what do you want to change most in your life?
Write the answer down and visualize it.
Everyday visualize your goal and write down 2 tasks toward that goal that you will accomplish that day. Visualization and small incremental steps towards those goal(s) is the key to achieving them.
Repetition is so powerful. My book How To Build A Level Up Mindset has helped me rewire and retrain my brain to visualize my future self.
The combination of training my brain with consistent repetition and visualization has taught me the right habits and daily rituals for goal achievement. Consistent action and visualization over 60 to 90 days creates a new pattern in your thinking. Your brain begins saying, “I guess you really don’t need those old patterns because you keep activating these new ones. Let’s just make these new ones work and let’s make these real.”
Invest in yourself … Give it a shot for 90 days and let me know how it goes.
Check out my book “How To Build A Level Up Mindset: Cheat Codes For Success, Health, and Happiness”, available for purchase below. Leverage it as a guide for writing down your goals, daily habits and tasks.
Visualize those goals everyday and take two daily actions towards those goals and see what happens!
