By now, most people are aware of the fact that writing down your goals is a powerful success tip in order to actually achieve them. However, do you know why you are supposed to do that, or in what manner it will be most effective?
The basic reason why you want to write down your goals is because it will have several useful side effects:
- It will cause you to get very specific about what you want to accomplish, rather than just having a "vague idea".
- By keeping your written down goals somewhere that you will see them on a regular basis, you will be continually reminded of what you should be focusing on each day.
- By writing down your goals, you make them more "real," as opposed to simply keeping the thoughts in your head where neither you nor anyone else is ever actually exposed to them out in the 3-dimensional world.
- You will be able to use your written down goals in order to "reprogram" yourself for success.
In a nutshell, by writing down your goals, you make them an actual part of your existence, both in the physical world, as well as having them be a part of your daily mental processes.
It is very easy with today's hustle and bustle lifestyle to allow your goals to slip from your conscious mind as you get caught up in the hectic day-to-day tasks of simply running your life. However, if you allow that to happen, then weeks, months, and years end up slipping by while you "tended to your life," yet your goals are no closer now than they were before.
Okay, so you're sold on the fact that writing down your goals is a good part of a solid self improvement plan. Now, what is the next step to ensure that you get the most out of doing so?
Write down your goals in the form of a document, not a list!
We have all been "listed" almost to the point of brainwashing, especially if you have been hanging around the self improvement or personal development circles for any length of time.
Don't just say, "I want to accomplish _____________ ."
Who doesn't? Everyone wants to accomplish one goal or another. Just writing down some random goal does not empower you to actually accomplish it. However, by writing down your goal as part of an empowering and very personal document, you can give it strength by making it an actual part of your plan, rather than it just being some words on a page somewhere.
As regular readers of this blog will attest to, I do not have a problem with sharing my own personal details as part of my "lead by example" mentality. On that note, if you wish to see my own rendition of the concept described above, here is a Microsoft Word version of the document that I created for myself some time ago: Aaron's Statement of Success
READ your goal document at least 2 times every day!
Many people drop the ball on this part of the equation, and I dare say that it is one of the reasons why their goals never come to fruition.
People believe that once they have written down their goals and then read over them a few times, that they have committed the details to memory, so why take the time to keep reading them every day?
Here is why: You are not programming your conscious mind for success, but rather your subconscious mind!
Depending on who you ask, the average person's life is only controlled between 5% to 10% of the time by their conscious thoughts. The other 90% to 95% of our lives are controlled by the beliefs and processes that make up our subconscious awareness.
So, if you have a goal of losing weight (for example), and you only think about it 5% to 10% of the time, yet your subconscious mind is telling you the other 90% to 95% of the time that you're fat, you don't have the resources or the knowledge to lose weight, you don't have what it takes, blah, blah, blah… Can you see where the subconscious mind will always win out?
90% beats 10% every time!
This same concept can be applied to any goal that you can imagine, and you can probably recognize where your own life has followed this pattern at least once or twice. You wanted with all of your heart to accomplish something, yet no matter how hard you tried and no matter how much you consciously believed that you would have success, it still never ended up happening.
That is the power of the subconscious mind, and it will win out over your conscious thoughts every single time, no matter how intensely you consciously desire something.
You can beat your subconscious mind at its own game by reading your goal document at least twice per day!
You can read it as often as you like with no ill effects, but if you truly want to make the most of this process, read your document at two very specific times every single day of your life:
As soon as you wake up, and right before you go to sleep.
During those periods of time, your subconscious mind is most receptive to the commands that you give it, and in addition, your own "conscious defenses" are at a minimal level of strength.
As soon as you wake up and again right before you fall asleep, your conscious mind has either not yet regained full control after your sleep cycle, or it is starting to lose control as you get closer to your next sleep cycle.
During these times, you can "sucker punch" your subconscious mind by planting commands when your conscious mind is not able to undo those commands by resubmitting a self-limiting belief that contradicts your positive goal setting statements.
The bottom line? This system works. Even if you don't believe me, it doesn't cost a dime to give it a shot, so what have you got to lose?
Try it for 30 days straight, every morning and every night, and I promise you that the results will speak for themselves!
Dear Aaron,
THANK YOU!
Patricia
Patricia,
You are most welcome! Glad you liked the post! 🙂
Aaron. What a great idea to write your self-improvement (or any) goals in prose format rather than a list! Brilliant. I’m going to start using this technique today.
Thanks!
Good article Aaron, thanks for posting it. I would like to add to one of your points, if I may.
>>By keeping your written down goals somewhere that you will see them on a regular basis, you will be continually reminded of what you should be focusing on each day.>>
This is an important point, and in my opinion, perhaps the most important. One of my first offline ventures almost failed before it even got started, simply because I hadn’t written my goals down. So as I ran around, doing the hustle of starting a new venture, my goals and reasons for doing what I was doing were forgotten. I came close to quitting, because what started out as an adventure had become work. (ugh, work)
Fortunately, I had talked to my wife about my goals, and she helped me to re-orient, and remember why I was doing what I was doing before it was too late. I then wrote it all down. While that particular business wasn’t the million dollar gold mine I had initially envisioned, it was moderately successful, which is more than what it would have been, had I not been reminded of my goals, and what was important.
Cheers, Marc
Love your work Aaron…
Three years ago I wrote down a vision for my life. I put it away. I never read it.
I found the vision a few months ago on my computer.
And you know what? Most of it fit the life I was living now… so perhaps if I’d read it every day, that last 20% would also have fit the life I’m living today.
Time for a new vision.
You always motivate me.
THANKS!
Edward,
Glad you liked the idea! I have found it to be extremely helpful, and it causes me to focus on the story, rather than just reading down a list of tasks to accomplish.
Have fun with it!
Marc,
Thanks for sharing your success story, and you make an excellent point.
Any successful venture that we get involved with is probably going to demand a lot of our attention. However, when it gets hectic and becomes “work,” then it’s no fun anymore!
By having those goals written down where they are seen all the time, we are reminded about the emotional reason why we got involved in that venture to begin with. Big props to your wife for bringing you back on track! 🙂
Thanks for your input, Marc!
Kara-Leah,
This makes my day and motivates me to keep doing it:
I can think of no higher praise to receive. Thank you, Kara-Leah, and here’s to you getting your hands on that last 20%! 🙂
Is this process on a par with ‘Cosmic Ordering’?
Are you of the belief that anyone, anywhere can attain success by the ‘Think and Grow Rich’ method if they apply themselves faithfully?
Aaron, your blog is ALWAYS worth a view because it makes me think.
I am truly grateful for the fact that I make you think! It is my belief that our society keeps us so busy and so focused on the outside world that more THINKING is a good thing for the human race as a whole – myself included! 🙂
And yes, I do 100% believe in the method that was presented in ‘Think and Grow Rich‘. If you apply that formula consistently, you WILL get what you want!
I am also a believer in the Law of Attraction, so when you add the power of the LOA to the power of consistently applied focus and action, you become unstoppable!!
I once worked with a coach who asked, as our final assignment, for me to write him a letter a year in the future, and make it as specific as possible.
I did it, filed it…and didn’t look at it again for three years (I know, that’s not part of your M.O.)…and it was eerie how much of it had come true. Specifically: I mentioned I would get married by the water, near a boat–we took the Staten Island Ferry to our wedding. I said we would adopt a beagle mix: we adopted Faith, a pit bull…beagle.
Prose power, people!
Martha,
Thank you so much for sharing that story! Isn’t it amazing what simply writing something down can accomplish?
I also have a “future” document that explains – in the present tense – what I want my future to look like. It contains enough details to light the way for getting there, but it is still short enough that I can read it every day, which I do.
I’m with you, Martha – the power of prose!! 🙂
Just starting this. Will see if it works.
Fred,
Writing down your goals in order to stay focused on them is a very effective process. Your success is already yours as long as you believe in it, and stay on track!
Thank you for this article..It was a helpful reminder to me! And I know that it works! You really do have to believe it before you see it! And take actions toward what you believe. But, it first start with having a made up mind!
Da’Vidra,
You are absolutely correct. No “success system” will ever work until the all critical first step is taken, and that is to decide what you want to accomplish.
Specific burning desires create specific results – it’s just that simple! 🙂
I tried this technique after reading you post just a few days ago and its a real help so far, i dont know if its just because its a new idea and im happy to be changing my routine, but i guess only time will tell. Great idea in any case, nice post.
Thanks a bunch, Beagle – glad that you go so much out of it!
Often times, even just a change of pace is enough to get us on the right path. If that change starts with a great habit, then so much the better!
Nice article but here is my problem. I always jot down the list but only in a piece of paper. I’ll try follow your guide and hopefully can make it!! Thank you..
James,
A TASK list is fine for jotting down on a piece of paper, as long as it is is a prioritized task list, and not just some random list of things that you want to get done.
A list of GOALS on the other hand needs to be infused with feeling, and not just feel like work or drudgery. That’s the difference.
This post opens up my mind to focus on my goals and work what is the essential in order for me to achieve what I want in life.
Out of sight, out of mind certainly pertains to me. Writing something down helps to enforce the idea in my mind, but putting the note where I can see it all the time is even more helpful! Sticking post its on my PC is a good place since I surf the net a lot.
thanks for sharing this post its very informative