Adam

Jan 2008

Goal Setting. Step one: Get a Vision.
What is a goal and why is it important?
  Having studied NLP for several years I know what goal setting is all about. I know the steps and the principles involved. I could highlight them all now and detail every point because, intellectually, I understand the process.
  In the past I have set goals and achieved them with various degrees of success. It has been noted that not every goal needs to be achieved as they frequently lead to others. The important aspect of setting them is that they create momentum. Whilst I have been involved in aspiring towards a goal I am moving forward, towards a favourable outcome.
  The first step in setting goals is to get a vision of a desired outcome. This simply involves seeing what you would see when the goal has been realised. Through this process it is sometimes possible to experience how it feels and sounds to have achieved the goal already. This experience creates a congruence that the goal will be achieved. It sounds simple, and is the first step to goal setting.
  Since my favoured representational system for processing goals is kinaesthetic (feeling), it is usually difficult for me to get clear visions of desired outcomes. Consequently, when I feel how I would feel if I already had it, my vision has been vague, which is normal for a kinaesthetic person. Fortunately, this feeling is often enough to create the movement required to pursue each goal. However, sometimes it is not quite enough.
  During a recent stay in Zakynthos I took time to consider what my goals were and where my main direction was going to be focused. One day I woke up and looked over the balcony of the house that I was staying in. I witnessed the untouched beauty of the mountain, overlooking a crystal clear sea. I realised at that point that I had my vision.
  I knew, with 100% congruence that whatever my goal was - it involved something like what I was looking at right then. I had no idea what the goal was but I had a vision of what my future held.
  The next day Kelly, who was staying with me, and I met a gardener, called Marcus. It turned out that he had been suffering with back pain for the past two years. Kelly suggested that we gave him some Reiki to help with his back. Marcus agreed enthusiastically.
  During the next few hours we gave him a treatment and, afterwards, questioned him about what may have caused him to develop this problem. It was an intensive discussion.
  The next day Kelly and I went to see Judy, a neighbour, to drop off some tea bags. By chance, Marcus arrived to drop off a bench that he had made for her. He was delighted as he had woken up that morning with no back pain for the first time in two years. This prompted Judy to ask Kelly and I if we would give her a treatment. She had a chest complaint that had been ongoing for the past year. We agreed.
  Before our treatment, as with Marcus, we asked Judy to focus on what arose during the session. It is my experience that an issue will always surface during Reiki. This is frequently the source of the ailment.
  After her treatment she informed us that she had been thinking about setting up a healing retreat in Zakynthos but had yet to do anything about it. When I asked her how long she had been thinking about it she told me "about a year".
  That happened one month ago - two days after I had my vision. There was no goal set at the time - only the sensation of where I wanted to be.
  Judy, Kelly and I have now had an idea about walking/healing holidays in Zakynthos. They will involve walking through the countryside whilst contemplating life. This will be complimented with workshops, Reiki, massage, reflexology, yoga and meditation.
  In the past few weeks we have worked on the ideas, assembled a team, opened a company bank account, developed a logo and are days away from having our website up and running - walkingtoheal.com. Our first retreat will be on May 22nd-29th and the three of us will be going back to Zakynthos in March to iron out the program.
  My congruence with this project is so high that I am prepared to say that this will be a global network eventually. The best part of this idea is that it gives back to the local community. All food and accommodation will be provided by locals. The beauty is in its simplicity.
  I have rarely been so excited about a project - and it started with a vision just one month ago. 
  There are other steps to the goal setting process but my advice would be that when you have a vision and you know it's right for you then everything else will fall into place. Focus on the first step and if you need to know more, either look it up or ask me - I'll be happy to elaborate.