Goal Setting Influences Outcomes Intentionally or Unintentionally
Goal setting whether done consciously or unconsciously creates our life experiences.
Spiritual practices create outcomes both desirable and undesirable which are influenced by individual and collective beliefs and values. We have choices.
As individuals we have our own representations of what we perceive as reality. These individual representations of reality can be compared to a map. A map is not the territory but is a representation of the territory based on interpretation and perception.
All of us have beliefs and values which influence our interpretations of experiences which in turn create our individual maps of reality. We sift out that which does not conform with our beliefs and values.
Goal setting can be used to change beliefs that don't serve us well in addition to getting stuff and achieving desirable outcomes.
In my own case I set a goal to increase my income using the NLP well-formed outcome technique and in 2022 was earning well over 100,000 USD per year gross income. This was almost triple what it was when I started.
Earning lots of money was not very important to me until my body became what's referred to as elderly. I became a commercial truck driver as an owner operator.
I was born in 1954 and it became clear that it would be good to own a home with some acreage free and clear a few years ago. Driving a commercial truck as an owner operator seemed like it would get me there relatively quickly. Now some years later it turns out trucking is not going to allow me to realize my financial goals. Dang! Trucking can be very cyclical. In 2023 we are experiencing a significant downturn in revenue. 2024 looks even worse. It'll be all right though. I'll just do something else that may be more fun.
I've mixed feelings about goal setting. Throughout my life I've noticed that my thoughts and aspirations influence the events in my life. When setting formal goals, more often than not after achieving the goal, it turned out to be not what was really wanted.
Of course that is why there is that aphorism "Be careful what you wish for, because you might get it." This had discouraged me from setting formal goals for many years.
Intentional goal setting can lead to intended outcomes. There is no doubt about it.
Conversely unintentional goal setting leads to seemingly unintended outcomes. Examples of unintentional goal setting are usually products of repetitive ego-mind chatter. Usually this chatter is related to fearful outcomes of some kind.
"I was afraid this would happen." or "I knew this would happen." are common phrases when people are confronted with the realization of a seemingly unpleasant outcome.
It's very annoying and sometimes devastating when attaining what was apparently an intended outcome and then concluding the outcome somehow is not what was actually wanted at all. This brings us back to "Be careful what you wish for."
Here's the thing... The dominant part of your brain, what is called the subconscious, doesn't differentiate or judge and will manifest repetitive thoughts regardless.
This is the essence of why thoughts produce outcomes intentionally or unintentionally.
S.M.A.R.T. Goal Setting
S.M.A.R.T. goal setting is a tried and true method. It works well. Just be careful what you wish for. That link goes to a Wikipedia page with a great explanation.
Well-Formed Outcomes
NLP uses a model of goal setting which creates well-formed outcomes. It's a bit more complex than the S.M.A.R.T. system. Going through the steps to create well-formed outcomes will very likely minimize the chances of achieving unintended outcomes.
NLP was initially developed in the 1970s by Bandler and Grinder. They created NLP by modeling the therapeutic techniques of mental health professionals who achieved results comparatively quickly often through the use of specific forms of language.
The speed with which NLP gets results may be what causes it to still be on the fringes of therapeutic techniques in the mental health community. There is a lot more money to be earned when using less effective lengthy forms of therapy.
Following is what creating a well-formed outcome involves with NLP.
- State the outcome in positive terms. What is wanted, not what is not wanted.
- Ensure the outcome is within your control not critically dependant on the actions of others. You can get it yourself no matter what other people do or don't do.
- Be as specific as possible.
- Have a sensory based evidence procedure. Ask yourself how you'll know you've achieved the outcome and how it will feel on a sensory basis to have achieved the outcome, as in how will it look, feel, sound, smell, taste etc.
- Consider the context. This relates to the outcome's effects in different contexts, such as work and home life. A well-formed outcome should not result in conflict.
- Have access to resources.
- Ensure the outcome preserves existing benefits.
- Check that the outcome is ecologically sound. Ask; What will happen if you achieve this outcome? What won't happen if you achieve this outcome? What will happen if you don't achieve this outcome? What won't happen if you don't achieve this outcome.
- Define the first step.
Combining Goal Setting and Your Spiritual Practice
I chanted with the Nichiren Shoshu Buddhists for awhile. One part of their belief system is relevant here. They posted their goals on a piece of paper placed on their individual shrines called butsudans in their homes and chanted there twice a day. It was very common for members to speak of goal realization being a major benefit of their practice, and they used this as a recruiting tool to get new members.
Reviewing your goals or well-formed outcomes daily is believed to be very helpful.
Experts in the field of human potential such as Napoleon Hill, Claude Bristol, and most recently, Jim Rohn and Jack Canfield all believe that sharing your goals or in this case your well-formed outcomes as well as reviewing them daily will facilitate their realization.
There are others that believe sharing goals is not helpful. It's an interesting issue. Sharing goals can cause one to be more persistent. It may also cause people you share your goals with to impede your progress in some way.
Get into the habit of watching your thoughts regardless of sharing or not sharing your goals with others. You'll find this to be extremely helpful.
Create and Share Your Well-Formed Outcome.
Again, it's widely believed by notable people such as Jack Canfield and Napoleon Hill that sharing your goals or in this case, your well-formed outcomes and reviewing them daily, facilitates their realization.
