By: Cindy Smith (first published May 23, 2009)
- Do you ever feel like you want to achieve something yet you don’t seem to know how to get there?
- Is what you want to achieve a fuzzy concept, always just beneath the surface of your mind?
Until I committed to coaching based on my multidimensional way of functioning, I struggled to turn concepts of my life vision into a workable action plan. Multidimensional coaching, guided me towards manifesting my vision into reality.
Once I began recognized the way I integrate layers of information within myself, I realized that my goal setting was too big and too broad. For example, a deep personal goal of mine was to go back to school to finish my college degree. This 30-year goal followed me everywhere, constantly nagging while it lurked at the edge of my thoughts. Going back to school seemed overwhelming– unrealistic, unattainable.
When I began individual coaching, I recognized limiting beliefs held me back from reaching my long-term goals. Now getting a degree is no longer a nagging thought or unattainable goal. Eleanor’s skill in coaching quickly put me in touch with where within myself I need to focus my aspirations. She taught me how to set SMART goals for myself. Getting SMART meant moving from an amorphous concept of what I wanted to achieve in my life to recognizing the actual steps that would make my goal reality. I looked at some difficult limiting beliefs and in the process stopped talking about what I want to do and I am now doing it.
I now understand how my goals need to be specific. Although getting a degree may sound like specific goal, to me, it was out of reach and overwhelming in its scope of detail. By indentifying the measurable steps in ways I could easily process, I began to grasp how I could move toward attaining my ultimate goal – my degree. Past limiting beliefs still sometimes cloud my vision, but I know and trust that my coach is there to help me clear the clouds so I move forward.
Eleanor helps me to see that goals must be SMART:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Attainable
- Realistic and Relevant
- Time Specific
Click Here for SMART Goals Mind Map
The coaching process continues to teach me how to be very specific about what I want, the layer on which I perceive it, and the steps involved to achieve it. I know what it means and feels like when I meet my goals. My goals are now concrete, something I can measure. Most important, they are shorter term than I imagined before and thus, I am enabled to recognize actual progress in the right direction.
For me, a degree was unobtainable. I looked at the end result without considering small accomplishments or victories alongthe way, and thus, the entire idea overwhelmed me to the point that I never moved beyond it being “something I want to finish someday’”. Because it seemed unobtainable, on so many levels, I never realistically or seriously considered doing it. Instead, a degree just sat in the back of my head, gnawing at me, further eroding my self-esteem. Time ticked on.
With getting a degree broken into manageable steps, I was easier to make wise choices and take conscious action towards the achievement of my goal. Although I don’t have a degree yet, I am now more than two years closer than I was before I started being coached individually six months ago. The continual help and support from Eleanor’s coaching keeps me focused and on track.
Think about what you want to have happen in your life.
- Do you want to achieve your deepest dreams?
- Do you know what they are?
- Have you considered working with a personal coach?
Take action today. Check out how you can be coached. For me, the extra set of eyes and ears, has been just the ingredient I need to get out of my personal rut so I am moving toward the life of my dreams. I know I am heading in the right direction. My destination is closer every day.
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