What do you dream of achieving?
What desires do you hold that you have yet to transform into goals?
There’s an almost magical force of energy that unites to propel you towards your greatest desires; that is if you tap into it. It’s a flow and force that transcends that which we typically call motivation.
Throughout our lives, we humans express an endless stream of wants and desires with the best of intentions. Yet so often we have relatively few results to truly celebrate. So vast are our expressed desires, a person who realizes a paltry 5% of their wants and desires in a lifetime will likely be revered as one of the great achievers of a generation.
of their desires in a lifetime will
be admired as one of the great
successes of a generation."
Why do we make it more difficult than necessary to achieve satisfying results? Failure to leverage one of our most powerful resources: A support system—the people who are (or could be) on our team in support of our success, for this challenge and for life.
There’s no doubt in my mind that had I not received significant support for my Triple Bypass ride (and the advance training required) that I would not have realized the achievement.
From my own life experience and in witnessing others for many years, attempting to achieve personal fitness results, I know just how easy it is to fail to make a clear declaration of one’s goal.
Fearful of being resolute and the failure that it may bring, you unwittingly manifest your own hesitation and feed resistance by talking in vague, uninspiring ways about a goal. You may feel you are asking for support, but those around you often have to be mind readers to understand what you’re not really saying.
And nothing brings your Strength and courage to life like commitment.
Adding to the predicament, many think of health and fitness goals as personal. Thus we walk around telling ourselves we have goals but by leaving them inside our head, never documented, never declared, they’re less goals and more wishful thinking.
In preparation for my ride, knowing that the training was going to require sacrifice and commitment beyond my own, I made a concerted, conscious effort to enroll my wife, Angie and our family. Not just in the training itself, but in the result. My 4-5 hour training rides were marked by intent and purpose.
Each ride was a milestone marker; an achievement that could be tied to the goal and therefore it’s value understand–making it easier to support.
Further, energy came from the commitment I made to be a part a group of friends and colleagues for the ride. I had their support for preparation, for race day and most importantly, I had a commitment to others that I was not taking lightly. I had put myself on the line, ego and all.
I let the people I work with know what I was doing, so they had context and expectations. I also declared my intention in a few other close, “safe” circles where I have friends that I can count on for real support.
These were all significant factors in removing the “can’t” or “won’t” from training and preparation. I can and was just doing it—no questions.
Come ride day, the team was in action. I was with a group of friends, all with a common goal—individual and collective. The team is what got me in this event and it was the team that pulled me through.
The compelling future was the desire to reach the finish line, to achievement and celebrate together. That support, along with the encouragement I received during the ride kept me going strong for the full 120 miles and 12,000 vertical feet.
A vital, powerful source of energy that can make the difference between success and failure, beyond your “team,” is in the power of intention. If you fail to put your goals and vision on paper and make a courageous commitment by sharing it with others, no one has the opportunity to align with you, to conspire for your success.
No one, no force and no energy can align to support a vaguely defined wish. It’s a clearly envisioned, inspiring future that releases the full power of the Universe and enrolls others in your success.
- Transform a dream into clear, concise goals and an emotionally vivid vision. Write them down. (see Chapter 6, “Your Blueprint for Brilliance” of Strength for LIFE for a clear, simple and brilliantly effective system)
- Share your brilliant future and have an authentic enrollment conversation with your family and/or those closest to you. Invite them to be on your team.
- Declare your intent in safe public environments, NOT everywhere.
- Whenever possible, be part of a team—compete, complete and achieve together.
This is your life and now is your time to achieve the next most inspiring goal on your life list. Step into it. Don’t wait for the “perfect” time, make now the time right.
In the end, we will regret the things we did not do more than we will remember any failure or challenge.
Ready to get moving forward? Answer these questions like they matter:
1. What achievement inspires you?
2. Who can you enroll in support of your vision?
3. What team are you on?
Until Next Week…
Stay Strong,
Shawn
Follow me on Twitter /@shawn_phillips
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13. October 2009 at 1:03 pm
Thanks for this Shawn. I have a half iron man in Austin TX in two weeks. I am getting nervous for it because I have a tendency to question my ability in the swim I am slow so I have that anticipatory anxiety and worry about the “what if’s” but I know you are right her when you say…I would regret it so much if I did not do it.
I want to challenge myself. I have done many smaller races before so what is the big deal, right? Positive self talk and the law of attraction if I choose…
Mary C