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1. Choose a goal you want AND believe you can achieve
Sometimes we pick goals we think we need but don’t actually want or care about. Personal health goals can fall under this category a lot. We know we need to be healthier but we confuse our desire to be healthier with our desire to want to be healthier. If it is the latter that is a good place for you to explore before you take on a big goal. When you focus in on a goal, it is helpful to evaluate how much you want to achieve it. This will help you clarify what you want and what might be in the way.
We also have a tendency to self-sabotage. This looks like picking a goal we already believe we can not achieve. Instead of pushing through it and pretending you believe something you don’t, focus on finding a sweet spot between what you know you can accomplish without trying and what you believe you can accomplish but might require a little effort and self-exploration.
2. Use goal making as a ladder
One practice that you can implement to increase your belief in your ability to achieve your goals is to create a ladder. You can do this two ways. One, begin with small goals, gradually building up your momentum so that each time you choose a new goal you have a firm foundation and self-assurance to build on.
The second way to do this is to choose a goal and then work out baby steps to take you to the bigger picture you are aiming for. You can do this by working top-down or bottom-up, creating a ladder of achievement to climb up. Here again, keep it simple, going over what you believe you can do will actually just negatively reinforce what you are trying to do. I’m not saying you can’t dream big, but be honest about what you believe.
3. Manifesting is more about clearing beliefs than making something happen
In this work, the external outcome doesn’t come back and inform you about how good you are. The opposite happens in which you work internally to inform the world about your belief. So, when you work with your goals you need to keep an ear open to what is going on underneath the surface for you.
In reality, you are able to achieve what you dream or you wouldn’t be drawn to it. Doing the work looks like examining yourself and your history to see if or where there is a belief holding you back and working with your mind-body-spirit to allow the block to dissolve. Be honest with yourself when you ask what your inner self really believes.
4. Be willing to learn about yourself
Talking to your inner self is an art form. We can be so locked into our ways that we will do whatever we can to avoid the thing we actually need the most. When you get an answer you might need to explore more… what is under that belief… and under that?
A personal example here for me is self-worth. For much of my life, I walked around outwardly confident. My self-doubt and self-worth needed some serious attention, and I thought the way to overcome that was to cover it up. Fake it to you make it, right? When I woke up to my big lie, I could truly address what was underneath. In the process, it broke some goals wide open for me. Also, I know the journey here is not over as I continue to deepen my awareness and awaken into my consciousness.
5. Say it to the universe
Once you pick your goal. Write it down. Say it too. Say it out loud. Say it to the universe every day. This helps integrate the belief and communicate your needs to the universe. It helps you tune in as the creator of your life. It can also help expose hidden disbelief. If you say your goal and notice a gut reaction that rejects it, it is a good sign you have more inner work to do. Self-reflecting and meditation can go a long way here.
6. Do have a plan
Manifesting work and goal setting can do amazing things, but you still need a plan. Even if that plan is repeating your goal daily and doing your inner work. While it is possible to just make a statement and watch it unfold before your eyes, most of us have beliefs in the way of allowing that to happen. What is your approach to allowing this work? What are your spiritual, emotional, and social/professional steps? Even just a basic framework can go a long way here.
7. Let go
Ah yes, the dreaded letting goes of expectations. It is important though. For one, if you are just pushing forward, essentially trying to will results, you are kind of walking against the grain, walking with your head out in front of your body. Letting go and trusting means walking with the flow. It is also important because we can stifle belief if we are constantly looking over our shoulders to see if it is true yet. At that point, we tend to drop any progress we have made and revert back to old thinking.