My Goals – My Resolve

“The outer conditions of a person’s life will always be found to reflect their inner beliefs” – James Allen

*****

What must I believe about myself to perpetuate my current conditions?

What must I believe about myself to create the conditions I desire?

What is the disconnect between the conditions I say I want, and the conditions I create?

*****

I create according to my beliefs about what is safe and functional.

If what I am experiencing and what I say I want are different, there must be a disconnect between my stated desires and my deeply held beliefs.

*****

What do I want more than what I say I want?

*  *  *

The above is an e-mail I sent myself the other day.

I had the idea that maybe I wasn’t the only who sometimes has trouble achieving goals so I though I’d share.

I invite you to look carefully at the language above.*

It all started with a quote from James Allen, but it grew into (for me) a powerful set of questions that have 1) put me on notice that I have some things to figure out and 2) that I have some work to do.

What about you?

What do you take away?

*  *  *

* Especially the last bolded sentence. In future posts I will be exploring Kegan and Lahey’s work on Immunity to Change (which for me is very powerful/attractive explanation for why we don’t do what we say we need to do).

Similar Posts

  • Smooth Roads or Suspension?

    I recently read a (nother) brilliant post by Seth Godin, one piece of which was about resilience. It got me to thinking: is better to have ultra smooth roads and cars with no suspension, no shock absorbers, or to build cars with resilience? Which would be a more intelligent use of resources? Living in the…

  • Let Your Soul Grow

    To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it. – Kurt Vonnegut Whatever you do is your art, if you let it be. Do everything with an artful intention and touch. Take care and act with awareness and love. Let everything you do…

  • What Independence Requires

    People have only as much liberty as they have the intelligence to want and the courage to take. – Emma Goldman As we pause in the United States to have cook-outs and watch fireworks, let’s take a moment to reflect on what our Independence Day is all about. Back in 1776 Thomas Jefferson gave us…

  • Actions Speak Loudest

    As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do. – Andrew Carnegie Recently I wrote: Talk is cheap, but action is priceless. What we say (/think) matters to what we do, but what do is what really matters. What are you doing, that doesn’t serve you?…

  • What is Fear?

    I was reading something from Michael Neill (his e-mail newsletter, if you’re curious) and he said something useful: fear is a function of the mind, not circumstance. So if fear is (just a) thought, and not anything real or tangible, then I can think differently. And not be afraid as much, or even anymore. I…