The first time that the word “goals” entered my everyday vocabulary, I was in my first job after Uni. It was a word used liberally amongst managers and at meetings and soon it became associated with work.

So later, when I thought about my personal goals, I had a lot of trouble because “goals” to me, was all about work and at that time, work seemed to be all about rules and I surely didn’t want my personal life to be about rules!

But I knew having goals and a direction is important so I tried hard to get over my aversion to goals. I tried many things, and particularly enjoyed making and keeping lists. However, my lists would mysteriously disappear and there I’d be, goal-less and free of rules again. And unfocused too because I was drifting with no real direction of where to go next – direction requires planning and planning requires goals!

Then Bill Gates launced Windows 95 and a genius working with him came up with the slogan ”Where do you want to go today?”. This slogan captured my imagination and all of a sudden I was thinking in terms of what I wanted to do and how I could do it. I was finally free of the procrastination-inducing, nightmare clutch of that awful Goal word!

I could see and feel that the future is filled with stepping stones of the things we want to do and these stepping stones are connected with flexible bridges called Where-do-you-want-to-go-today.

Each stepping stone and each bridge has its own particular make-up; some are sturdy like rocks and others are wispy rope structures much like something out of Indiana Jones – and boy, don’t these ones give a heart-racing ride!

While the word “Goal” doesn’t carry the same negataive associations for me anymore, it’s that Windows slogan that actually makes me feel free and fires me up to set up my stepping stones and bridges.

The universe of the mind is a little bit exciting with dimensions we can’t put words to yet.  Perhaps that’s a good thing as there is a power behind words and a power behind labels – what works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for another.

If you are struggling with a word or a label, give this a go – try on a different word and see what changes.

You can also visit me at ReetaLuthra.com. It's full of information to help you address stress and work on reversing the impact of stress on your health.

 

Filed under: NLP • Personal Development • Thoughts Create Reality

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