Shimmering Possibility
Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love. (Rumi)
I recently attended a goal setting session at my local lululemon. I went with my friend and an open mind, hoping to learn something new. The event began with introductions, then a brief visualization of where we hope to find ourselves 10 years from now...
What would you dare to do if you knew you could not fail? Describe what you see, hear, and feel in your ideal life. Who is there? How do you spend your time? Where do you spend your time?
My vision?
A chic and cozy apartment in a big city with my Mister and our two little ones. He's off to work while I stay home to watch after the babies and manage my successful healthy & creative living empire. I write (articles, books, and my blog), teach yoga, eat all organic, and live my life with abundant love. I'm a leader within my community, make self-care a priority, and have plenty of time to enjoy my family.
I'm trying not to judge myself too harshly, but it kinda seems like I want it all.
After the visualization, the leaders provided instructions on creating S.M.A.R.T goals and gave us some time to brainstorm our visions, 10-year, 5-year and 1-year goals.
What are S.M.A.R.T. goals, you ask? There are variations, but this combo works for me:
Specific Measurable Affirmative Realistic Timely
Next, they opened the floor for participants to share. I immediately froze, looking intently at a spot on the wall, the back of my hand, and straight through the yoga mat under me. Anything to avoid getting called on! While I'm usually outgoing, I get shy about my goals.
My intentions and dreams have shifted a lot in the past few years. Time and experience will do that to a person. The good news is, our goals are in constant evolution — and it's ok to change your mind.
I've been playing with this visioning concept since the event. Along with reading Style Statement, I find that I'm asking myself these questions:
Do I really want that? Why? What would achieving that mean to me? What would I do once I got there?
Dreaming big is scary — especially when we can't see a path from where we are and where we hope to go. But that's where the magic lies. In the shimmering possibility of dreams. There's something delightful about not knowing.
For now, I'm focused on exploring my dreams and examining my hopes. I plan to use this worksheet to get specific about vision, 10-year, 5-year, and 1-year goals and will share more about the process when I do. Please share your thoughts on goal setting and dreaming big in the comments below. I'd love to hear from you!
Image Credit: Ambassador Summit 2011 via lululemon athletica
