“The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision
the fact that you can do something, you can do it,
as long as you really believe 100 percent.”
--Arnold Schwarzenagger

Humans have this amazing ability to align our actions with our expectations.  It’s called a “self-fulfilling prophecy.”  Here is some self-talk that I typically hear coming from my clients…

…I’m so disorganized.
…I’m always running behind.
…I can never find anything when I need it.
…I’ll never remember to do that unless someone reminds me.

If you believe in self-fulfilling prophecy and this is your self talk, then what you see (in your mind) is what you'll get!  In other words, if you keep telling yourself that you are disorganized, always late, can’t find anything, and will forget to follow up, then it’s no wonder that this is what you continue to get.

What would be possible if you expected or imagined your future to be better than your present?  I bet that your expectations and actions would align to realize the future you envision for yourself!  If you’d like to read more about the power of visualization, read my newsletter article, Are You’re an Olympian Thinker?, which tells how numerous Olympic athletes have used visualization to achieve amazing things.

When I wanted to begin an exercise program, I asked myself this powerful question:  What will be possible if I promise myself to work out 3-4 times per week?  My response:  improved strength, weight loss, a more balanced life, improved cardiovascular health, better bone density, improved muscle tone, stress reduction, improved self-esteem, more flexibility, and more energy. 

Then I asked myself:  What will it cost me to NOT make this promise to myself?  My response:  weakness, weight gain, poor cardiovascular health, deteriorating bone density and muscle tone, stress, poor self-image, less flexible, and low energy.  I now have a clear vision of what will happen if I choose to exercise and what will happen if I choose not to exercise.

As we focus on what we want, it’s much more likely that our actions will follow suit.  For example, if you are driving a car and you begin looking at something off to the right, what happens to the car? You begin steering the car in the direction you are looking!  Another example…if I ask you NOT to think of the purple elephant sitting in the middle of your living room, what are you imagining right now?  Our actions tend to follow whatever we are focusing on.  That’s why the movie theatres always show pictures of popcorn and soft drinks just before the movie begins.  They are counting on you to get out of your seat and buy what you just saw.

We need to take full responsibility for expecting our future to be as we want it to be.  Whether consciously or unconsciously, we attract everything that shows up in our lives by choosing our expectations and commitments.  If you don’t like your present circumstances, you have the ability to decide how to alter your course.  You are the sole architect of your future.

• What do you really want for yourself over the next six months?  Identify what you are most passionate about in your life.
  

• What’s holding you back from doing these things?
  

• What are your expectations for your future?  Imagine that things are already the way you want them to be and write down the results you expect in each of the following areas - in specific and measurable terms.
  • health & wellness
  • relationships
  • prosperity
  • personal growth
    

 

• What negative beliefs or expectations do you have which could sabotage your results?
  

• What will it cost you to not achieve your expectations?
  

• What do you choose to consistently do in order to achieve your expectations in each of the areas identified above?

• When you catch yourself wasting time, what are some other things you would rather do?  Make a list of "better things to do."  For example, if you surf the Net more than you wish to, have a list of "better things to do" posted next to your computer. If you watch too much TV at home, keep a list of "better things to do" next to the remote control.
  

• What requests can you make of family and friends who will support your efforts to achieve what you want?

• Identify what day of the week and time of day will work best so you can consistently keep this weekly appointment with yourself.
• Write your weekly appointment time into your calendar NOW.
• Visit http://www.orgcoach.net/sixsteps.html to review an excellent weekly planning process.
• If you need assistance getting started, register for my upcoming De-Clutter Your Life teleclass.

Hear Kathy interviewed live on KKNW Radio
Tune in 1150 on your AM dial in the Seattle area,
or access via the Internet from anywhere in the world on the following dates:

       September 18 from 12:30-1:00 PM Pacific time (3:30 PM Eastern)

       October 16 from Noon-12:30 PM Pacific time (3:00 PM Eastern)
       November 19 from Noon-12:30 PM Pacific time (3:00 PM Eastern)

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