Session # 8 - Goal Reaching Process

Lifestream

Your Flow of Creative Living

© 1996, Carolyn Odom Burleson, Ph.D.

Session VIII

"THE GOAL REACHING PROCESS"

“Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win
by fearing to attempt.”

- William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

Contents: (Click on any bar to return to contents.)

Preface to Part Two

This entire work is prefaced by saying in essence that we are responsible for our own lives as well as for the world in which we live, and that we must assume that responsibility by developing our spiritual consciousness in order to contribute to uplifting our own lives as well as the total consciousness of the human race. Information, exercises and tools were presented which are designed to help us recognize and utilize the tremendous power we have at our disposal so that we do not feel helpless in our lives. An explanation of the Lifestream and how it operates through Divine MIND-SPIRIT-LIFE on various levels of consciousness was given. We have examined how our minds function on these levels of consciousness; namely: Objective Perception, Subjective Evaluation, Subconscious Reaction and Superconscious Guidance.

We have considered the Principles of Change whereby we can transmute lower expressions of our mental, emotional and physical conditions into more refined states or expressions. We have evaluated our self image and begun to adjust it to a more positive image while attempting to expand our comfort zones. We have considered the teachings of the Master Jesus, i.e. that we are indeed individual expressions of God, and that we carry the power of God within us; also that the laws of Divine Mind-Spirit-Life respond to us AS WE BELIEVE.

We have set out to establish a new belief system using the formula, Admit-Commit-Submit-Remit, and we have earnestly and sincerely worked with the Remission Process until we have felt a sense of oneness with our indwelling Christ and with everyone in our experience. We have said “YES” to allow the Lifestream to flow freely through us. After having done all of these things, it is now time to work on the desires of our hearts, to turn them into goals and bring them into concrete expression.

The Goal Reaching Process

The goal reaching process is not a process to success, but rather a process of success, i.e. a series of small steps (or successes if you will) that eventually take you where you want to go. The first step, however, is To decide exactly where it is you would like to go. If you observe those who are demonstrating success in their lives, you will note that they know what they are aiming for and giving it their all. Some people, however, have not really decided what they want. They can list all of the things they don't want out of life, and they know that they want more than they presently have. Beyond that point they have not seriously considered the matter. Well, now is the time to start considering. If you are not sure where to begin a good starting point would be the desires of your heart.

The Source of Our Desires

If you will think back to Chapter One on “Mind” you will recall that the subconscious mind serves as a transmitter of urges, impulses, intuitive flashes, and desires from your higher self to bring them up to your conscious level of subjective evaluation. The power of choice being yours, you can decide whether or not you will act upon these urges and impulses, whether or not you will follow those intuitive directions or listen to and heed that “Still Small Voice” which spurs our desires to heights unimagined.

The word desire stems from the Latin meaning, "from the Father." Desire comes down to us from our higher self. It is the Father within urging us to do more, to be more, to realize more of our potential, to raise ourselves up in consciousness. Mighty oak trees grow from tiny acorns because the tree is the acorn, and the acorn is the tree. It is a stream of life that gives the acorn an oak tree consciousness. We can fulfill all of our desires because the fulfillment is the desire. We can be whatever we desire to be because that desire in its fullness, in its completeness, sends the Lifestream from our higher realm of consciousness through our subconscious mind to the level of our subjective awareness.

Our desires first express themselves as a tiny spark that may just show as a slight urge or a bit of curiosity; it may even go unnoticed for some time. But the Lifestream is unceasing, and so the spark becomes a flame and we begin to feel it burn within us, etching upon our consciousness, “You are more than what you are expressing.” “There is more to life than what you are experiencing.” And the voice within speaks, “It is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. You need but ask, and it is yours; you need but seek, and you shall find; you need but knock, and the door shall be opened unto you.”

The desire is the fulfillment because it is nothing less than the will of the Father that we come to ourselves and reclaim what is rightfully ours - GOD in all its fullness. So with that frame of reference I want you to make a list of your burning desires. Start with the same categories we used before, i.e. family, personal relationships, career, finances, physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. If you have other desires that do not fit either of these, write them down anyway. Let your higher self guide you as you express these burning desires in writing. (Use the following page to write out your burning desires.)

As you review your list you may find that some of these desires have been burning within you for quite some time, urging you to act upon them, while others on the list may have just come up into the fore of your consciousness while doing this exercise. It does not matter, for they all come from the same source. However, now we must come back down to earth and do something about our desires. We raise our consciousness to lofty heights in order to received inspiration and guidance, but it is on this mundane plane where we must actually put it to work in order to realize our dreams and fulfill our desires.

MY BURNING DESIRES

FAMILY_____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

PERSONAL RELATIONS_______________________________________

____________________________________________________________

CAREER_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

FINANCES___________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

PHYSICAL ___________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

EMOTIONAL ________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

MENTAL_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

SPIRITUAL___________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Setting Your Goals

The reason so many people do not get what they really want out of life is because they do not take the time to clearly define what they want, set goals for themselves and work toward achieving them. Can you imaging a basketball coach sending his team out on the court to play the big game, and there is no basket into which to shoot the ball? He tells them, “Go for it - Give it all you've got!” But what would they do without a goal? Can you imagine an Olympic runner on a race track with no finish line? He is running as hard and as fast as he possibly can, but where is he going, except around in circles? Unfortunately, this is how all too many of us play the game of life - giving it all that we think we have and aiming at nothing in particular.

Some of us have set our goals in our heads but have not taken the time to write them down. So as we go about our daily routine our minds are preoccupied with the chores of the day, and we give very little if any thought to our personal goals and where we see ourselves a few years from now. Remember we said that it is on the conscious level of subjective evaluation where we select, focus and work with our thoughts. Working with thoughts about our goals plants them as seeds in the subconscious mind. These are the seeds we want to grow until we find ourselves responding and acting on our goals without a second thought. By writing our goals down on paper we are focusing our attention on two levels of consciousness. One we must first think about what the goal is and the words to express it. Then by doing a physical act, we are perceiving what we are writing and then giving further thought to what we have written. Can you see how this serves to reinforce the subconscious reception of these ideas?

Now is the time of decision and commitment. Look over all of the desires that you have written down, and decide which ones present the strongest urge to you. Be sure to select at least three different areas of your life (one from each if possible). You want to keep your life balanced so that you enjoy it to the fullest. Do not let "SMT" discourage you just because you may not see right before you the resources to bring these desires to fulfillment. You do not actually "see" the desires either, but you "have" them. Always remember that the fulfillment as well as the means of fulfilling come from the same source as the desire. If you "have" the desire, you also "have" the means to fulfill it. Once you have made your decision as to which desires you want the most at this point in your life, write each one down as a goal, and commit yourself to working on them a little each day until they are accomplished.   Anything is a cinch when you take it by the inch! No one can climb a mountain in a single leap, but taking one step at a time men have scaled mount Everest!

The Power of Imagination

Imagination draws together a number of seemingly unrelated, elements and pieces them together like a puzzle to create a new picture. Every new invention, innovative project, or new set of circumstances had its beginning in someone's imagination. Indeed there would be no progress in the world at all without the imaginative mind.

Still working with the stream of consciousness on the level of subjective evaluation, we are going to use our imagination to create a new picture of ourselves as having achieved our goals. We must establish in our subconscious mind a new self-image. We must see ourselves not as we presently are, but as we want to be. We must see ourselves as achievers, and plant this picture firmly in our subconscious mind. This is done by way of our thought patterns, and patterns are established through repetition of thoughts. The subconscious mind does not evaluate our thoughts; it simply responds based upon the information received. It has no way of knowing whether this information (our thoughts) is the result of real life experiences or a product of our imagination. We therefore can make just as strong an impression upon our subconscious through the power of our imagination as through a real life experience.

MY GOALS

FAMILY: By________________ I will __________________________

___________________________________________________________

PERSONAL RELATIONS: By ______________ I will ______________

___________________________________________________________

CAREER: By _____________ I will_____________________________

___________________________________________________________

FINANCES: By _____________ I will ___________________________

___________________________________________________________

PHYSICAL: By _____________ I will____________________________

___________________________________________________________

EMOTIONAL: By_____________ I will _________________________

___________________________________________________________

MENTAL: By______________ I will ____________________________

___________________________________________________________

SPIRITUAL: By_____________ I will____________________________

___________________________________________________________

Exercise:

It is time now to go back to your list of goals and use your imagination to create a new scenario in your life. It may be something within your own character that you wish to change so that you respond more positively to other people or circumstances. It may be a project that you want to complete, a career change, a better standard of living for yourself and your family, a healthier body, a closer relationship with your loved ones. Though all of your goals are important to you, for the purpose of this exercise, select only one with which to start, and you can build upon that as you go.

Now close your eyes. In your mind’s eye use your imagination to visualize yourself having fulfilled your desire. Do not think of your life as it is presently showing itself, but rather as you want it to manifest. Piece together each element until you have created a complete picture of the experience you desire. You must be able to see yourself having, being and doing the thing you desire. Let your imagination soar, and develop your mental picture with living, moving images - happy, successful images - loving, harmonious images - healthy, wealthy images - inspiring, uplifting images - completely fulfilling images. This mental picture should be composed of the purest elements you can imagine, serving only for the good of yourself as well as for those in your life experience. Establish in your consciousness the most detailed and perfect picture you can conceive, your highest ideal.

Having once visualized our ideal scenario, this does not mean that we simply walk into the next room and see it manifest before our eyes. But by working with this visualization process we achieve two very important things:

First, it loosens those self restricting bonds and serves to expand our self-image to include a much richer life experience. Once we are able to really see ourselves in a new experience, it becomes ours. Secondly, by consciously focusing our minds upon our highest ideal, we establish an attunement with our Higher Self, and that "Still Small Voice" is heard louder and more frequently guiding us and giving us new ideas on which to act in order to manifest our desires.

The Value of Work

Although positive thinking and visualization are important to keep you inspired, they will do naught for your dreams unless you ACT upon the inspiration that you receive. For each goal you have set from your burning desires, you must devise and write out a detailed plan of action to get you there. Your burning desires are the things you want to achieve or experience in your life. They are the purpose for devising work goals, so that you will know just what you must do in order to achieve or fulfill your desires.

When we take a vacation, we do not simply walk out of the front door and go on vacation. No, there are a number of decisions that must be made and actions that must be taken. First we decide where we want to go, how we will get there, what clothes we will take with us, how much money we will need. who will look after the pets or water the plants while we are gone, etc.. This is our plan of action, our work goals.

Once the decisions have been made, we must then go about the business of acting upon our decisions and carrying out our plan. We must buy a plane ticket (or provide for some means of transport) make hotel reservations, pack our clothes, get travelers checks, take the dog to the kennel, etc., etc., etc.. If we never make our decisions and follow through by acting on our plans, there will be no vacation. So back to the drawing board we go with our goals. For this exercise take the same goal which you visualized yourself having achieved, and begin to work backward from that achievement. Ask yourself the following questions: What major and minor decisions had to be made? What resources were needed? What skills were required? What specific steps had to be taken?

Now, using the worksheets at the end of this chapter, write out your answers for each of the questions listed above. As you write your list of answers you will notice that some of the items on your list may be dependent upon some other things that you may or may not have thought of already. As you think of new ideas, add them to your list of answers. This list may not be complete for some time, because as you work with these ideas many more will come to mind. However the list you are making up today will provide you with a starting point.

The next step is to arrange your lists according to priority. Every step is important, because these are the steps that led to the achievement of your goal as you visualized it. If you can see the steps in your mind's eye and write them down, you can retrace them in your experience. So look over your list to determine what steps need to be taken as prerequisite to other steps, and arrange them accordingly. You will discover that some of these steps may be completed within one day, while others may take weeks, months, even years. This is why it will be necessary to have long range goals (such as a university degree or special training that will prepare you for a career move) and short range goals (such as planning study periods for daily classes). All of this makes up your plan to achieve your ultimate desire.

There is great satisfaction in knowing that you are working on fulfilling your heart's desires, and watching them unfold before your very eyes as you take one step at a time remembering that with every step you take, in every situation and in every person you encounter along the way, THERE IS GOD.

Plan of Action - Now you must write out the following:

The Process

Summary

1. GOD is the Source, the Means and the Fulfillment of our heart’s desires.

2. We must first identify our burning desires, then turn them into goals.

3. We must decide to work toward achieving our goals.

4. Any goal that can be conceived in our mind’s eye, and believe in our heart, can be achieved in our experience.

5. We must devise a plan of action and work on our plan one step at a time.

6. THERE IS GOD.

workshop

Workshop Session 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - Lifestream Meditation

© 1996 - Carolyn Odom Burleson, Ph.D.

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