What are you trying to create in your life?

He is able to create beautiful objects from gold, silver, and bronze.  (Exodus 35:32; NLT)

A couple of days ago (6/18 DG), I wrote about the importance of stating a goal, or describing something you desire to create, in terms of what you want instead of what you don’t want.  In other words, the goal should not be a statement of what you’re wanting to move away from–it should be a statement of what you want to move to.  I also made the statement that it is important to be able to articulate specifically what you want to move away from, but just not as part of the goal statement.  Allow me explain myself.

Sharon and I are studying a new structure that we’re learning in the context of our wellness business.  We’re excited to realize that it’s not only applicable to that business, but to our coaching business, and to almost any other area of our lives where we want to move from our current reality to a desired future.  The process is called the creative process and has been developed over the course of several years by Robert Fritz, widely recognized as an expert in the area of structural dynamics.

It’s an incredibly powerful proces while amazingly simple at the same time.  You start by stating your goal or desired future.  And of course, that’s what we’ve been talking about up until now.  It must be a goal stated in terms of what you want, not what you don’t want anymore.  I won’t go into it here, but a goal should be a SMART goal to be effective (SMART = Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time specific).  With me so far?

Next, you need to articulate the current reality, or where you are now.  I believe you can see the necessity for this–for example, if your goal is to go to Chicago, it would be helpful to know whether you’re in Virginia Beach or in Los Angeles.  Otherwise you’re feet might get pretty wet.  It’s in this step of articulating current reality that it’s entirely appropriate to state what you want to move away from.  In actual point of fact, the more dissatisfied you are with your current reality, the more power (Fritz calls it “structural tension”) you will have to move toward your goal.  So there is an actual advantage in making what you don’t want sound as unlikable as you can while still being truthful about it.

Then finally, the last step in the creative process is to define a few action steps (along with dates) that will move you toward where you want to be.  They don’t have to be big, gargantuan steps…they could be quite simple and small steps.  An amazing fact is that, over time, the even the smallest of steps will add up to that big gargantuan step.  If you ‘re not too sure about what steps to take, follow the Nike commercials, “Just Do It!”  Just do something…anything.  Action is the magic key to goal attainment.  Of course the action has got to be moving you in the right direction. 

And that’s the beauty of the creative process.  What if you find your action steps have been taking you in the wrong direction?  Simply stop doing those action items and replace them with ones that are going in the right direction.  No failure!  No condemnation!  It’s just a learning process.  It’s growth!  You’ve learned that what you were doing is going in the wrong direction.  Just make the change.  No big deal.  Isn’t that simple?  And empowering?  All you need to add is a little support in the form of accountability and you’re off and running toward fulfillment of another goal.  Hallelujah!!!

Prayer Power
Father God, help us to see that since we were formed in Your image, that we were designed to create.  Encourage our hearts to step out and utilize that God-given capability.

Link of the Day
Robert Fritz on Structural Tension

Blessings on you as you begin to see yourself as responsible for creating your current reality.