Purposeful Growth

The prevailing methodology for goal setting, especially in organizations, follows the SMART acronym. SMART is an acronym for varying process steps, typically Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time (linked). But SMART may not be the best goal setting process for everyone. SMART is primarily a left-brained process, lending itself to tracking by managers, which makes it ideal for performance based evaluations.

If you’re more interested in achieving your goals than in being measured against them by your boss, consider setting your

goals creatively. Creative goal setting may lend itself to those who tend to use right-brain processes more than left-brain, but anyone can learn to use this process. And it may not only help you achieve your goals faster, it may be more fulfilling, inspire greater energy, and sharpen use of your inherent creative side. 

The right side of our brains furnish big-picture processes, helping us grasp total situations, reach overall insights, and see creative, alternative solutions. The right side also houses our faith-based spiritual thinking.

Following the SAFE methodology will safely guide you to achieving your most challenging goals. SAFE stands for

• See the end result
• Accept the end result
• Feel the end result
• Express the end result

See it, Accept it, Feel it, and Express it!

See it: It’s important that you see yourself having reached the goal. Visualize yourself in the new situation that results when you attain your goal. This step combines some aspects of SMART in that to see yourself at the desired end

result of your goal you must have a specific definition of that end result. It’s very difficult to see yourself being a better parent without having defined what better parenting means to you. 

Seeing yourself having reached the goal automatically ensures that your goal is specific. Being able to see yourself there also ensures that your goal is realistic and achievable for you. Our minds won’t allow us to see ourselves in a situation that appears beyond our abilities.

Accept it: This is a critical step, accepting not just the goal, but the end result of the goal. Accept means that you open yourself to attaining the goal AND you are 100% certain that it will occur. This is critical to goal attainment because it ensures that you have no doubts. You may not know exactly how you’ll achieve your goal, but you have no doubt about achieving it; it will happen and you know it.

Feel it: Goal attainment is more about attracting what we want than chasing what we want. Attraction is strengthened by combining the mental power of thinking about the goal (seeing and accepting) with the emotional power of the feelings you’ll have when the goal is achieved. As you visualize yourself having achieved the goal, allow yourself to feel the accompanying emotions. The stronger the emotion the stronger the attraction to the goal.

If upon visualizing yourself having reached a goal, the strongest emotion you can muster is relief, the goal may not be your goal. It might be someone else’s goal for you. This is typical of goals your boss gives you. Your true goals should bring forth emotions of passion, excitement, energy, and enthusiasm.

Express it: Expressing your goal is the final step in creating it. In this step you not only see yourself having achieved the goal, including how you feel once you’re there, but you express the end result in words, verbalizing and writing it in great detail. You might also draw a picture of it or create a collage.

It’s important that your expression embody the aspects of seeing, acceptance, and feeling in present tense format. You express goal attainment as if you’ve already achieved it; it’s a done deal and you’re simply describing it.

If you are primarily a left-brain oriented person, as I once was, you may be highly suspicious of this process. There are two reasons you may want to try the SAFE method of goal setting for your very challenging goals.

First, developing greater use of your right brain functions will further your personal growth. Totally depending on left brain competencies is like working with one hand tied behind your back; you can do more and be more effective using both sides of your brain. See Dan Pink’s A Whole New Mind for an interesting exploration and prediction of the future of right brain power.

Secondly, you’ll find the SAFE method is easy and fun. When your goals just seem to come to you rather than having to chase them down, goal setting becomes easier and fun; it’s no longer work, it’s personal growth on purpose.

Revive your mind and exercise your brain on purpose. If your goal is to grow on purpose, to improve mind, body, and soul and become the best you can be, you’ll want a copy of The Intellectual Devotional by David S. Kidder and Noah D. Oppenheim. This is a wonderful resource, packed with intellectual information that will stimulate your mind, exercise your memory, and tickle your intellectual curiosity.

Modeled after spiritual and inspirational prayer devotionals, The Intellectual Devotional rewards its reader with a stimulating daily summary of information in one of seven areas of human knowledge.

Designed for once a day reading, The Intellectual Devotional will fit nicely on your nightstand or park in your briefcase for that daily kick of new information that keeps you mentally sharp and satisfies the curious mind.

Each day of the week is devoted to one of seven areas of human knowledge:

• Monday is History
• Tuesday is Literature
• On Wednesday it’s Visual Arts
• Thursday’s is Science
• Friday is Music
• Saturday features Philosophy
• and Sunday is Religion

Each week the daily reading either advances the topic covered the previous week or introduces something new. Each reading provides a short summary of the topic and goes on to provide interesting and little known background information. I find the background facts intriguing and they make for great conversation around the water-cooler, coffee machine, or at your next party.

For example, you probably know that Michelangelo sculpted the famous statue of David. But did you know that he wasn’t the first choice to do this work? Another artist won the commission for the David sculpture, but he died shortly after beginning to work the block of marble. Michelangelo was the only artist willing to complete the David sculpture using the original artist’s marble block. What a great lesson in not allowing pride to obstruct an opportunity!

The Intellectual Devotional will make a thoughful gift for that curious person on your Holiday list. Treat yourself to your own copy and enjoy the energy of stimulating your mind each day.