Tuesday February 19, 2008 #11

“Happiness and high performance come to you when you choose to live your life consistent with your highest values and your deepest convictions.” ~Brian Tracy

In the next few JAMs we will discover what blocks us from making progress on our goals, and how to overcome them.  

Block #1:  Your goals are not connected to your values. 

They are someone else’s ideas about whom or what you should be.  Unless a goal is deeply rooted in your values, you will not have the character strength to fight through obstacles.  So many people, even when they achieve a goal such as wealth or fame, find they are miserable.  Why?  They are doing what society, family, and friends tell them is right.  They aren’t working on goals that truly connected with their values.

Your assignment has two parts:

  • 1. Think deeply about how you define your core values around the four key areas of your life – health, wealth, wisdom/expertise, and social happiness. The idea is to understand why you want to be healthy (to be able to play with my grandchildren, or to travel). Or why you want to be wealthy (education for my children without debt, philanthropy). And so on.
  • 2. Look at the goals you now have for your health, wealth, wisdom and happiness. Do they support your values – your “why’s”? Spend some time reshaping these goals in alignment with your values.

Once you have strong goals for your life, in alignment with your character and values, you will be more able to take the actions necessary for goal achievement.