The Power of Goal Setting and the Law of Attraction

Since a young age, I learned that setting specific and measurable goals, focusing on the process rather than the outcome, and believing in the power of visualization and aspiration are key to achieving goals.

I learned this from my unique childhood experience. 

All total, during the seven years of my elementary education, I attended 15 schools in four different States, sometimes moving every few weeks.

This nomadic childhood shaped me in many ways. It thrust me into new environments without any sense of continuity or long-term focus.

I had to develop survival skills. Skills that would allow me to function in each new setting, with its own unique rules, customs and traditions without the advantage of momentum or stability.

The things I learned and experienced gave me a different way of looking at a situation, of recognizing that to achieve something, it had to come from within.

Set Specific, Measurable Goals (but not always)

Goal setting is about setting specific and measurable goals using the SMART system. If you aren’t familiar with this term, I suggest you look it up. Great process.

But not all goals are equal. I have a unique way of setting aspirational goals; I write them down on 3x5 index cards, put them in a box, and then don’t look at them for a year. 

I revisit these cards every few years to check in and do a self-analysis. This method has led to some remarkable achievements, such as living in Taiwan for a year, meeting my favorite author, David Brin, and eliminating a significant amount of debt ($700,000 give or take $10,000).

The more specific goals are written down with means of measuring them. I then create a structure for my activities, whether studying, working on a project, or improving a skill. 

This structure helps to keep me on track and focused, ensuring that I’m regularly reviewing and practicing the material or actions needed to achieve the specific goal.

The key here for both processes is to set clear goals with a clear outcome. This means you can celebrate your achievements, which sends a celebration signal to the brain, catapulting you forward. This recognition of progress is essential for maintaining motivation, as motivation often comes after achieving something, not before.

Focus On The Process Rather Than The Outcome

Here’s another goal-setting tactic I use to keep me on track and motivated. It is a calendar system, very manual and non-techy.

I’ve shared it before in a previous post for doing 1,000 push-ups in a week, but I use it for other goals as well.

1. Print out a blank calendar for the month.
2. Write the goal at the top of the calendar.
3. Write a weekly milestone beside each week.
4. Place the calendar in the location where the activity will take place.
5. Place a pen next to the calendar.
6. Mark a tally for each time you do the activity.

Examples include:

• I place an X in the day whenever I do 10 push-ups. 
• I write my wake-up/go-to-sleep times on the calendar on my nightstand.
• I have a calendar next to my Peloton.
• I have a calendar next to my desk for tracking weekly income.

These examples are daily reminders with a readily available tracking method for goals I wish to achieve. The push-ups and Peloton are for physical goals. The wake-up calendar is for getting the right amount of sleep. The income calendar is a reminder to push the business forward.

Focusing on the process and creating a system to achieve my goal, rather than fixating on the end result, helps me improve significantly.

Engaging in the processes and the small steps that lead to the larger goal is crucial. When you set goals focus on daily routines and habits like workouts, healthy eating, and adequate sleep, rather than the end result, you remain motivated to achieve them. 

Believe In The Power Of Visualization

I remember setting an aspirational lifetime goal in college to earn $40,000 a year. A few short years after college, I arrived at this number with minimal effort. (Yes, it was written down on a 3x5 card and stuck in a box).

My aspiration to earn a certain income seemed far-fetched at one point, but by setting that goal and believing in it, I found that the universe seemed to conspire to help me achieve it.

Similarly, other goals, like meeting my favorite author David Brin, or eliminating $700,000 in debt, were realized in ways that affirmed the power of visualization and the Law of Attraction.

Visualization is the practice of creating a mental image of your desired outcome. At the same time, the Law of Attraction is the belief that the universe will help to bring those visualized goals into reality.

In my experience, writing down aspirations and visualizing them sends a powerful message to the subconscious mind. This act of visualization is not just about hoping or wishing; it's about firmly believing that the goals will be achieved. By visualizing your goals, you're mentally rehearsing the success and the steps needed to get there, which can increase your confidence and the likelihood of taking the actions necessary to achieve those goals.

The Law of Attraction complements this by suggesting that once you put your desires out into the universe with conviction, the universe will align with circumstances, people, and opportunities to help you achieve them. This mindset encourages openness to possibilities and readiness to act upon opportunities as they arise.

So don’t stress about your New Year's resolutions; set specific, measurable goals, focus on the process rather than the outcome, and believe in the power of visualization.

And remember, striving toward a goal is just as important as achieving it.

About the Author

Richard Bliss is the founder and president of BlissPoint, a social media consulting company that helps improve executives’ online communications and sales teams’ social selling behaviors. A LinkedIn Top Voices Influencer, experienced executive communications manager, and social media coach, Richard has helped thousands of people master social media tools and become fluent in social conversations, building their platforms and confidence to reach their audience and define their brand effectively.