What do you want to achieve by 5 o’clock today? What are some steps you can take that would really move you forward? Just think of what it will feel like when it’s 5 o’clock and you’ve done those things. Imagine it’s 5 o’clock and it’s time to give yourself a hug or a big high-five.
Someone challenged me to do this the other day. What would I need to do to want to give myself recognition for a job well done at 5 o’clock? It was really helpful for me. I pictured myself having had two people take our newly developed Life’s Impact Assessment and giving me their feedback. I pictured how good it would feel at 5 o’clock knowing I had achieved this goal. It motivated me to get it done.
I had done a similar exercise at a goal setting workshop at the end of last year. The leader had us picture ourselves on December 31, 2015. We pictured in detail what it would look like having achieved our goal. How would we feel? What would be different? For me, I pictured myself standing on the scale in my bathroom. The scale read aloud a specific weight (I use a talking scale since I don’t see well).
I pictured everything in detail. The light streaming through the slightly tilted blinds. The sound of the electronic voice of the scale. My bare feet standing on the cold surface of the scale. Then, of course there was the wild excitement with hoots and hollers and everything. Picturing the achievement of the goal in great detail was an important part of the exercise.
Then I was asked to quickly note what it took for me to get there. I didn’t have a lot of time. All I came up with was “lots of water and salads.” I found it to be a very powerful practice and very effective, too. Next thing I knew I was drinking lots of water and eating lots of salads which definitely helped propel me toward my goal.
It’s easier to lose focus on these long-term goals. In fact, I was just doing the math this morning and decided it still possible to achieve my health-related goal for the year. More water. More salads.
I love the similarities between picturing myself having achieved my goal at the end of the day or at the end of the year. Both require picturing exactly what it will feel like once the goal is achieved. There’s also some good celebrating being pictured as well.
So take a few moments to picture the 5 o’clock you. What will you have done today that’s worth celebrating? What steps can you take today that will move you closer to a larger goal? I want for you to be able to give the 5 o’clock you a great big hug or an awesome high-five!
