Now that you've had some time to mess around with and learn mind mapping, it's time to set some goals!  It's great to get "(un) organized" and everything ... but if you don't know WHY you're doing it, you won't be able to consistently follow through.  And that's hard enough for us adders already.

Yeah, I know ... it's just me.

While there's a lot of truth to the "law of attraction" theory, it's not enough.  You've got to do more than just think and dream about what you want.  You have to DO it! Think and dream as you DO, and you'll achieve it all!  But how do I get myself to DO?  Find your reason WHY.

Talking with other adders and reading their stories, I've found we tend to have a great desire to know WHY, not just how.  I've read about this in regards to employment, school, church, and social events too.  Our persistent asking of questions ... trying to get to the deeper meaning, to understand the WHY ... often gets us into trouble.

Well ... I'm all about hyper-focusing on our strengths, not our weaknesses, so the following goal setting exercise is based on answering the question "WHY".

What do you want?  What do you want to achieve?  Do you have an artistic dream to achieve?  Something work related?  Finances?  Relationships?  Our goals are as diverse as the billions of people that walk the planet.

Stuff!  I want lots and lots of STUFF!

Okay then ... for the purposes of answering WHY, let's focus on getting STUFF ... How about a new Corvette?

Get out a pad of paper or your mind mapping application, fire up your word processor, and let's get to work!

First, use your paper or processor and start writing about your new Corvette.  Write about it in DETAIL.  What color will it be?  What will the interior be like?  What type of stereo will it have?  What will the wheels and tires look like?  Will you do or have done any modifications?  What will they do?  More horsepower?  Torque?  Speed?  Write down everything you can think of!

Next, start your mind map with a Corvette in the middle of the page, now add some "child" branches as follows:

• How will owning a Corvette make me feel?  Mind map BOTH good feelings (emotions) and negative feelings (emotions).
• WHY will I feel this way if I own a Corvette?  Answer each of the feelings (emotions) from the previous question.
• What do I have to do (tasks, other goals ...) to accomplish buying a Corvette?
• What kind of help or assistance may I need?
• Am I making any assumptions?  Are you giving yourself a realistic amount of time?  Is the goal too big, or too small?
• What skills or information do I need to acquire?

Do this ONE GOAL at a time - big or small.  When you finish, you'll find you know a lot more about WHY you want to achieve the goal than you did before.  In other words, you've "clarified" your goals.  Visualizing the Corvette is one thing ... visualizing it with a PURPOSE is something totally different ... this will get you to DO something about it!

Something interesting that you may discover too ... is that the Corvette isn't really what you want, but instead ... it's the feelings of owning a Corvette that you REALLY WANT!

If you're looking for prestige, admiration, or to one-up the Jones', then start a new map, write down "prestige", and go through the exercise again.  Maybe I'm hallucinating here ... but my guess is when you focus on what you really want, you'll find your goals are easier to achieve.

You've also learned more about HOW to attain your goal of owning a Corvette.  Is there something else you need to achieve first?  Is your time line realistic?  Do you need to learn something different, make more money, or learn a new skill?  Do you need ... gasp! ... somebody else to help you?

Start another fresh mind map to work these things out too.

You've also just given yourself the old "carrot and stick"!  While you visualize ... do it with feeling ... really feel what you'll feel as you drive your new Corvette.  Then, think about not owning your Corvette.  Picture yourself driving a 1976 rusted-out Pinto, and feel what that feels like.

Hold the phone!  You're not supposed to think negative thoughts!

Really?  Are you to pretend they don't exist?  Shove them back into the darkest corner of your mind and pretend to forget?  Think about trying to ignore a 3yr old for a minute ... you can't, can you?

Negative thoughts act the same way.  They serve a purpose.  They have meaning.  Instead of ignoring them, or sending them to their room, allow your negative thoughts to have purpose.  Let them be the "stick".  Let them help guide you towards achieving your dreams!  By giving them purpose, when they're job is done, they won't hang around.  But when you ignore them, they'll kick, scream, and yell ... creating a negative playback tape in the deepest part of your mind.

Acknowledge them and give them purpose ... they'll help you in every way they can!

Good luck!  Get your goals down, you'll need them as we continue to get (un) organized!

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