Reach out and Reasonable
Time
Let’s look at each of these components of a well-designed SMART goal
and determine why each is so important.
Specific
If it is not stated specifically, your unconscious mind will not know exactly
what you want. Sometimes unconscious minds have a sense of humor.
They may produce an outcome you do not want but that satisfies what you
asked for. Remember that the unconscious mind takes the path of least re-
sistance to produce what you ask for. This is why it is essential to state your
goal specifically.
Specific also means it must be stated in the positive. Ask for what you
do want. Do not ask for what you don’t want. Remember that the uncon-
scious mind does not understand negatives or negation. If you use nega-
tives, the unconscious mind will produce exactly what you don’t want.
Specific also means specific to expressing your purpose. Check back
and read over your purpose of life statement. Working on (even thinking
about) a goal that is out of harmony with your purpose creates internal
conflict, making the goal far more difficult to accomplish. If your goal is not
in harmony with your purpose, then change one or the other.
Measurable and Meaningful
If the goal is not measurable, how will you know you achieved it? If your
goal is to be happy, how do you measure that? Happiness is a state you
can have any time you choose. You must state your goal in such a way that
it can be easily measured. When writing your goal, ask yourself: “What
evidence do I require when the goal is achieved so I will know 100 per-
cent for sure that I achieved it?” Another way to determine measurability is
to ask: “Can it be carried in a wheelbarrow?” If yes, it is measurable. If
your goal is huge, you will need a huge wheelbarrow to hold it.
For example, your goal may be to feel ecstatic. The feeling of being ec-
static is not measurable. There are varying degrees of this feeling, and it
will be different for everyone. Obviously, the feeling of being ecstatic can’t
be placed in a wheelbarrow.
The goal must also be meaningful to you. If it is not, you will lack the
necessary motivation to achieve it. It is best if your goal aligns with your
purpose. Ask yourself “Does this goal express my purpose?” If it does, then
it is meaningful. If not, pick a different goal.
As If Now
You must be state the goal in the present tense. This is critical. You cannot
change the past or the future. The only change you can make is in the pre-
sent. The changes you make in the present will affect the future, but you148 Your Mind Is Not a Democracy