Set generic goals, then expect generic results. Repeat this to yourself until it becomes part of you. If you want to know what differentiates people living their best life, from those living with unrealized dreams, look no further. It starts and ends with the mindset and how they see their future.

It is imperative to understand that your subconscious mind is diligently working behind the scenes to give you what it thinks you want. Something called the reticular activating system is matching active thoughts to subconscious patterns. When it gets a match, your conscious mind is made aware. TaDa! – Here is what you wanted. This system is responsible for the phenomenon that you may have experienced; You buy a new car, and all of a sudden it seems like your exact car is everywhere. For some reason, you are hyper-aware and notice each and every one around you. In other words, your brain is showing you what you wanted.

Understanding that this system exists, is always working, always matching, and always identifying patterns and opportunities for you is a huge advantage. Also, understand that if we think about the wrong things or in the wrong way it can return some lackluster or disappointing results. Remember you get more of what you focus on.

Generic Goals are goals that lack clarity and detail. Such as I want a new job, or I want more money. Your mind will still go to work to help you find these, but finding a $10 bill on the street is more money – Mission Accomplished, Job Done! Now finding money is good, but it is not really what we hoped for. When we never go deep into what we really want, when we can’t describe it, visualize, or imagine ourselves living a new life then our mind will try its best or worse deliver the wrong results. If I put you on the spot and asked you what your goals are how would you respond?

Negative Goals are as bad or even worse. A negative goal is focusing on what we don’t want. I don’t want to get fired, I don’t want to fail, I don’t want to be alone. The problem is twofold. First negative goals tend to consume a lot of thought time. We worry and ruminate over them for long lengths of time. Secondly, our mind does not process negatives like “Don’t” the way we think it does. To process don’t, we have to create a mental image first, then remove it. So we are always creating a desire before removing it. Try this. Right now, whatever you do, don’t think of a purple elephant.

This is exactly why we always seem to get exactly what we did not want. It was not bad luck or bad circumstances but rather a form of unintentional self-sabotage. Remember you get more of what you focus on. (Positive or Negative)

Developing the right mindset starts with the process of setting specific, vivid, positive goals and having the commitment to pursue them. This is the path to achieve remarkable results. There are a few basic guidelines to help you retrain your mind to work for you more than against you.

1. Break the habit of talking about what you Don’t want! Learn to catch yourself every time you use it. Stop and immediately reframe it into a positive statement.
   • I don’t want to be alone = I want to find a partner to have adventures with
   • I don’t want to fail at XYZ = I want to learn and invest in how to master XYZ
   • It takes practice, but the outcomes are worth it in the end
2. Start with the end in mind. Can you describe your career, your lifestyle, and your financials a year from now or even two from now? Be ambitious, it should stretch you, force you to learn and grow, and it should be a challenge. But the main thing is to make sure that whatever you describe is something you actually truly want. The most successful people intentionally make time frequently to mentally create and model their desired future reality. They meditate on it, even visualize themselves living it.
   • Try setting aside a quiet hour or two to really think and create a vision for your life. A year from now what do you want to achieve. Write the final version down.
     • What are you focused on?
     • What have you stopped doing?
     • How has your income changed?
     • How are you living?
     • How are you playing?
     • Who else benefits or is impacted?
     • What is your “MOON SHOT”? (Really Big Thing)
     • Visualize yourself in this life, try it on!
3. Break down the stepping stones to get there. This is where honestly meets reality. Sadly, too many people go wrong right here and skip this step. When you create a compelling vision for your future, you need to access what skills you already have or need to get there. Hope is important, but it is not a strategy. But taking intentional, consistent, action is. Stop and ask yourself
   • What skills do I have today that help me achieve my goal?
   • What skills am I missing that I will eventually need?
   • How can I acquire these skills? (List Options or Starting Point)
   • What is my support structure along the way?
   • Who do I need to bring into my life to help me achieve my vision?
   • What do I need to avoid that I know will derail me?
   • What are the next three steps that I WILL take action on?
   • When will I commit to completing those three steps?
4. Make it a part of you & take consistent action! No seriously, every day take action in some way. Some days you will invest heavily, other days smaller setup actions.
   • Make your goals and actions visible, refer to them daily.
   • Set dates to complete actions.
   • Commit to the mindset that while people may help you, you and you alone are responsible for making this a reality.
   • Starting with eyes wide open not everything will go perfectly, you may struggle, or get kicked in the teeth.
   • Build resolve to not give up.
   • You will have failures, learn the lesson, and get back up!
     

Repetition is key when it comes to ingraining this mindset within yourself. The more you remind yourself of the end goal and the potential it holds, the more natural it will become for you to align your thoughts and actions with this mindset. The more you cancel negative thoughts the less gravitational impact they will have on getting what you want. While it may seem like a simple concept, the difference between those who live their best life and those who are stuck with unfulfilled dreams can be traced back to their mindset. Success begins now. Embrace the power of a generic mindset and watch how it can transform your life in ways you never thought possible.