I Don’t Know What I Want!

Positive thinking tip: Choose a goal that inspires and motivates you

Here’s a question that comes in quite often – so let’s just address it once and for all.

Have you ever wondered:

“How am I supposed to apply the principles to achieve a goal if I don’t even know what I really want?”

I remember feeling that way years ago – after having attended almost 100 seminars (at that point), and having read countless books about success.  I was inspired and motivated by nearly every one of them, but my frustration only grew as time went on and I didn’t have a really great success story of my own.

My frustration came to a head after watching the movie “Rudy” about the young man who dreamed of playing football for Notre Dame.  Based on a true story about Rudy Ruettiger, I came away from the movie celebrating my potential because I could see that anything was possible for someone who passionately chased a dream… until it hit me.

My heart sank as I lamented, “What do I want THAT bad? I wish I could feel that passionate about something.”

Sure, there were plenty of things that I wanted – there was no lack of need or desire in my life for better conditions.  What I lacked was the passion and determination to face and conquer all of the obstacles that would always seem to get in the way.  No matter what “desire” I identified, the moment an obstacle would crop up, my faith would waver and I’d begin to question the feasibility of the goal.

To that point, I had not found anything that I could be so passionate about that the obstacles wouldn’t derail me.

When my son was born with a heart defect, and the Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City saved his life, I thought: surely I had found something I could finally be passionate about: I would become wealthy so I could donate a portion of my wealth to the hospital.

Well, that passion lasted until the next bill was due, and then I immediately fell back into survival mode, fearful and angry all over again.  “Where is that passion now?” I wondered.

What I didn’t realize, was that my Father in Heaven was steering me and grooming me through some very specific experiences, so that I would be able to discover, recognize, and appreciate my life’s passion when it came time for it to finally be revealed.

(Now, I’m not saying that my life’s passion doesn’t change or evolve over time, I strongly feel that it does.  I’m just talking about looking for, and finding passion and purpose in the NEXT goal on which I was to put my focus and energy.)

So if you find yourself in this same sort of dilemma, I’ve discovered something that can help:

Just as you can use the principles to find an opportunity, enjoy a certain kind of relationship, or better health; you can also use the principles to figure out what you really want.

How?

Set a goal that says something like this:

[Date] – I am so happy and grateful now that I have identified a goal that is worthy of me. It takes no effort to remember what it is, because frankly, I can’t get it out of my mind! I am so excited about this one, because I know it’s mine, and no matter what obstacle gets in my way, THIS is bigger. I know that it’s a goal that God wants for me, too, which makes it so much easier to believe that a way is prepared for me to accomplish it – no matter how impossible it may presently seem.  I know this, because I have felt (and recognized!) some strong spiritual impressions that this is precisely what I’m meant to accomplish. I am ready to honor it and take action, no matter how scary it may seem. How amazing it feels to be on a real ‘rabbit’ hunt!  I could really get used to this feeling of focused, guided sense of certainty!

Keep in mind, that if you set a goal like this, you must be willing to honor the idea when it comes to you.  You’ll know it when you get it, but it will probably cause feelings of anxiety as you consider the possibilities it represents.  You must be willing to act on it, no matter what.

So, don’t ask for the dream until you’re ready and willing to take the next step toward accomplishing it.  That it shows up in your mind and heart with an assurance that it is right, means that it is as good as yours if you will follow the path prepared for you to receive it.

Do not retreat!  Have courage, and it will all come together in the right way and at the right time.

You’ll participate in miracles!