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Formulating S.M.A.R.T. Goals

Welcome back! If you're like approximately 40% of Americans, you've made New Year's resolutions. And if you are like 75% percent of those, you will break them by the beginning of February. Goals. Resolutions. Why do they fascinate and plague us? A unique approach to this entire issue is our subject of the month.

Joseph Campbell's model of the hero's journey details ten steps which mark the passage from one life to another. The third of these steps is called "Acceptance of the Challenge." The Lifewriting system represents this step as goal-setting.

Much has been said about goal-setting, and there is a great deal of misunderstanding about the process. Many people are afraid the set goals, thinking that if they fail to accomplish them, they will have somehow diminished themselves and their ability to experience joy and fulfillment. Nothing could be further from the truth. As strange as it may seem, one of the most positive results of goal setting is what FAILING to reach a goal will teach you about yourself.

The reason for this is simple: if you fail to accomplish a goal there are a finite set of possible causes, and an examination of the "negative" results will often yield invaluable insight into your mind and emotions.

So let's go through the process of goal-setting and examine the lessons that can be learned from either failure or success. Let's say, for example, that your goal is to decrease your body fat percentage to 15%. What are the necessary steps?

1. Formulate S.M.A.R.T. goals. This means the a goal should be Specific, Meaningful, As-if now, Realistic, and Time bound. Let's go over these. "Specific" means that you should say exactly what you want. It must also be as photographable as possible. Don't say that you want money, say that you want to increase your income by $10,000 dollars a year. Don't say "I want to lose weight," say how many pounds, or what body fat percentage you want. "Meaningful" means that the goal should have emotional resonance for you. It shouldn't be something you want because your parents wanted you to have it. Don't lose weight because your wife or husband wants you to. Lose body fat because it will please YOU to move more lithely, or run more easily, or dance longer without fatigue, or look better in the mirror. "As if now" means that your goal should be phrased in the present tense. Don't say "I will lose weight" say "My body fat is a lean, sexy fifteen percent." "Realistic" means that your goal is possible for a human being to attain. It is often said that there are no unrealistic goals, only unrealistic time frames. If you can find a role model who has accomplished a goal similar to yours, starting from a similar place in life, within a time frame similar to the one you set for yourself, and you are willing to adapt that role model's actions and beliefs, your goal is realistic.
   Caution: in fat loss or any other arena, look for the long term plan. Look for someone who took fat off and kept it off for at least three years. This means no fad diets or crash exercise programs.
   "Time bound" means that there is a time limit for the accomplishment of your goal. "On June 1, 1999, my body fat percentage is a lean, sexy 15%."
2. Your goals should be balanced. This means that you need to have goals set in each of the three major areas of life. Three major areas are: physical fitness, career, and relationships, (in other words, body, mind, and spirit). Do not neglect to select a goal in each of these three areas. This critically important, because most people will hide their fears and doubts in one of these three areas, and then ignore that area.
3. Because there are no guarantees in life, it is important that you select goals that will help you become the kind of person you want to be whether or not you reach the goal itself. You probably heard the expression "The road is better than the inn." This is its origin.

For writers:

In the movie "Star Wars," Luke Skywalker's moment of acceptance comes only after finding his aunt and uncle murdered. In your story, what will take for your characters to be forced to the point of commitment?

For readers and watchers:

Note that the entire film "Play Misty for Me" is basically two hours of ever-increasing leverage on Clint Eastwood's passive, self-indulgent character. The movie ends about three minutes after he finally decides to take action!

Homework:

1. Look at your five favorite films, and then write down the moment in which the lead character finally takes responsibility for action and decides on a goal.
2. Look at the characters in your own writing, and ask yourself where they have broken promises to themselves. What does this tell us about their character, their inner world, their environment?
3. How can you structure a story to give a character the resources necessary to make and keep powerful promises?
4. Ask yourself: Is failing to reach a goal a failure of character? Or is giving up, or refusing to LEARN the only real sin? Where have you let yourself down in life, in love, in career?

Thank you!

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