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July is GOAL GETTERS Month!
Each Monday in July, I’m posting a new article in the series – Achieve Your Goals God’s Way.
Additionally, each weekday this month, my blog will be buzzing with special tips and resources that will help you to achieve your goals faster and easier! Make sure to sign up for the RSS feed so you won’t miss a single post!
And, as a special bonus – we’re having a special FREE goal getting training call on July 24th! Check out all the details here ==> www.beneciaponder.com/teleclases/
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Achieve Your Goals God’s Way (part4)
Eradicate the Fear
“Are you afraid of greater success?”
This thought came to me about 5 years ago during one of my morning meditations. Three months prior to that morning, I’d set what Jack Canfield calls a “Breakthrough Goal” – a goal that when accomplished would set me on the course for a lifetime of business success. My breakthrough goal was to write a book that would help entrepreneurs start and grow their own businesses. Once finished, I would have the opportunity to present this book at a business conference attended by hundreds of budding entrepreneurs. This new book would take my consulting practice to a whole new level.
I was certain I had everything I needed to write and publish a great book. As an entrepreneur, I had the experience. As a business attorney, I had the knowledge and expertise. As an excellent writer, I had the skills and talent. As a Christian, I had the belief. As a student of positive thinking, I had the vision of thousands of people starting successful businesses as a result of reading my book. I even had the plan and the resources necessary to print and publish the book.
Yet, the conference came and went…without my book. I searched for the reasons why I hadn’t been able to achieve this goal. I criticized myself for not following through and prayed that God would show me how to become more disciplined and focused on achieving greater levels of success.
My contemplation led me to ask myself, “Are you afraid of greater success?” When the question came to me, I was shocked. Of course I was familiar with the fear of failure as an impediment to achieving goals, but, the fear of success? Was there even such a thing?
I began to do some research and soon found out the fear of success is just as paralyzing, and sometimes even more detrimental, than the fear of failure.
This is especially true for high achievers who have experienced a certain level of success in their lives. You’ve already landed your dream job…You already have a thriving business….You’re already married to your soul mate…You’ve already purchased your own home…You already make a good income. Certainly you aren’t afraid of more success. Yet, for some reason, that next level of success (an even better position, even more clients, an even more intimate relationship) continues to elude you.
I’ve found that the fear of success has three main causes:
1. You are aiming at the wrong goal.
We talked about this in part 3, but it is such an important issue that it can’t be reinforced enough. For high achievers, success is a natural part of life. When we set out to do something we are certain that we’ll achieve it. When you find yourself at a place where your success has been stagnated, look at what you’re aiming for. You may be aiming for a goal that when accomplished will give you more of what you don’t want. That’s where I found myself. The truth was – I really didn’t want to succeed in my consulting business. What I really wanted to do was to launch my coaching and training business. If I would have succeeded at publishing the business start-up book, I would have advanced my consulting business and moved further from my true dream. If you find yourself in a similar situation ask, “Do I really want what I am attempting to accomplish?” If you don’t, ask yourself “What do I really want?” Once you begin aiming at a goal that is aligned with your God-given passions and purpose, the fear of succeeding will vanish.
2. You view your skills and abilities as constants.
According to research studies conducted at the University of Toronto and the University of Washington, people who view their skills and abilities as fixed become fearful when opportunities for greater success arise. When you look at your goal, do you instantly think “How am I going to accomplish this goal with the skills I have?” If so, you are asking yourself the wrong question. Instead, ask “What skills and abilities can I develop to help me accomplish this goal?” Then begin to improve your skills through training or coaching. As you develop the new skills, you will gain the confidence you need to move past your fear.
3. You are trying to do it all at once.
When I am faced with an opportunity to accomplish a big goal, I often have to remind myself of the riddle – “How do you eat an elephant. One bite at a time.” I get so excited about the results that will come when I accomplish the goal that I want to rush right ahead to the end. If you can relate to this, you probably can also relate to the paralysis that comes when your brain tries to do it all at once. Slow down and ask yourself, “What is the first step I need to take?” Take that step, and then ask yourself, “What’s next.” Keep taking it one step at a time until you’ve reached your goal.
For me, #1 was the root of my fear. Now, after aiming at the right goal, I am the author of the forthcoming book – Prepare to ReceiveMore! The Step by Step Guide to Forming Your Prosperity Partnership with God. (to be released September 2012)
What is the root of your fear? Share it in the comments below.
It’s time to get your goals! Join me for this month’s free complimentary teleclass so that you can set and achieve the goals that matter most ot you.
Register now at ==> http://www.beneciaponder.com/teleclasses/
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