My Favorite Practice for Achieving My Goals


There are few things as frustrating in life as feeling stuck and unable to fully reach goals or manifest desires. There was a time when I lived in that stuck, struggle place, and it was so unpleasant, challenging, and annoying. I’ve encountered resistance in my life, and I tend to get in my own way, while fully understanding that I am a powerful person capable of creating exactly what I wish (and you are, too).

I recently had an aha moment, where I pinpointed why I felt like I was perpetually coming up short when it comes to really seeing my goals come to fruition: I wasn’t fully embodying my desires. In fact, I was disconnected from them.

I thought my dreams and wishes had clarity in my brain, but I realized I wasn’t feeling them in my body, nor was I seeing that it was possible to happen in my life, so I didn’t truly believe in them. In other words, I knew what I wanted, but didn’t believe I could have it, and I didn’t know what to do to achieve it. This left me feeling in a weird limbo of knowing what I want, but feeling like it was always just out of reach. Can you relate?

The missing link is simple, but it’s powerful. It’s visualization. It’s sitting with yourself, visualizing that thing that you wish to achieve, feeling how it feels in your bones and in your body, recognizing all the emotions of what it will be like when it comes to form, and bottling it all up inside yourself as a new part of what you will carry with you. Think of it this way: It’s like giving your brain a software update, so that you can function at the next level of life that you desire.

This week, I introduced our high school student fellows, at Florida Atlantic University, to visualization. The fellowship program they are participating in requires them to complete a group project, focused on community engagement and civic leadership, and present it to us, in order to pass the course. I know they feel stressed about how they will get it all done, with so many things on their plates!

Visualization is the practice that can help them bridge the gap of knowing what it is they need to do, remembering that they are always capable of doing it, and actually taking the action to make their dreams, desires, and goals come to form. I led them through a visualization meditation, and the relief that they felt from it was tangible. They were remembering who they are, why they are here, and exactly what they are capable of.

And I wish this relief for all of you, too!

Incorporating a visualization meditation into your practice will give you a sense of confidence, peace, and ease along your journey. It’s super easy, just follow these steps below

  1. Get clear on what you desire, what you want to achieve, or how you want to feel. What is your intention? This could be as simple as asking yourself how you want to feel in a given day, and going from there.
  2. Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and breathe.
  3. Start to visualize that desire, achievement, or feeling, as if it’s already happened. See it in your mind’s eye, and be specific
  4. Notice the feelings that arise in this moment, how does it feel in your body to be that person who has already achieved?
  5. Recognize the details and take note of any action steps that come to mind here.
  6. Allow yourself to sit with this and embody this new piece of your life.
  7. Take a few moments to breathe and cultivate a sense of gratitude for what you know is possible.
  8. Open your eyes and journal what came up for you in that practice. You’ll get bonus points for writing down accompanying affirmations that can remind you of this visualization and your desires throughout the day.
  9. Remind yourself that you are worthy and capable.
  10. Repeat as necessary and trust that it all will unfold.

Wishing you a beautiful journey with this visualization process. Let me know how it goes for you.

xoxo, Michelle

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Editors Pick

The Practice by Barb Schmidt

Gabrielle Bernstein, New York Times bestselling author of May Cause Miracles