DISQUS

Jared Goralnick · 1 year ago

Great work again, Clay!

Laura · 1 year ago

Nice article.

I really grabbed on to this quote:

"Meditate on the time when you were most happy, healthy, and alive, and pay attention to the associated mental images that these thoughts elicit. Is there one mental image that epitomizes this time in your life? Is the image relevant to you and can it be recreated as a photograph?"

Sometimes I feel frustrated when I meditate and can't get into it. So this really helps. But I loved all the lessons from story.

Andrea Hess | Empowered Soul B · 1 year ago

Great post - definitely an original article. I would probably call the big overall goal - the biggest doll - an intention rather than a goal. All the little dolls are then steps towards manifesting the intention.

I like the idea of a visual mantra.

Blessings,
Andrea

Kerouacky · 1 year ago

Very interesting article Clay.

I really like the use of Russian dolls to symbolize goals (and the steps required to achieve them). The example is original and one I will not forget. As I am a very visual person, images work much better than conceptual ideas. Thanks again.

Clay Collins · 1 year ago

@Andrea: I like what you write about the biggest russian doll being an intention rather than a goal. I think that many of these intentions, however, can be represented as a picture that sums everything up. What do you think?

@Kerouacky: Yeah, I'm a pretty visual person myself. I don't solve problems visually, but I think they're good for illustrating ideas.

@Laura: Yeah, I think it's important to reflect on when life was the best, without idealizing it or romanticizing the past. Sometimes it's possible to replicate aspects of our best lives as they once were, however.

@Jared: Thanks!

Anmol Mehta | Mastery of Medit · 1 year ago

Hey Clay,

Interesting article, if I may offer some thoughts. Your article gave me a slightly different insight than what you were intending, but it was very valuable to me nonetheless.

I see the big doll as my one true passion (Enlightenment) and the little ones as the other facets of my life (Career/Family/Health, etc.), which are colored by my overall passion and oriented to help me live that passion.

Nice work.

Cheers,
Anmol

Andrea Hess · 1 year ago

Clay, I definitely like the idea of visual intentions. I'm a very verbal person vs. visual, so I wouldn't necessarily have thought of that!

Blessings,
Andrea

Jonathan from JonathanMead.com · 1 year ago

Very unique and interesting approach to goal setting.

I especially like the idea of a visual mantra. It puts a whole new perspective on using images to increase the emotional energy behind your intentions.

Ali Hale · 1 year ago

This is a wonderful article. I've only ever written goals down in the past, but I love the idea of trying to encapsulate everything in one image ... I think it's much easier to "get" an image in one.

Thanks for sharing your personal goals, too -- and good luck with them!

Ali

Kelly@SHE-POWER · 1 year ago

One of your bets posts, I love it Clay.

I've tried the whole vision board thing a few times and it doesn't really work for me. It doesn't motivate me as it feels false and I don't end up looking at it so there's no purpose to setting one up.

But this idea, the idea of one picture that encapsulates where I'm going and how I want my life to be, this idea I love. Simple, but original. Like this blog. I'm becoming quite a fan here, Clay.

:) kelly

ImaNicePerson · 1 year ago

Interesting article. Using images for goals in addition to using them for fond memories is a good idea. One thing you could do would be to create two bulletin boards...one with pics of goals and one with pics of memories/accomplishments. When you achieve your goal you move the picture to the memories board.

Slade | Shift Your Spirits · 1 year ago

I'm all about "Radical Simplification" when it comes to goal setting. I find that all the techniques, strategies, and systems for goal setting and time management tend to overly complicate and decorate. I'm always asking myself "What can I remove?" as opposed to dissecting, over-analyzing, or wondering "What can I add?"

What you want to achieve, what you want to become, is rarely about adding more... stuff.

Working with the Big Picture is like a matroshka dolls -- you also often hear metaphors of "peeling back onion layers" -- it's kind of an energetic reflection of the relationship between micro- and macro-cosmic organization. At both the core and the outer shell, the energy is really identical. Micro-managing goals is probably the biggest mistake most people make.

Great post, Clay!

Vered · 1 year ago

I am not a visual person... I think in texts, not in images. BUT this article has inspired me to find my visual mantra: it is an image of a person skiing a steep slope, obviously having fun with it. Skiing is a challenge for me, and it is a challenge I am grateful for, because it teaches me to replace my normal "too hard, can't do it" mentality with an "I can do this" attitude. It projects beyond skiing and into my life in general. I like the idea of using that image whenever I feel weak or doubtful or unsure of myself. Thank you. :)

Dan // 5280' · 1 year ago

Hey, thanks for the comment on my blog. As you noticed, it's a new project, and I'm really hopeful about its prospects. I've got the great opportunity to go meet the Michigan Football coaching staff this weekend, so hopefully that will give me a unique topic to work with to really get me off the ground.

I love this post; it really just struck me as describing exactly what I'm looking for right now. I'm trying to get this blog off the ground, and I'm starting graduate school in the fall.

I appreciate the support so much, and your blog here really impresses me. It's polished, insightful and well-written; just an overall great piece of work. Thanks, and best wishes!

Shilpan | successsoul.com · 1 year ago

Clay,

Great article. I personally can attest to the power of visual goals. About 18 months ago, I developed a new found passion to build a hotel. I own hotels but I have never built one yet. Next, I sat down and put my goals on the paper to acquire land and to have a contract with the reputable hotel brand. After my research, I wanted to build a Country Inn and Suites. For next 6 months, I hung a picture of a brand new Country Inn and Suite that was built few years ago in Smyrna, GA. I even visited that hotel and took some pictures. I made picture visualization a daily routine. I am glad to say that I am ready to build one now with everything in place including financing.

Shilpan

Tom Volkar / Delightful Work · 1 year ago

I like what you have to say about what the photo represents to you. Meaning is personally inspiring and when we can latch onto an image with multiple connections all the better. I wonder like the doll, did you continue to surprise yourself with the next deeper meaning?

Robert | reason4smile · 1 year ago

Hi Clay, I agree with your statement on the Russian doll goal.
I believe one of the smaller doll will be character. It might be the smallest, but it might be the most important thing.
Money or material goals without character will be empty, isn't it?
Thanks for sharing this, I need to find a visual mantra =)
Robert