GOAL!

Editorial

By Edie Johnson

Many years ago I was co-author what became a very popular book about how to write and attain life goals. It was originally written for use in a hospital setting, where I was a Research Associate in the first computer-assisted treatment planning program in the US. I was co-author with the Director of Research, did most of the groundwork interviewing staff about techniques they used to help patients. In order for the book to be successful the Hospital Administrator asked us to have all employees write their own Goal and Attainment Plan, and do a monthly follow-up with the research team. The book received enough significant attention that we were invited to give a half-dozen or so demonstrations at hospitals and health facilities across the US, and it was a wonderful experience to travel (sometimes with the Director of Psychiatry) and not only share our ideas about coaching goal attainment, but receive wonderful ideas from them about successful achievement in the 5 areas of goals we were assisting people with (Physical Health, Social, Recreational, Financial and Community. The best and most fun experience of those several years was a work session with doctors, nurses and therapists. We asked them to imagine being a Pioneer, in groups of one to 3 individuals, while listening to the music we played of "Appalachian Spring". Imagine watching 15 people building imaginary homes, planting and smelling imaginary flowers, petting an imaginary dog. I will never forget watching Dr. Jacobs, Director of Psychiatry being a happy Pioneer. The experience was exhilarating.. simply fantastic! It brought each them to a place and mood in their mind that was ideal. And each of their minds will remember that place with hints of how to get there.

Back at Forest Hospital, where the goals and methods were more "concrete", we did follow-up studies that showed that patients in therapy "got well" more quickly and had lower rates of hospital return when they participated in the goal-oriented planning process.

Long story short, the Goal Attainment Planning Program became popular both by staff (who were renumerated in dollars for their positive attainment as measured by an interviewer), and those coming to the hospital for therapy sessions. It was quite popular both nationally and internationally and started being used in training at nursing schools. It is still purchased online. However, the health-oriented community at large has grown and learned more about how the mind works and there are some new concepts about how to make goal planning more successful for each of us, and I think it is time to share them.

The Goal-Oriented Planning book that I co-authored, had a strong emphasis on "Health by Objects" (rather than attending to problems). While the Publishing Company (CV Mosby) insisted on renaming as Problem-Oriented to concur with the American Medical Association practice at the time many people and medical groups realized that it was really about being positive, and we are very fortunate to live at a time when Health is emphasized almost as much as Illness. Thankfully a more positive and goal oriented treatment system is finally making its way in medicine. I note that over the years quite a few additional copies have sold and are still being sold, mostly for nursing students (currently at $39), though I no longer receive royalties.

A NEW BOOK? - Obviously this project had an impact on my life, beyond the royalties that I received from the publisher. Here's the thing; Over the past 40 years I have learned some additional tips on how to achieve success in setting goals, and I think it is time to formally write some updates. IF THERE IS INTEREST I WILL WRITE A VOLUME 2, only this time it will be named more appropriately ... maybe How Goal-oriented Planning Ensures Success. Whoever came up with the idea that you could become happier, healthier and more successful by focusing on problems was missing a link. It would be like trying to follow a map that never ends up going where you want to go.

We were very fortunate in the 70's to be at the forefront of home computer use that led to many young research-minded people, though many older people said "You will never have computers at home, esplecially since men don't type. I think of that every time I see a man with his fingers flying on a tiny cellphone keyboard. The future is yours, but only if you have a plan for how to get there.

Here is a first setl for a future book with tips to give you the best chance to make your goals come true.

1. When you wake up each day, if you start to feel unmotivated sad or overtwhelmed by what you have to achieve today, before writing down an ominous list do a positive mental recap of your successes yesterday, and earlier in the week.

   Not only will this put you in a more positive frame of mind to tackle the day, it will set you up mentally, over time, (creating actually neurological connections) to think of a positive alternative every time you come face to face with a barrier.

2. Divide your goals into categories of your life, and include 2 goals for each If one is not going so well, you will have an alternative (in category categories of work, social, educational, mental and physical health, finance ......or whatever goals that you feel are best for you). And jot down a few steps toward attainment for each goal. That way you won't feel so 'stuck' when you hit a barrier. If you are starting to feel stuck, unless it's something you need to critically attain quickly, switch to a different goal or attainment method. You will not only get a break from feeling of being in a rut, chances are that you will learn something that will help remove the earlier barrier. Icing on the cake - This too will become a neurological bonus because the network of mental options will automatically grow more quickly i.e. You may be very surprised at the new ideas & solutions that simply pop into your head.

3. Balance your list of goals in terms of fun and easy to work on, positive but hard work, yukky hard work but definitely do-able, as well as what is for you the worst of the worst.

4. Here is a fun trick that someone goal-oriented put a name to: Pair a couple of your favorite goals with ones you absolutely DREAD. I noted someone is calling this "Bundling". It is actually rather simple bribery. personnal example - I have a yukky financial call to make that I've been putting off. For any attainment call like that I get to spend 1 hour working on finishing my new riding arena. This is most helpful when you choose items from the extremes (what you love to do and what you hate to do). But be careful not to overload the fun stuff vs. things that must be done.

5. Lastly (for this round of tips), DO NOT get overly invested in specific goals and methods of attainment. Take your attainment list and put it on a shelf from time to time so it doesn't interfere with unfettered spontaneity and joy! You will marvel at the ideas and shortcuts to completing a project if sometimes you do trial and error/flying by the seat of your pants. In truth setting only rigid goals and methods can inhibit creativity and the brain's practice at mental networking. And keep your goals and methods flexible ... time has a habit of changing everything. Reviewing (and sometimes updating) a written plan is a best chance for success and does not mean failure.

Tip of the day: First thing in the morning, toss in 2 or 3 relatively easy chores to start the day. You know, it's true what physics says about a law where an object in motion tends to stay in motion. My current top of the morning, list after feeding my 3 horses and parrot, is watering 7 pots of beautiful Summer flowers. I know, it doesn't really sound like a chore, but it gets me in motion and in a very positive mood to do some of the more gnarly chores.

Who's IN on participating and following my new book about How to Make a Plan to Attain Success in Your Life Goals.

Ideas, interest, email to ejreporter@gmail.com or make a comment on my Facebook Page.