GOAL SETTING 101 FOR KIDS (VISUALIZATION)

My Eldest Daughter is a perfect example of how to use visualization to accomplish goals. One day in February she phoned me from work and announced she was going to live in Australia for a year. She would find a part time job and on her days off she would explore the countryside.

"Sounds good to me", I said, knowing that my daughter was famous for coming up with things that she would like to do but never followed through on. This time the tone in her voice told me something was different though and so I asked her how she thought she was ever going to save up enough money to not only afford the plane fare but give her enough to get by on until she found a job. She also mentioned that even before she went to Australia she was going to go to Asia and see Japan and Thailand. I asked her once again how she could do this on what she was making on her paycheck? All most every time I had spoken to her in the past she would tell me her money woes and so I was a little hesitant to believe that she could actually bring this dream to fruition.

Boy was I wrong!! Within four months she had saved enough for her plane fare and a few months before her flight, which was November 21st she had saved enough for her working Visa, which was $5,000. By the time she was ready to leave she had enough spending money to last her for the month in Thailand and Japan and also enough to hold her over in Australia until she found a job. You have to bear in mind that my daughter had never attempted anything this industrious before.

In her mind's eye she had already been to Australia, Thailand and Japan. She could see it so clearly that there was no way she could ever fail at accomplishing her goal. She read books and put up pictures and lived and breathed Australia. She went to an Australian wine tasting party and met actual Australians. Her topic of conversation at all times was her trip and she never tired of discussing her plans. She was going to Oz and there was no turning back.

What she was using without really knowing much about it was visualization. A powerful tool you can teach your children to use to accomplish their goals. It is even easier for children to use because they are still so willing to believe in the magic and their subconscious mind will readily accept which pictures they choose to put there.

Here are some ways to help your child use this powerful tool.

Help your child to come up with a specific goal they would like to accomplish. Make sure it is something they really want and not something that just sounds good.
Have your child write down the goal with as many details as possible, the more the better.
Help your child find pictures in magazines or objects that represent the goal to him or her, put them in a place where your child can see them easily, or have them use a binder or a scrapbook where they can paste pictures from magazines or photographs.
Have them picture in their mind what it would be like if their goal were to happen. Have them go to a quiet place where they can close their eyes and daydream about having their chosen goal. First thing in the morning and before they go to sleep at night are the best times as that is when the subconscious mind is most accepting and relaxed. Never force them to do this for a specific amount of time the most important thing is to keep it simple and fun.
Have them focus on their goal as much as possible by keeping a clear picture in their mind.
Keep it in the family. Tell your child this is a special secret and he can tell other people when he reaches his goal but until then it should remain in the family. Other people may say that he is being silly and cause him to doubt the process.
Ask your child what it would be like when the goal actually happened. How would they feel, happy, excited? Whichever emotion they can come up with, have them act it out like it was a reality. Emotion is very powerful in the visualization process

Finally get the whole family involved in your child's goal. Talk about it as if it has already happened. If the goal is too large have your child break it into mini goals - each mini goal he reaches will bring him closer to the ultimate goal. Celebrate each success as your child reaches a goal by having a special family celebration.

By Monicka

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GOAL SETTING 101 FOR KIDS (VISUALIZATION)