Have you ever worked for years to accomplish a specific goal only to find disappointment at its completion? I have. More than likely the disappointment was due to achieving an arbitrarily selected goal rather than our true intention. For instance, I might believe getting a better job is the answer to my problems when in actuality my intention is to have a better quality of life. If I get completely focused on getting that better job I may completely reject or ignore any and all opportunities along the way, because I'm focused on a goal of getting a better job instead of my true intention of achieving better quality of life. So in this instance quality of life is my "why" and getting a better job is "how" I believe I can accomplish my desired change.

Emotions give momentum and power

What I suggest is that we focus on why, not how. Of course it's not a bad idea to plan things out, but to get tunnel-visioned on the how can blind us to all of the millions of potential ways the universe can provide a why solution. Have you ever worked for years to accomplish a specific goal only to find satisfaction from a seemingly random, coincidental or even bizarre event? I have. The why provides an emotional charge, motivation, vision and intention. It's just so easy to get emotionally attached to the how because it's tangible, measurable, definable. Yeah, all the things they tell you are important for goals. Well they are important, just don't get emotionally attached to a goal! Selecting good goals is important but not as important as remembering what motivated you to make a change in the first place! Emotions give us momentum and power, don't lose it!

Use the wisdom of a 5 year-old

Why is it so important to focus on intentions instead of goals? Having an emotionally charged focus on intention is not only powerful but allows for dynamic goals! That means we have our eyes open to achieving the real intention and the goal can be changed at any moment. This model for achieving change and growth in our lives not only allows for flexibility but also encourages a greater understanding of what really inspires the change. That's the fun part... using the wisdom of a 5 year-old! In my experience, answering "why?" around 7 times will uncover you intention. Give it a try! I made a quick example:

Start with the goal: I want a better job

• Why? I want more money and I want to work better hours

• Why? I want to pay off debt and I'm sick of working weekends

• Why? I'm tired of collectors calling me and I want the same days off as my friends

• Why? I want to stop worrying about money and I want more time with friends

• Why? Financial peace of mind and a better social life

• Why? I want to smile more, laugh more, and feel grateful more

The bottom line...

In the above example really 6 steps did the trick but you could add a seventh that summarized as "a better quality of life." What it all really boils down to is having an open mind to really finding a solution to your desire and not getting caught up in just one possibility. Also the emotional charge of focusing on why is motivational and will empower us to accomplish more, faster and better than if we simply follow steps outlined in the how alone.