The Difference Between Goals & Affirmations

The following article gives a very simplistic comparison between goals and affirmations. Article was written by Diane Armitage.
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Yesterday, one of my consulting clients asked the difference between Goals and Affirmations. Good question, actually. I’ll give you my take on it - not sure if this is the “official take,” but we’ll give it a shot.

As I’ve worked with my various motivational speakers over the years, the consensus seems to be that Goals are what you put to paper, then organize according to priority, then assign timelines. As Mark Victor Hansen always says, “Goals are simply dreams with deadlines.”

A lot of times, people will write their goals for the year or the month or even the day - but they won’t take a few moments to then prioritize them, or they won’t apply estimated timelines as to when they’d like to have the goal accomplished.

It’s important that you do all three. I know the last item there can be a bit of a wiggle - sometimes you really don’t know how long it will take to achieve a specific goal, but put a date down anyway - even if it’s 5 years from now or 10 months from now. This helps provide order in your mind as to what really is your priority, and what you have there on the back burner that you’ll be moving to next once the goal is achieved.

One note: It’s easy to put a long timeline on a goal that you don’t know how to accomplish or might be a bit afraid to tackle. If you succumb to this tactic, you’re going to be pushing that goal back every single time you look at your list. When you set your deadlines, ask yourself, “If I had all the pieces in place to make this happen, how soon would I want this goal completely fulfilled? Then write down THAT date. I’m serious.

As you’re reminded in the movie, “The Secret,” and as I’ve told you many times in this blog – it’s not your job to determine exactly how a specific dream is going to be accomplished. It’s your job to have passion for it and want it badly enough that you think on it every day and apply action to it every day – no matter how small that action might seem. Start moving in the circles … start seeking out the people who have the pieces to what you need to get this thing accomplished.

So, that’s what I consider a Goal.

Affirmations are positive, present-minded statements you create for yourself that you say out loud, memorize eventually (one would hope) and write on a daily basis (daily affirmation writing is a phenomenally fast track to moving your dreams into reality, I assure you.)

Affirmations don’t necessarily have to be focused on the goal list you’ve created, but you’re going to find that they’re quite similar in nature as what you’re focusing on daily in your life should quite likely be your Goal, don’t you think?!

Choose a goal. Here’s how your Affirmation will be different . . .

So, say your GOAL is to lose 10 pounds by June 1st.

Your AFFIRMATION does not state this. You want your affirmation to be a visualization of what you are becoming … what you’re looking like … how you’re feeling … the benefits you’re experiencing … once that 10 pounds has lifted from your body. So, an Affirmation might be:

I am so happy and grateful now that my body is at its perfect weight. I’m much more lean and my clothes fit loosely on me now. I’m feeling marvelously healthy, vibrant and energetic with this trimmer me.

Say your GOAL is to bring in more clients (and income). Write an AFFIRMATION about the enjoyment of PRESENTLY working with these people, and list some of the great things they bring to the table:

I am so happy and grateful that clients who specifically need our product are suddenly coming in the door from all avenues and venues. They are delighted they’ve found us. They recognize that we provide exactly what they’re looking for and yet we still delight them with added benefits they never expected. They pay us in full – with a smile – and are always recommending us to their friends and peers.

Are you beginning to see the difference? Now, your affirmations don’t have to be this long. And, they can be 10 times longer. I have a single affirmation that takes an entire page every day I write it (It’s an important one!)

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White

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