Free The Art of Mental Training - a Guide to Performance Excellence (Classic Edition) by D. C. Gonzalez Page B

immediate goal was to get to the
University of Chicago.  And, once he was there, his immediate goal was to
graduate top of his class.  Once he’d done that, he adjusted his dream again:
to passing the Illinois bar exam.  And once he’d done that, to becoming one of
Chicago’s top lawyers.  Even once he’d succeeded in that goal, he wasn’t
finished dreaming.  He then dreamed that he could, through the position he’d
worked so hard all his life to attain, make life better for the underprivileged
kids in the area where he’d grown up.  That’s what I call positive dreaming.
    So where do you see yourself
next?  What’s your vision of your future?  One thing’s for sure, if you ever
hope to achieve it, you need to see it and feel it, vividly, in your mind’s
eye, and not just occasionally. Learn to often reinforce your vision of where
you hope to be in a few years time—and then work towards achieving it.
    It’s not only dreaming, of
course, but believing and taking action also.  You’ve got to take specific
steps to get you where you want to be.  Soon you’ll learn some simple goal
setting ideas that can help you transform your dreams into reality.  They’re
the same ideas that many top performers use in order to help them make steady
progress, but for now, I want you to get a clear vision of what it is that you
want to achieve for yourself.
    Think about what you want to
become, how you want things to be.  For a little while, you need to do some
Imagineering.  Close your eyes and see yourself and everything around you the
way you want it to be.  Imagine it; feel it; see it clearly; see it vividly. 
Let your spirit soar.
     
    Decide:  What’s your dream? 
Figure it out.  That’s your assignment.
     
    The
Art of Mental Training

Chapter 19:  On Goals
     
    Warrior/Champions set out to
turn their dreams into reality by taking action through goal setting.  Often,
personal growth and peak performance are directly related to how well an
athlete has mastered goal-setting skills.  Mental athletes are goal-oriented. 
They have vision.
    When an athlete complains of
lacking motivation, you can be sure that it’s almost always caused by goals
that fail to inspire him to action.  Goals serve to keep you on target.  They
increase the desire to achieve.  Goals increase your self-confidence as you
experience measurable improvement. With proper goal setting, the quality of
practice sessions automatically improves.  Goals enhance performance, and help
create achievements.
    While setting your own, private
goals, be sure that they are both challenging and realistic. Slightly
out-of-reach goals are best: inspiring hard work, yet still attainable with
dedicated effort.  Goals need to be set neither too high, nor too easy and
low—which would defeat their very purpose.  Goals should be written down and
reviewed frequently.  Goals should come in the forms of daily goals, monthly
goals and annual goals, and remember that what you are striving for is progress
rather than perfection.  Believe me, as you begin to focus on meaningful, specific
goals, the power of your hidden reserves will be unleashed and good things
begin to happen.
    I well remember when I came to
meet Leo-tai with “Goals 1 to 25” neatly transcribed, which I proudly showed
him.
    Leo-tai stroked his chin.
    “Hmmm,” is all he said and I
was instantly on the defensive.  (Hmmm with Leo-tai never meant, “Well done.”)
    “What do you mean,” I
demanded.  “Aren’t those good goals?  If I achieve those rankings, I’d be one
of the top kick-boxers on the scene.”
    Leo-tai walked into his tiny,
immaculate little kitchen, and returned with two green teas.  “My friend,” he
asked, “Are these your goals or did you have help in deciding upon them?”
    I wondered how that might be
bad.
    “Listen, Danielsan.  Goals are
most meaningful when they are what you truly want for yourself, not what others
want for you.”
    “OK, but I do