Action without meaning is 
practically a waste of time. That’s why everyone needs Fearless Goal Setting, and that’s why I am excited to follow up on last week’s blog about Fearless Goal Setting. By transforming how we find and define our goals, Fearless Goal Setting taps into the soul’s true desire. Fearless Goal Setting transforms lives.
Successful people like photographer Ansel Adams were Fearless Goal Setters. I love his quote about blending emotion and intuition into his creative work: “In my mind’s eye, I visualize how a particular… sight and feeling will appear on a print. If it excites me, there is a good chance it will make a good photograph. It is an intuitive sense, an ability that comes from a lot of practice.”
As promised, here’s more on the steps involved in Fearless Goal Setting.
The Fearless Living Matrix
In our team building work, we target areas of life that probably look a little different than those found in typical goal setting exercises. These categories we call the Fearless Living Matrix. Because the old, simplistic definitions of wealth are not complete, the Fearless Living Matrix categories are:
• Wellness & Spirituality
• Livelihood & Lifestyle
• Growth & Creativity
• Relationships & Tribe
• Philanthropic & Legacy
These categories invite you to consider all of your life in balance. Focusing on a single aspect leads to imbalance and discontent. There’s a powerful combustion when desire and values come together—it is an intense feeling of wholeness and achievement that is unique to each person.
Drilling Deep
For each category, we use a series of questions that help participants drill down to their core desires, which align with deeply held values. It’s this syncing between desire and values that makes these goals so powerful.
Here’s an example, and as you read this, think about how you would answer.
Start with the first category, Wellness & Spirituality. We define this broadly as total health—mental, physical, emotional, fitness, meditation, food, sleep, spiritual, wellness, soul, intuition, faith, practices, inner self. You might define it differently.
Here are the questions:
1. Start with today’s reality. Where am I am today in this area of my life?
Sample answer: I am fit but have an extra 10 lbs. I feel strong but need more cardio endurance. Spirituality is solid—I am connected to my beliefs and dedicate time to this part of my life. I honor my intuition. My soul has a hole where I was betrayed in a relationship. My sleep is good, 8 hours a night.
2. How do I want to feel in this area of my life?
Sample answer: Whole and holistic. Fitter, I want to be feel strong and powerful physically. I want the feel more flexibly emotionally and physically. I want to fully forgive so I can be free of the burden of the betrayal.
3. Why? What is the real driver here?
Sample answer: I believe everyone’s body is a gift and we should honor what we have by taking the best care that we can at every age. I feel horrible and uncomfortable in my clothes with 10 extra pounds. My spirituality is the most important connection in my life, I should dedicate time to it.
4. What do I have to do (or experience) to feel the way I want to feel in this area of my life?
Sample answer: I will feel whole and holistic with these consistent workouts: weights, walking with cardio sprints and yoga, 4 to 5 times a week. Daily meditation will help me remain connected to my beliefs. I will see a counselor to help me work toward forgiveness and move past betrayal.
Your Game Changer Takeaway
Meaningful actions are paved when we have a destination that aligns with our desires and goals. This end point is full of wonderful emotion, and this feeling is what drives us—it stimulates the mind like a preview of a coming attraction that we long to see in our lives. That feeling connects our goals to our soul.
This strong, warm, connected feeling shapes the actions we must take on our journey. This one question is the powerful heart of setting goals with soul: What must I do (or experience) to feel the way I want to feel in this area of my life?
We are wired to do more than check off accomplishments. What are your goals with soul? How did you discover them? I would love to hear more!
Let’s share this incredible journey that begins when we make that jump to visualize our most engaged feelings, and identify the steps to achieve our most satisfying goals.
Molly Fletcher helps inspire and equip game changers to dream, live and grow fearlessly. A keynote speaker and author, Molly draws on her decades of experiences working with elite athletes and coaches as a sports agent, and applies them to the business world. Sign up here to receive our monthly newsletter.