Plant a Seed and Watch it Grow

When we plant a seed in the ground, we don't walk away and expect a flower to grow. We nurture it, feed it, water it, watch it, and, ultimately, if our actions are right, we witness the fruit of our efforts.

When we plant a seed in our minds (a thought or idea) like, 'I'd like to lose weight, be fit, have more self-confidence, more energy . . . ', we tend to think on it for a while, maybe come up some sort of formula for action, then walk away expecting the seed to take care of itself. It won't. Only conscious planning, analysis, and consistent action will grow your idea into a fruitful endeavor.

Before you can begin to move towards your goal, it's necessary to know (specifically) what it is you want. This is vitally important for success. If you don't know what your want, say, beyond losing some weight, your project will end there. (As you probably well know.) You need to spend quality time with yourself, preferably in a quiet space, so you can really dig deep and ask some important questions. Write down the answers. It's important to have a reference to help you stay on track.

Become a nag: Pepper yourself with questions
When you begin to ask yourself the deeper questions, something wonderful happens. You become consciously aware of your true feelings and emotions. Here's where it gets fun. Become that annoying little kid that never stops asking questions. Ask yourself a question, such as, 'What  do I really want?' Write down the answer, then immediately fire off another question. This will propel you deeper into your desires, driving the discovery of yourself below the surface.

For instance: Your first response to the question might be, 'I want to lose weight.' Now ask yourself why? This forces you to go a little deeper. You might answer, 'Summer's coming and I want to look good.' Keep going, this is where the magic takes place, and, unfortunately, it's where most people stop. Ask why that is important to you. Answer that and continue to ask more how, what, and why questions. Soon you'll be closer to the real reasons for your desire to lose weight. And, from there, you can start to build a solid plan.

In the next post I'll discuss how to align what you've discovered to your core values. Then we'll take that tiny little seed and make it flourish.