Page 87 - Hard Goals

78 HARD Goals

(and a lot less appetizing) than having to face all that creamy
yellow and sticky red decadence.
• Shape: What shapes are visible? Shape also infl uences us
to feel emotions. In fact, scientists have been studying the effects
of “angry” triangles and “loving” circles since the 1940s. Is
your belly rounder or more angular after dropping those 30
pounds? I don’t know about you, but the image of a fl at stom-
ach certainly puts an extra spring in my step and helps me to
keep saying no to “forbidden” foods. Henry Moore, the famous
sculptor, is quoted as saying, “Our knowledge of shape and
form remains, in general, a mixture of visual and tactile experi-
ences. . . . A child learns about roundness from handling a ball
far more than from looking at it.” So don’t just see the shapes in
your goals, feel them. Are they smooth or rough, heavy or light?
If your goal is to get more organized, what does it feel like to
run your hand along the smooth fl at plane of your desk with no
clutter to block the motion?
• Distinct parts: How many different and distinct parts
make up the whole of your goal, and how do those parts fi t
together or work in tandem to create the outcome you desire?
Say your goal is to get a raise at work. First, you might have
to make some changes in your work ethic, maybe put in some
extra hours or weekends or take on a special project. Perhaps
from there your sales will increase or you’ll have succeeded in
overhauling a struggling department. Then there will be the
inevitable meeting with the boss to discuss your accomplish-
ments and what you think is a suitable reward. Finally, there
will be the day your increased paycheck arrives and how you’ll
celebrate your accomplishment. What will that extra money
mean to your life, to your family? Will it allow you to move
into a bigger house or take more frequent vacations? Maybe