In order for your outcome to be achievable it has to be “well formed”. It has to meet certain criteria. The fact is that rocks are hard and water is wet. The universe and your own neurology and physiology set limits as to what you can and cannot do.

Now those limits may very well be much greater than you ever thought they could be but nether-the-less. Some things will work and some things won't. If you could just wish something into being then that would just be magic wouldn't it? :-)

If your dream is to be a championship down hill slalom champion then you will have to take steps to acquire the physiology, the muscle strength and the rapid reaction times of an athlete before you even begin to start. That's Ok. You just set yourself little goals and take it one step at a time keeping the big picture in mind.

The following list is based on the NLPⁱ Well formed outcome. I've messed around with the order a bit to make it easier to experience the process off the page. Think of it as a check-list.

Thinking about the outcome you want in this way will give you all the information you need to be sure this is definitely something that you want and that you can commit to starting.

Reality Check.  Set a frame.

What is the context in which you want to create a change?

What specific area of your life?

What's the time frame?

Where will this happen?

Who else is involved?

You might think of this as the domain.  If it were me right now I might choose:

Health: in the next 6 months.  In brighton mostly.  Me myself and I.

Service: (being of): in the next year. here and in Tanzania.  Friends and family in Tanzania and Brighton.

Finance: in the next 6 months. Brighton mostly. Me. People benefiting from workshops and coaching. People helping out and contributing.

Keeping warm: In the next hour.  In my front room.  Me and a blanket.

Learning something: In the next three months.  In  Brighton. Via Skype internationally. Me.  Collaborators.  People working in the creative industries in Brighton.

Writing.  In the next week. At home and in cafes in Brighton. Me and my karass.

Spend a moment to get in touch with how things are now in an area of your life. What do you want to work through today? Do a reality check. Be honest with yourself. This is your current environment.

What do you want?

What is it that you want to achieve and how can you state it in the positive?

If you state it as a negative all you're doing is telling yourself what you want to move away from and that's not going to be as helpful as knowing what you want instead.

Compare “I want to give up smoking” with “I want to breath fresh air, easily and clearly and feel the benefits of having an increased lung capacity and more energy in my life”

Compare “I want to loose weight” with “I want to feel comfortable, fit and flexible at my optimum weight”

Compare “I want to be less stressed” with “I want to relax more”

Compare “I don't want to argue with my boyfriend” with “I want to learn how to communicate more effectively.”

Achievable

Is what you want achievable? If someone else has done it before then it's possible and there's at least one way to learn how to do it.

If no one has done it before then you have some experimenting to do as you discover the limits of possibility. If you have a big idea then people may call you mad. That's ok. Where would we be now without the impossible dream? How far are you prepared to commit?

Responsibility

What response-ability do you have for achieving your goal? What part can you play? What is within your control and what is outside of your control? How far does your influence extend?

An important tip here. If any one else is involved in this goal then you don't get to choose how they respond. You can influence but not control.

It's always easier to change your internal reality than it is to change the world.

It's always easy to change your beliefs and your behaviour than it is to change other people.

It's always easier to let the stream carry you than to swim against it.

Only you know how easy or how challenging you can make it.

Remember the serenity prayer. Grant me the courage to face the things I can change, the grace to accept the things I can't and the wisdom to know the difference.

Intention

What will you lose if you don't do this?

What will you gain if you don't do this?

What will achieving this do for you?

What will it give you, What will you gain?

What will you lose if you achieve this?

What other ways do you have of achieving the same thing?

Are there easier ways? Are there harder?

How does knowing all the above effect what you want?

Resources

What resources do you have to support you in achieving this goal.

What have you learned already? What skills and experiences do you bring? What connections? What time and budget? What have you succeeded at that's like this? 

What will you need to learn?  Who else can help? 

Evidence

What is the sensory based evidence that will let you know you have achieved your goal?  Note the qualification there.  Sensory based.  The more you can get physical with the sense impressions you'll be having, the more you'll get from this.

What will you see?

What will you hear?

What will you feel?

What will you smell and taste?

What will you say?

What will people say to you.

How will you stand?

What will your voice sound like?

Feel what you'll feel when you already have it.

The more vivid you can make it the better.

Reality check. Ecology Frame.

Return to the frame you set originally. How will making this change effect current reality. What else will change? How will other people respond?  Is it worth it?

If you could have this outcome tomorrow would you take it?

Do you still want it?

Congratulations. You have a well formed outcome!

Close your eyes. Think yourself into the future and then make pictures all the way back to now of how you got there. What's 90% of the way there? 70%? What's half way there? 25%? 10%?

Dream up a plan and start taking action...

Till next time

Robin