“How do I set goals?” is a question that coaching clients often ask me. They understand the mechanics behind goal setting but get frustrated about whether these goals are relevant to them or not.

If a client is open to change i.e. coachable, then I often find that a simple mind mapping exercise can help them come up with goals they can commit to. This article describes how you can use this process with nothing more than a pencil, a piece of paper and your own imagination.

Take your piece of paper and write your name in the center. Then draw seven equally spaced lines radiating out from your name at the center.

At the end of each of these lines write the following keywords: career, family, finances, health, and peace of mind, community, and spiritual. Feel free to replace any of these categories with your own.

Make sure when you’re doing this exercise that you have some peace and quiet. This is a time to allow that still, small voice of your own creativity to make itself heard.

Now focus on one of the categories and think of some things that you want to create in that area. For example, if you choose a ‘family’ category, then you might decide it would be great to have a regular monthly family treat day.

A time where the whole family (where practical) goes to a movie, to a restaurant or outdoors to a park, or to a sports event etc. Summarize that idea in one single word and add it as a sub-branch underneath the main family category. In this case let’s say we choose the sub branch to be ‘treat’.

Do your very best to filter what you want down to one single word. This will train your mind to sift through many of the ideas that come up and group them into an overall theme. You can drill down into the detail later — when setting specific plans.

If you have any artistic ability you can also draw a small sketch beside the keyword. And maybe add some color to highlight what you think is important or interest.

Repeat these same steps for the other categories. Of course you don’t have to choose in every category — it’s entirely up to you. At this point in the exercise some of my clients will protest.

They will say things like, “This isn’t realistic!” Or, “My family and friends will never accept this.” Or even, “This is impossible” — that’s a popular one! My response is to have the client also focus on what they don’t want in each of these categories – and even add it to the map as a single word in each category.

Now that they have made a start in identifying what they do want, it can be helpful if they contrast those desired things with what they don’t want. It’s usually inevitable that some things about their current reality are probably going to have to change. And that may include elements of their family and personal relationships.

The last step is a simple one but it is not easy. For each of the items you have chosen in your categories ask yourself this one question: “If I received this exact thing today could I accept it?”

You may want to write on your map in pencil “yes” or “no” to that question in each category.

It can be a big surprise for some clients, even a shock, when they realize they are not sure if they can accept it. There are ways around those blockages using a coaching model with a mind map structure to guide you.

For more on mind mapping and getting clear on your goals, I invite you to “Discover How To Create Incredible Yet Reachable Goals – in this FREE 14-page report”: Goal Creating Report

Mark McClure is a Japan-based e-coach to goal creators and also a mind mapping mentor.

http://www.goalcreationmaps.com/art