Introduction to Goals
A Context for Moving Forward
Goals are ways we organize how we grow and engage the lessons of our life. They are the context of how we express ourselves, particularly on an emotional level. Modes and Attitudes are typically in service to our Goal. Goals can be about personal, external expression such as the goal of Growth, or about interpersonal introspective development such as Re-Evaluation. There are seven different goals— Re-evaluation, Growth, Discrimination, Acceptance, Submission, Dominance and Relaxation. We all possess one primary Goal, with multiple imprinting possibilities, which reflect the training of our parents. Remember, being our primary Goal creates no resistance, while our Imprinting does, because we are attempting to prove ourselves in a way that is not natural to us. A Goal is a predetermined way of approaching life. It acts as an assumption about the nature of our life and the direction we want to take. In other words, we want to be seen as taking actions that accomplish something in our lives.
Despite what many Americans assume, only 40% of individuals are actually in a Goal of Growth and pursue outward, goal setting. For many, their personal goal relates to manifesting a state of being such as Dominance, Discrimination, Relaxation, Acceptance, or Submission where there are no task objectives. (In other words, there is no external objective outside of themselves that they are trying to complete.) The United States has a larger percentage of individuals with an actual Goal of Growth that results in a larger social imprinting, acceptance and even expectation about it.
Questions to Clarify Different Goals
Which represents the way we engage others?
1) Do we seek to focus and consolidate our life issues in a way that precludes other people from interfering with them? (Re-Evaluation)
2) Do we believe that we have to be on-track and engaging others in a way that expands possibilities? (Growth)
3) Do we believe that our primary means of adding value is our sense of refinement in decision-making? (Discrimination)
4) Do we find our connection to others more important than what we do together or what we produce with them? (Acceptance)
5) Do we believe that our commitment to the highest possibility or to some person brings out the best in us? (Submission)
6) Do we believe that being in charge, controlling as many options as possible, provides a sense of safety and security with others, enabling them to allow us to make things happen? (Dominance)
7) Do we believe the goal of letting the universe support us is the most efficient way to get things done? (Relaxation)
When things are going smoothly, it is usually because we are balanced in the way we are using our goal. The goal is what the essence strives to accomplish (in the big picture) in life. There are seven goals: Re-evaluation, Growth, Discrimination, Acceptance, Submission, Dominance, and Relaxation. Please remember that these all are actually different forms of our own growth process. No one of these is better than another. Each has a specific gift or way of being that supports our life work; especially if we believe there is a purpose to our life and that nothing happens accidentally.