Ive done a lot of research, study, and practice in the area of goal-setting, and Im happy to report that Ive achieved much of what Ive set out to do. However, for many years, I overlooked an important component in wish-fulfillment.

Im a believer in setting goals and writing them down. Im also a believer in setting up a plan for consistent followup, in order to stay on top of those goals. Ive made advances in my career, increases in my salary, and a lot of other good things happen in my life.

But what I didnt believe in was all that weird, spiritual, magnetic, attraction/abundance stuff. It smacked of hocus-pocus to me. Its advocates seemed little more than snake oil salespeople to me. Who needs all of that when all you need to do is set your goals and compile a system of to-do lists?

Then a friend of mine pointed something out to me that was astonishing.

Some of my goals were achieved through sheer will and might. It was like plowing through cement to achieve some of the things Ive achieved. It was exhausting!

But other goals were achieved almost effortlessly. It was as if the Universe aligned itself in support of my goals. Help appeared when I needed it. Resources appeared when they were required. Even money found its way into my account when I most needed it.

I had never given this much thought before. If I had, I would have dismissed it by saying that its just the way the world works. Some things are harder than others, sometimes you have good luck, and a lot of it is just random and inexplicable.

Then my friend asked me what my mindset had been during the pursuit of my various goals. I realized that when I had a negative goal in mind, the going was much rougher than when I had a positive goal in mind.

Let me provide a couple of examples:

I had a horrible job that I hated. I sent resumes out and went on interviews but with no success. When I finally was hired somewhere else, the job turned out to be barely better than the first one. The pay was slightly better and the work was slightly better, but it was nothing even approaching the job of my dreams.

My problem was that I was only focused on getting a better job than the one I had, and I was focused on the crappiness of my existing job. So I got what I wanted a slightly better job. But it was still crappy.

A few years later, I changed my focus. I obliterated my entire work history from my considerations, and framed in my mind the ideal job I wanted. During one of my clerical stints, I worked from someone that seemed to have a wonderful job. Not only did he seem to have a splendid salary and get to hobnob with all kinds of interesting, high-profile people, but he had his own secretary (me).

My career began to escalate, and today, interestingly enough, Im doing the same job that my boss had been doing. Im actually earning a higher salary, as well. (Im not trying to brag Im just trying to show you that this stuff works!) Im doing exactly what I had imagined.

Now, when I fantasize about what I want as I set my goals, I do so much more carefully! Instead of focusing on what I dont want in my life, I focus on what I do want. Instead of thinking I wish I werent so tired, I think I wish for more energy! Instead of thinking I wish I didnt have to go to work, I think I wish I could do more of what I love to do on the job!

I know many of you reading this are already on board with all of this. Ive been amazed at the number of people who chime in when I share this information with them. Theyve been doing this for years. It works! If youre new to this, I encourage you to learn more about it. Go to any search engine and type in law of attraction or abundance or intention. Youll be amazed!