SPARKERS by Patricia O'Reilly

We can either be in charge of where we are going and how we want to get there or we can be at the mercy of whatever life throws our way. Most of us have goals. Outcomes are goals that have been clarified and honed by the process below. Setting clean clear outcomes is one way to ensure we know where we are going and when we get there.

Quality outcomes are:

SELF-INITIATED: Is this something over which I have control and that is in my power to do?
"I want you to make me better" - oops! giving away my power
Better - "I want to be healthier"
POSITIVELY STATED: Whether or not we are getting away from something we don't want, it is important to know
where we are going AND to say it positively
wrong - "I want to quit smoking"
Better - "I want clean lungs" or "I want to be able to taste my food"
ALL SENSES: Is my outcome in all six senses? Can I see, hear, smell, taste, feel and sense the energy around it?
"I want to have more energy" - What will I look like when I have it? How will I act? What will I sound like, be
saying to myself? Etc.
RESOURCES: What resources do I have to ensure this? What resources do I need? My own or those of others?
Do I need to take a course? Do research? Save money? How can my resources dovetail with those of others?
KNOW THE CONTEXT: If my outcome is 'to exercise more' - Where do I want/not want to exercise? When?
With whom?
ECOLOGY CHECK: Is this outcome worth attaining for all? What, if anything, do I stand to lose by having it?
How will getting it affect other aspects of my life? The important people in my life?
How could this get me into trouble? How does getting this benefit me?
READY TO START: Consider the timing and time allocation. What is the time frame? Is this the right time to implement this outcome? If it is a long range outcome, "What are the milestones?"
START: What are the steps to implementation? When am I going to take the first step? The second?

Congratulations! You have a quality outcome. It is also important to include a celebration or reward for yourself once you have succeeded. If it is a lengthy outcome with many steps, you may want to consider several mini celebrations.