If you don’t know where you are going, how will you know when you get there?
“Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination.” Fitzhugh Dodson
In a recent Brain Gym® 101 class, a participant set the following goal: “I organize my thoughts and communicate them effectively so that people around me understand with ease.” She was initially frustrated, angry, and anxious because her family and friends didn’t understand her. After understanding that we can only control ourselves, she embraced the goal. During the balance process, she noticed a physical and mental shift. Her tension and pain dissipated, and she felt an urge to connect and communicate with her family more positively.
This was a significant ‘aaha’ moment for her, showcasing the power of the Brain Gym® process in improving relationships and overall well-being.
Goal setting, often emphasized in corporate settings, is essential in all areas of life. Goal setting is a crucial part of manifesting the life we want. It provides direction, motivation, and a sense of purpose. Goals help us move forward purposefully, trigger new behaviours, guide our focus, and sustain our momentum. The Brain Gym® program is committed to the principle that moving with intention leads to optimal learning.
In the Brain Gym® program, goal setting is a structured five-step process. We set goals ensuring they are positive, framed in the present tense, and inspiring. Goals should offer a clear, simple next step. According to Dr Paul E. Dennison,in the Brain Gym® 101 manual, Edu-K (Educational Kinesiology) goal setting works because it supports learners in choosing a focus towards which to move.
In Brain Gym®, we incorporate action goals, recognizing that all learning has physical components. By simply asking clients to notice how balanced they feel when walking and to think about the stress they are experiencing, we bring awareness to how stress affects their body, heart, and mind. Therefore, we include whole-body movements along with present-tense statements. This holistic approach brings noticeable improvements and shifts, as clients experience new awareness and possibilities once their brain-body system relaxes during the balance process.
Since becoming a Brain Gym® Instructor/Consultant in 2016, I have witnessed numerous ‘aaha’ moments in myself and my clients, reaffirming the profound impact of structured goal setting and the Brain Gym® approach on personal growth and relationships.
Let’s live life with intent rather than on autopilot, allowing for more conscious and deliberate responses to life’s challenges.
Minaz Ajani is an accomplished Educator and International Faculty member of Breakthroughs International, Home of the Brain Gym® program. She is a licensed Brain Gym® ,Touch for Health® and Movement Based Learning instructor. Minaz has a Master’s degree in Special Education with a focus on Learning Disabilities (LD), highlighting her expertise and commitment to specialized Educational approaches and developmental movement techniques.