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	Book Review: The Magic Lamp

	by Ramona Creel

The New Year is traditionally a time of RESOLUTIONS -- which is just a fancy way of saying that you are setting goals for the next 12 months. But this can be an incredibly stressful prospect for some people -- the common sentiment during January is, "I was bad last year and didn't do things the way I should have, so I'll try to be better this year." As Keith Ellis points out in "The Magic Lamp: Goal Setting For People Who Hate To Set Goals", failure to accomplish our goals has nothing to do with self-worth -- it is almost entirely due to the fact that we focus on the EFFECT rather than creating a CAUSE. We expect a change in our lives without setting in motion the thing that will bring that change into being (Mr. Ellis likens this to standing on a bare dirt field and demanding vegetables without first planting a garden!) The thought, "I'm going to work on my goals," feels like drudgery. But saying to yourself, "Today, I'm going to make my WISHES come true," is more likely to get you moving.

LOCK-ON

"Locking on" is all about deciding what you want in life. Unfortunately, some people are much too limiting in their ideas about what they can accomplish. Mr. Ellis asks his readers to create a WISH LIST -- everything that you would want in life if you were absolutely certain that you would get it. He then addresses a series of issues designed to solidify your wishes and attach them to a central purpose. One of the most important questions that Mr. Ellis asks during this step of process is, "Are you willing to pay the price" to have what you want -- understanding that you must always SACRIFICE one thing in life to achieve another.

TRANSLATE

But unlike most goal-setting programs, Mr. Ellis takes you a step further -- beyond simply making a list of "wants." He then requires you to create a PLAN for achieving those desires. What small, specific, concrete steps would you have to take to make that wish a reality? What is your deadline for accomplishing your goal? When will you have to complete each step to successfully meet your deadline? And what LIMITING factors do you face that might hold you back -- not enough education? Fear? Too little time? What can you do to overcome these limiting factors? Finally, once you accomplish this goal, what is your next wish? By answering this simple series of questions, you find yourself with a well-laid plan for manifesting your dreams.

ACT

Mr. Ellis bases the second step in his goal-setting process on the law of INERTIA -- "a body in motion tends to remain in motion, and a body at rest tends to remain at rest." Stated in lay terms, if you will take one small step toward your goal each day, you will build up the momentum needed to see it through. Taking that first step is the hard part -- but it's that step that helps you overcome inertia. Each step after that becomes easier and easier. Of course, you will be faced with many first steps -- each time you pause along the route to accomplishing your goal, you will have to overcome challenge of "getting started" again. So Mr. Ellis suggests that you ease back into motion -- choosing the smallest, EASIEST action possible for that first step.

CREATING HABITS

Of course, to really make progress toward your goals, you must build the right kinds of habits. Mr. Ellis suggests that INTERNAL PRACTICE is the best way to start developing those habits. This is more than just visualization -- seeing pictures in your mind. You must feel, smell, hear, and taste what it is like to already be practicing your new habit. You then translate that pre-memory of your habit into a thirty-day commitment to practice your habit daily. But to make this commitment, you have to carve out a space each day to work on your goal. This can seem like a real challenge to people who already feel that their days are overburdened. The key is to always be asking yourself, "What is the most IMPORTANT (not necessarily urgent) thing for me to be doing right now," -- and then do it! This requires some serious perspective about the many "have-to's" in your life -- deciding which are absolutely required, and which merely eat up your day. As you work toward your goals, always keep in mind Ellis's Law -- "even ordinary effort over time yield's extraordinary results."

MANAGE YOUR PROGRESS

Mr. Ellis compares successful people with a magnifying glass -- they FOCUS their attention, rather than radiating it out in all directions. But it becomes difficult to focus when we are bombarded with distractions and other responsibilities, day after day. Mr. Ellis offers some simple techniques for staying focused on your goals:

keep your wish in front of you -- taped to the mirror, refrigerator, or your desk
affirm your wish -- REPEAT it to yourself over and over again every day
work on one wish at a time
keep a weekly PROGRESS REPORT to remind yourself that you are moving forward
refocus and make adjustments when you get off track

PERSIST

BELIEF causes PERSISTENCE -- which leads to success. When you begin to feel that it is too difficult, that you can't go on, Mr. Ellis suggests asking yourself the following questions: "Do I believe I can make this wish come true?" and "Do I believe this wish is worth the effort?" If the answer is no, you need to deal with your belief before you can work on your wish. You might have developed the mistaken idea that self-discipline will see you through to the end. But success is less about discipline and more about PASSION -- if you love (or learn to love) what you are doing, you will necessarily succeed.

STOP STRUGGLING

Or, you may have fallen prey to one of two classis "wish-killers." FEAR is a "negative wish" -- the cure for fear is to focus on what you want, not what you don't want. Thinking like a VICTIM -- feeling that you are being acted upon by some uncontrollable outside force -- will turn you from a cause rather than an effect, and kill any chance you have of fulfilling your wishes. Mr. Ellis suggests that you permanently exchange the phrase, "Why me?" for "What can I do about it?" -- reclaiming responsibility for your dreams.

Copyright 2000-2009 Ramona Creel -- you are welcome to reprint any article, but you MUST include this resource box.

Ramona Creel is a Professional Organizer and NAPO Golden Circle Member. A former Social Worker, she has always enjoyed helping people find the resources and solutions they need to improve their lives. Ramona now travels the country as a full-time RVer, sharing her story of simplicity with everyone she meets. She leads by example -- having worked for more than 10 years as a Professional Organizer, and having radically downsized and simplified her own life as a full-time RVer. Ramona now considers herself a "Renaissance Woman" -- bringing all of her passions together into one satisfying career. As a "Virtual Organizer", she can create a customized organizing plan for your home or office. As a "Simplicity and Accountability Coach ", Ramona provides a proven program for making every area of your life a little bit easier -- perfect for those who want to make the time and space to focus on their true priorities. As a Professional Photographer, Ramona captures powerful images of places and people as she travels. And as a freelance writer and blogger, she shares organizing techniques, travel tips, and social commentary with others. You can see all these sides of Ramona -- read her articles, browse through her photographs, and even hire her to help get your life in order -- at www.RamonaCreel.com. You can also follow her on Twitter, check out her Facebook profile.

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