Creating a Vision for your Ideal Life: Goal setting and manifestation for women over 40

Life after 40 presents a unique opportunity for women to redefine their path, explore new horizons, and embrace the fullness of their potential. It’s a time to reflect on past accomplishments and set the stage for a future that truly aligns with their passions and aspiration

Your goal should really light you up. Don't pick something that you already know how to do or something that you think you can do if the pieces fall just right. Pick a goal that excites you and scares you a little. This is the only type of goal that will keep you engaged until you accomplish it.

Don’t worry if you have no idea how you can possibly make your goal come to pass. When you tap into your inner power by focusing on your vision, your subconscious aligns with ‘universal consciousness’ also referred to as God, and inspires you when, where, and how to take action as if by magic. It isn’t magic at all…it’s science and how we’re wired to ‘co-create.’

Step 1: Reflect and Clarify

Imagine or ‘dream’ about your ideal life. Take some time for introspection and reflection. Identify your passions, values, and dreams. Consider the aspects of your life that bring you joy and fulfillment. Are they any unrealized ambitions or dreams you’ve set aside over the years?

Women 40 and older were socialized to downplay their own dreams and talents, keeping them on the ‘back burner’ while they attended to husbands and children. Some of us got so good at this, we buried our dreams altogether and now have a little difficulty awakening that part of us. That's okay. You can prime the pump to get your creative juices flowing. Make a list of these aspirations and clarify what truly matters to you at this stage of life.

Step 2: Goal Setting with Action Plan?

Traditional wisdom suggests you set SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This sounds well and good... And equals 98% of the professional advice out there... So why aren't more people successful with their goals? SMART goals engage the conscious, logical mind... but it’s not your conscious mind that guides and controls your actions. Your subconscious mind does!

Additionally, SMART goal setting creates pressure. If people don't take the massive action required, they feel like a failure and quit altogether. Now their self-image is worse off than before.

It doesn't have to be this way. You can stretch to a big goal and accomplish it automatically once you know the proven, scientific methods to get you there. Until then, go ahead and make a plan. Just realize that plans can change or be modified, not your goal.

Step 3: Create a Vision Board

Visualization is a powerful manifestation tool. Create a vision board that captures your goals and aspirations in a visually inspiring way. Use images, quotes, and affirmations that represent the life you envision. Place the vision board in a prominent place where you can see it daily. Visualizing your goals regularly will keep you motivated and focused on manifesting your dreams. It's just fun!

Step 4: Cultivate a Positive Mindset

A positive mindset is key to successful manifestation. Cultivate a belief in yourself and the possibilities that lie ahead replace self-doubt with affirmations that reinforce your abilities and worthiness. Practice gratitude daily for the blessings in your life and the ones yet to come. Remember a positive outlook attracts positive experiences.

Practice, practice, practice. The more you keep your vision with all associated feelings uppermost in your mind, the faster you can ‘co-create’ it in your life. Don't get discouraged if you don't see it change right away. Since believing that you have already received it is paramount, you cannot let yourself be swayed by apparent delay.

Step 5: Embrace Fear and Take Action Anyway

Fear of the unknown, or fear of failure, can be significant barriers that prevent people from trying new things. It helps to understand why fear is so uncomfortable. You experience the uncomfortable ‘queasiness’ of fear when thoughts in your head and thoughts residing in your heart vibrate at different rates at the same time, much like experiencing discord and disharmony when an orchestra tunes up before the concert.

Now that you know what causes this sensation, you can break through and not let those feelings stop you. Go ahead, embrace fear as a natural part of growth and transformation. Recognize that stepping outside your comfort zone is essential for personal development. You can take inspired action toward your goals, even if it means taking small steps at first. Each step forward is a step closer to your ideal life.

Step 6: Practice Visualization and Meditation

Visualization and meditation are powerful practices for manifestation. Set aside time each day to meditate and visualize yourself living your ideal life now, not in the future. Imagine the sights, sounds, and feelings associated with your accomplishments. Allow yourself to experience the emotions of success. What would you be doing? How would you feel?

This practice enhances your belief in the attainability of your goals and aligns your subconscious with your conscious desires, but it does more. Alpha waves, experienced in active meditation calm the nervous system and lowers blood pressure and heart rates. They also reduce stress hormones and promote relaxation. These are the physical results of meditation, but universal laws reflected in the quantum realm also trigger benefits for you. Whatever you focus on, grows.

Step 7: Align with Abundance

Believe in abundance and know that God, or ‘universal intelligence’, is abundant and generous. Shift your focus and your beliefs from scarcity to abundance. Trust that the resources, opportunities, and support you need to achieve your goals will come your way. Embrace an abundance mindset, and you will attract abundance into your life. This is a spiritual law that even quantum physics is now proving true.

Step 8: Stay Committed and Resilient

You’re embarking on a journey that requires commitment and resilience. Stay dedicated to your vision, even when facing challenges or setbacks. Remember that obstacles are part of the growth process. Stay open to adjust to your approach and be resilient in your pursuit of your dreams.

Step 9: Seek Support and Accountability

Surround yourself with a supportive network of like-minded individuals who believe in your dreams. Seek guidance from mentors or coaches who can offer insights, encouragement, and accountability. Sharing your aspirations with others and receiving constructive feedback can significantly enhance your manifestation journey by helping you realize you are not alone.