Have you ever heard someone say you must focus on your goals and let go? What exactly does that mean? Have you ever sat down, visualized your goals, started taking action and become frustrated with the ratio of your results in relation to your energy investment? Perhaps just when you thought you were doing well with you efforts, nothing seems to materialize or progress feels blocked.

It was several years ago when I was working on a career goal that someone first said to me I needed to focus on my goal and "let go" of it. I can remember thinking how can I possibly create something if I'm letting go of it; doesn't focusing on something mean you don't let go of it, rather you keep it in your sights? People are always asking me what it really means to let go of something, so let's explore it together to clarify how you can let go of something without letting go of your productivity.

The process of creating or attracting something you desire usually begins with establishing the fact that you want it, then determining its importance relative to other goals you may be working towards. It could be an item you're saving up for such as an iPod, a relationship you want to develop, or a specific job you wish you to attract. Regardless of the type of goal, the majority of our brains immediately begin processing how possible it appears to be successful and/or what we need to do to assure our success.

After the goal is identified, it's time to consider what actions will yield the desired results and go for it, right? Sure. But, letting go is the invaluable part of this course of action, which fits smack dab in the middle of the process between your visualization and your action.

Have you ever watched an artist mold pottery? It's incredibly fascinating to observe how the clay molds itself within the motion of the pottery wheel and the hands of the artist, to evolve from a lump of wet, glumpy material into a unique piece of art. I've heard those who have taken pottery classes describe the difficulty they encountered once they got the clay in their hands. What seemed like a simple task revealed itself to be quite tricky, requiring an extraordinary amount of focus and patience.

When discussing this with an artist friend of mine, after experiencing some trouble myself, she reiterated the thought by saying: "Once you have in mind what you desire to create, you must let go of it during the process, and let it show you what you can create."

Upon further reflection, I realized this is a perfect example of focusing on a goal and letting go of it at the same time in order to be successful--and, quite possibly enhance your results.

The artist typically begins with a target in mind, whether it is to create a specific type of art such as a bowl or vase, or simply to create something of beauty and distinction. There are certain standard techniques the artist engages while using a pottery wheel, just as we have typical actions that are easy to define for our own specific courses of action. The difference is that once the wheel begins to turn, while the artist continues to envision whatever the goal is utilizing pre-determined techniques, he or she must also relinquish some control over to the clay as well in order for it to evolve into the best possible finished product.

It is a powerful and unique example of the artist, (you) and that which he or she desires to sculpt (your life), working together to create the desired result. If letting go allows the artist to work with the clay more efficiently, imagine how letting go in the process of manifesting what you desire can empower you to transform the aspects of your life experience which you desire to change more successfully.

When my hands touched the clay and the wheel began to turn, I had trouble balancing the force, which came from my hands. If I squeezed too tightly or used too much force to mold the clay into a specific shape, the clay would lose all cohesion, squishing through my fingers into a worse form than I started with.

Likewise, when you begin taking action, you must be careful about gripping onto the idea of extremely specific results as well as methods for attaining desired results. While focusing on your goal is excellent, there are an infinite number of ways to do anything; chances are you only imagine a few of those. Keeping yourself open to how you can achieve what you desire enables you to recognize other ideas and synchronistic events while you are taking the actions you know of. This may facilitate and even enhance your results.

When I was instructed to release my grip on the clay, too much of a release caused a complete collapse of the shape I was developing. Similarly, the lack of balance with our actions can cause us to move from extreme productivity to not enough, resulting in the lapse of momentum in what we've begun to manifest. Think of the pottery wheel as our energy. As it turns, the artist uses varying degrees of strength to direct and mold the clay into the desired result. When we are working toward a goal, using the energy of our intention and focus, we must be careful not to be too forceful and constrict the energy to a point at which we cannot make progress.

Just as we must be careful about applying too much force, we must maintain enough direction to stay on track with our goal so it does not become less defined than when we started, leaving us overwhelmed or frustrated.

There is an old saying, "Keep your eyes on the prize." Visualization is an awesome tool that propels us through the process of setting a goal and realizing it. It gives us the perseverance to continue, since it provides the feeling of already enjoying that which we are envisioning. However, many times after the goal becomes real, we can fall into the mental trap of wanting it so quickly, that we become attached to the desired outcome in a way that inhibits our ability to attain or create it.

Letting go of something does not mean ceasing to act; letting go is more of an emotional or mental action that creates a state of mind, which enables the most synergistic energy to flow into your process, thus helping you manifest what you desire more easily.

The next time you approach the process of achieving one of your goals, think of the artist working with clay on a pottery wheel. The artist begins with that seemingly formless lump of wet clay and a vision or goal of creating something interesting. With the desired result or goal in mind, the artist begins to apply action with his hands to mold this wet clay into what he envisions.

While he must keep his hands on it to direct the formation of the clay, he mustn't squeeze too tightly or he'll end up with a useless piece of material. Sometimes the artist may believe the piece will be tall and narrow, instead creating something wider and more stout; other times the end result may curve in places not expected, just like the paths of our lives.

There is a certain level of trust that exists between the artist and that which the artist molds. You must also trust in your own process of sculpting and molding your life experience. Remember that many a successful person's path curved unexpectedly, leading to an extraordinary result not previously imagined. Letting go in your process creates space for these types of exciting and often rewarding twists.

May you embrace the power of letting go in your process, hence molding the clay of your life into the most beautiful and amazing shape or experience it can be.

We can explore how to apply this technique in your art of manifesting together in a personal coaching session today? simply email me at Charly_organic@yahoo.com.