Here’s a frame to set abstract outcomes succesfully.
An abstract outcome is what I call something that doesn’t necessarily have a finite beginning or ending. Want to enjoy a day with the family? Have a restful day? Feel like a cool uncle?
These are all abstract and so they require a frame that pulls them from the abstract into something you can action while not necessarily being able to measure or quantify them
- What do you want to do?
Stealing from the actors’ methodology of objective and action, have a think about what it is you want to do.
-I want to make my mum feel special.
-I want to make my niece feel heard.
-I want my friend to feel inspired.
These could qualify as objectives for an actor to play in a scene. And if they’re good enough for an actor they are good enough for you! They say a good objective for an actor should have it’s test in the other person. Said another way, is your objective set up in such a way that allows you to, at any moment, use your senses to ascertain how successful you are in your pursuit? This is what keeps actors active and it can do the same for you too.
- Who do you want to be?
This one is less useful for actors, but super useful to you. The strongest force in human psychology is to remain consistent with our identity. So choose the identity you will live into. I will be a loving son. I will be a strong partner. I will be a playful prince. What ever is is for you! When we are intentional about who we are being when we show up, we are far more likely to act in congruence with it when we pursue our outcome.
So using the frame we put the two together.
“I will make my mum feel heard and be a loving son.”
Or
“I will light my students up and be a master of ceremonies”
-What you want to do?
-Who you want to be?
When the outcome isn’t clear cut, see if this fit instead.
