what is a bhag?

A BHAG (pronounced "bee-hag") is a big, hairy, audacious goal!

why share your bhag?

The more you share your goals, the more likely it is you will achieve them. For the month of June we will be sharing a BHAG every day on lululemon.com. Want to share your BHAG with the world? Send your high-res photo to blogs@lululemon.com and we'll publish a few of our favourites here on the lululemon blog.

"Which road should I take?" (Alice)

"Where do you want to go?" (Cat)

"I don't know," Alice answered.

"Then", said the Cat, "It doesn't matter. If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there."

- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

How true. The path to self development is often as winding and unpredictable as Alice's journey through Wonderland. Just this year I set out on a similar adventure: What is my Big Hairy Audacious Goal?

Who knew that these little statements of "I will…" would became so powerful and life-changing once they hit the paper… As soon as I wrote my goals out I began working harder at the things that I loved, and am passionate about. In sequence, I got closer and closer to achieving the things that I wanted to achieve! For example: this year I set out to decide to really "jump in" to writing, and more frightening, having my writing read and shared by many different people. Once I put "I will join the lululemon blog team" on paper, it was all i wanted to make happen. I began looking at what I could do to qualify, finally leading into applying through email. I worked to make it happen, and it did, and it can happen to you right now.

I encourage you out there (at least I hope you're out there ) to take the time today, sit down with a good coffee and think of a goal you want to accomplish this week. Maybe its finishing your 5K strong or just polishing off that paper you were procrastinating on. Meeting goals feels AWESOME, so why not? Dare to step out on a ledge today and you might just find out that your ledge wasn’t as tall as you thought it was!

Feel free to comment below with your goals and successes!
M

[Editor's note: Welcome to the team, Matt!]

I never liked the word 'should'. Although words may be just words, I find you put a lot behind them, both consciously and unconsciously. To me, 'should' is surrounded by negativity: guilt, frustration, self-doubt. Even when used in a seemingly positive sentence like, "Oh you should go for that job, you are brilliant!". The word adds pressure to the person's decision to make the 'right' choice. But if we eliminate that word, we embrace the opportunities that lie before us, not making either right or wrong, merely a path we choose.

'Deserve' is an amazing word. Just this last week, I started substituting it for the word 'should', to an amazing affect. I found that it gave me a new sense of motivation when I realized I deserved greatness in my life. Honestly, this can apply to all areas. For example, washing dishes is my absolute least favourite chore to do. Too often I find myself having this conversation while sitting on the couch: "Oh, I should do the dishes... but I don't want to... gah but I really should do them..." etc. However, when I say, "I deserve clean dishes!", I'm like "Yeah!! I do!" and set about cleaning them.

I took this and applied it to my writing, my workouts, free-time, the lot! And I have to say I clearly notice a vast improvement, especially in my happiness and feeling of vitality. You all deserve an amazing life, the life you truly want. I challenge you to join me, in a 'should’-free diet!