| We all have goals and aspirations. Sometimes we | | | | continue on your path everyday. They can inspire you |
| have difficulty knowing where to start. We want that | | | | to go beyond what you thought that you were |
| new body, or want to be healthy and have more | | | | capable and hold a hand out to you in order assist you |
| energy, but we just do not know what the first step is. | | | | on your way. |
| In addition, the road to our goals is sometimes a rocky | | | | 4) Make a public commitment to accomplishing your |
| one. It is difficult to transgress and sometimes we just | | | | goal. There is a power in stating our goal to others. It is |
| want to give up. We sometimes forget that our | | | | a public commitment that you will achieve what you |
| current situation did not occur overnight and so | | | | have stated that you will. It takes it out of your head |
| changing it will not happen overnight either. It will take | | | | and puts it out into the world. This creates a sense of |
| time and hard work. I offer you eight techniques that | | | | responsibility on our part because we do not wish to |
| have brought success to others just like you. They will | | | | disappoint others. It should be in the form of a definitive |
| help you obtain and retain motivation so that you can | | | | statement. Instead of "I am trying to reduce my waist |
| start on the path to achieving your goals today. | | | | down two sizes," try instead "I will lose two waist sizes |
| 1) Set only one goal at a time. When you try take on | | | | in the next two weeks." This sends the message of a |
| too much at once, you can become overwhelmed | | | | definitive rather than a wish. There is little room for |
| quickly. Instead of trying to tackle three or four goals | | | | doubt in a definitive statement. |
| try to prioritize them. Create a list and take one goal at | | | | 5) Seek out support. People are social creatures that |
| a time. Once you achieve that goal, back to your list | | | | do better in groups than they do alone. People try to |
| mark it off, and move to the next one. The act of | | | | lose weight for years find greater success in a peer |
| marking off the goals and achieving them individually | | | | group trying to lose weight than they do alone. Find |
| will give you a greater sense of accomplishment. You | | | | others with similar goals or try to join an already |
| can even break the one goal done into smaller parts. | | | | established support group. This can inspire and push |
| This gives you motivation and success more often | | | | you along when you begin to doubt ourselves. |
| than waiting for days or months to achieve a larger | | | | 6) Think thoughts conducive to success. There is only |
| goal. | | | | one constant in the universe and that is change. |
| For example, let us say you want to lose thirty pounds | | | | People are often resistant to change. Their resistance |
| in 45 days. Break the goal down weekly to losing | | | | is often fueled by fear. This can be the fear of failure |
| about five pounds a week. You can make up a | | | | or maybe even fear of the unknown. You must face |
| calendar and mark off the week as you achieve your | | | | that fear and tell yourself everyday that change is |
| weekly goal. If you did not achieve your goal that | | | | good and change is what is needed to achieve what |
| week, adjust the other weeks according and still give | | | | you want out of life. Self-talk in front of a mirror daily |
| yourself credit for what you did achieve. | | | | can help you achieve this. Remember to keep your |
| 2) Evaluate your desire and motivation. People often | | | | talk positive. Instead of saying, "I will try not to be afraid |
| think they know what they want. The good news is | | | | of that new Pilates class because it looks hard." Say |
| that if you set a goal and work hard, you are likely to | | | | instead "I will enjoy the Pilates class and get the rock |
| achieve it. The bad news is that it might not really be | | | | hard abs I have always wanted." This shift in thought |
| what you want. | | | | can create wonders in your life. |
| Suppose you want to date a girl at the gym. You | | | | 7) Keep a success journal. Earlier I mentioned keeping |
| overheard her say that she likes men with large | | | | a calendar to mark your successes. A step beyond |
| muscular arms. You set the goal of working extra | | | | this is a success journal. In it, you can write down your |
| everyday to achieve bigger than life biceps and | | | | achievements and successes. You can include |
| triceps. You reach your goal after grueling hours of | | | | pictures or whatever else is inspiring to you. This |
| sweat and pain. In the meantime, she met a guy half | | | | success journal is not only a testament that you |
| the size as you, and who was available because he | | | | achieved what you told others you would, but it also |
| was not in the gym 12 hours a day. | | | | provides an instrument in which you can look back to |
| You reached your goal of large arms, but set the | | | | when you are achieving new goals to help inspire you. |
| wrong goal of trying to get a date with a particular girl. | | | | It is a message to yourself that you can achieve |
| Make sure you are really reaching for what you really | | | | anything you set you mind to and the journal is proof |
| want in life. You can achieve what you sought and still | | | | of it. |
| feel empty inside. | | | | 8) Keep before you, at all times, the benefits of |
| 3) Find inspiration for accomplishing your goal. The | | | | attaining your goal. |
| reason that personal trainers are so popular is that | | | | Sometimes we can be so caught up in the process of |
| they can help you achieve things that alone you may | | | | achieving a goal that we can forget what the goal is. |
| not. It has nothing to do with your desire to achieve | | | | When you set out on a trip, you may have a map. On |
| your goals; it is because we need inspiration to | | | | that map are two important items, where you started, |
| continue on our road to success. As humans, we can | | | | and where you are going. Create your own map of |
| talk ourselves and make excuses why we do not | | | | your goal. Keep it where you can see it daily so that |
| achieve of goals everyday. Having someone that has | | | | you do not forget where you are going or forget how |
| walked down the same path and has reached the end | | | | far you have come. |
| is a great inspiration that can help motivate you to | | | | |