7 Steps to Achieve Your Goals

As a Certified Health and Wellness Coach, I want to see you succeed in the mastery of your wellbeing.   That means health and wellness for you in all things mind, body and spirit.  The fundamentals of wellbeing are the same for all of us.  What we do to get there, is different for each of us.   My hope for you is that you find some new healthy habits that you are willing to stick with for the long term.   Although you might start looking pretty good…the real prize is your health and wellness.
 

How to Achieve your Goals in 7 Steps: 

1. Create a vision for yourself and make it big.  It can be bigger than weight loss.  It can be as dreamy and as farfetched as you like.  It is yours to make happen.  Write your vision in the present tense as if it is already happening.  For example, you might write, “I am 20 pounds lighter and I feel good and look good in my new clothes.  I have more confidence and abundant energy, and I am peaceful and happy.  When I feel that I am getting stressed, I take a moment to pause, and clear my head, take a deep breath and tackle the situation at hand.
2. Create your three month goals. What do you want to be doing in three months consistently that moves you toward your vision?  Those are your three month goals.  Three months is long enough to create new habits and short enough to stay motivated to reach your goals, and gain momentum and excitement around your actions.
3. Set weekly goals. Your weekly goals are to help you reach your three month goals toward your vision.  Choose actions you are willing to do and keep your commitment to yourself.  Keeping your commitment to yourself makes you stronger.
4. Ask yourself what behaviors you will practice daily to reach the outcomes you want for yourself.  The reason why so many New Year’s Resolutions go by the wayside is because we set “outcome goals” without the behaviors needed to reach them.  For example, “I will lose 10 pounds”, is an outcome goal.
5. You will encounter obstacles- we all do- this is life. To overcome obstacles and get back on track fast, you will want to know what your obstacles are likely to be, and what strengths you will use to overcome those.  For example, let’s say you have a new born baby who demands much of your time.  Your weekly goal is to walk twice a week, on Tuesday and Thursdays with your neighbor at 7 pm.  Your spouse said he/she would watch baby while you go for your walk with your friend.  What could happen? – Your friend could bale on you or your spouse cannot get home from work on time to watch baby.  What will you do?   Here is your game - you will play the “If this happens, then this is what I will do” …If this, then what?   Have a plan.  The plan might be to walk on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon instead, or wake up early to go for a walk the following morning.   The purpose of this game is for you to get back on track fast.  Life happens.  Your strengths may be resilience, or determination, or conviction.  Use those to get you through obstacles.  When you fall off track, all you need to do is decide in the present moment to get back on, and make your next choice a good one.  It is not an all or nothing approach.  
6. Write your goals (both weekly and three-month goals) in the S.M.A.R.T. format (specific, measurable, action oriented, realistic and time bound).  Weekly Goal Example:  I will drink water from my green cup at lunch each day this week.
7. Finally- know your motivators and why your vision is important to you.  Unless you attach deep meaning for your changes, they might not stick.  Your motivators will change overtime.  Once you reach your goals, your motivators change because you are now in a different place.  Recognize that to keep your healthy practice inspired, you need to keep creating, learning and growing.  Here is the secret:  Ask yourself why losing weight is important to you.  You may say—“Because I want to feel good”.  Then ask yourself 3-5 more times - Why do I want to feel good? You may answer, “Because I want to have more fun in life”.  Why do I want to have more fun in life? – “Because I do not want any regrets”.  Why do I not want any regrets in life? “Because I want peace and happiness and total fulfillment”.  ©Kathryn Scoblick

 
© Health Inspires.

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