Tuesday, April 24, 2007

3 Tips For Staying Motivated Towards Your Goals

It's not always easy to stay motivated when you're trying toachieve a goal. Some experts say that the "goal" itself shouldbe enough to inspire unwavering diligence toward achieving it...and there is an element of truth in that.

However, thereality is that the discomforts of striving for a particulargoal can sometimes cause us to lose focus. Want to get in shape, save for a large purchase, "make thegrade" in your studies? Don't worry...whatever you're trying toaccomplish, the following tips can help you stay motivated andon track.

Visualize the End Result: Can't you just see yourself pounds lighter and fitting into anifty outfit? The key question is how do you imagine yourself"feeling"? Healthier? Sexier? More self-confident? When youdevelop the ability to visualize your goals and imagine whatthe end results will be, you are more likely to stay motivated.

Many people have found it helpful to compose a "dream board"which is an arrangement of images representative of the goal.For instance, if you were saving money for a tropical beachvacation, then you'd get some travel brochures or create acollage of pictures from a magazine of blue ocean, palm trees,exotic fruit drinks...you get the picture! Set Intermediate Goals and Reward Yourself for Small Victories It's human to want results now. However, some worthwhile goalsmay require a great deal of effort and time to accomplish.Don't let that deter you. By setting smaller goals, you canwork on each step that will eventually add up to big results in the end. And don't forget to reward yourself when you reach smallmilestones along the way.

Knowing that there are little"treats" along the journey to your goal will keep you excitedand motivated.

Draw Inspiration from Others: Sources of inspiration to stay motivated can come from successquotes, lyrics, movies that depict people who attained theirdreams through hard work or even speaking with others who haveachieved what you're working toward. If they could do it...socan you! If your focus begins to fade or you skid on a patch ofdiscouragement, you may find it helpful to identify anaccountability partner who will encourage you to stay thecourse.

And, in instances where your partner is also strivingtoward an accomplishment, you'll experience the magic of motivating each other toward success. Visualizing the end result, celebrating small victories alongthe way and drawing inspiration and encouragement from othersare three powerful, easy-to-implement methods of stayingmotivated toward reaching your goals. So, go for it!

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