Achieving Your Goals: How to Strengthen Your Resolve and Build Momentum

Most people have no problem understanding intellectually that action is required to achieve their goals, yet they struggle with making the progression from "knowing" to actually "doing" in their lives. Day after day, they tell themselves they need to do something, but they continue with their usual routine.  As a result, nothing happens and the desired achievement eludes them.

Do you have a goal in mind that you've thought about pursuing, but you're struggling to take action and make that first move?  Or, do you find that your biggest hurdle is following through once you've started?

The following strategies will help you strengthen your resolve and build the necessary momentum to carry you forward once you get started.

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Identify why you want to make changes and what you will gain.

When people think about pursuing a goal, particular one that involves change or a substantial effort, they often make the mistake of viewing the endeavour in a negative light.  They focus on how difficult it will be or how much they'll need to give up.

You can turn this around by identifying why you want to make changes and what you will gain.  Sure, changing your eating habits in order to lose weight will require some effort, and you might need to give up some old habits.  But think about how great it will feel o fit into your favourite pants again.  Imagine the added confidence of knowing you're taking care of yourself and increasingly the likelihood of retaining your health and independence as you get older. Instead of focusing on the pain, focus on the gain.
 

Work some early wins into your plan.

Most goals aren't achieved overnight; they take time.  And if you're like most people, far-off, gradual gains won't always be enough to keep you focused, motivated, and energized in the present.  That's why it's so important to work some early wins into your plan. 

Choose anything that's meaningful for you; nothing is too small.  It could be replacing your afternoon junk food snack with something healthier like fruit a few days out of the week, or getting out for a walk a few times a week. If your ultimate goal is to do a thorough decluttering of your entire home, and early win might be going through one drawer and throwing out unneeded odds and ends. 

Celebrating these early achievements will build your confidence and inspire you to push on to see how much more you can achieve.


Accept that setbacks are a normal part of the journey.

Everyone experiences setbacks from time to time, this is normal in any endeavour.  An occasional slip-up as you pursue your goals doesn't nullify all your past efforts up to that point; nor does it need to derail you and take you off your path going forward. Don't beat yourself up every time you slip-up or find yourself a little off track.  Simply acknowledge what happened, refocus, and get back on track.
 

Don't go it alone, get support.

A little bit of support can make all the difference in following through to achieve your goals.  Whether it's a family member, a friend, a group of peers tackling the same goal, or some form of professional support, the right support can help both as you're getting started and as you get further along. What matters is that you feel supported and encouraged in your efforts, regardless of what your starting point is and where you're at. 

Note that support may include challenging you at times in order to bring out your best. However, you should never feel attacked, condemned, belittled, or pushed in a way that feels disrespectful.  Ultimately, you should always be in charge of the steps you take and the choices you make.
 
Depending on where you're at, the prospect of change can feel extremely intimidating, making it hard to take that first step.  Always keep in mind that your yesterday does not have to define your tomorrow.  Regardless of what you've been doing (or not doing) up until now, you can make a decision to start doing things differently, in order to move forward in a new direction.