I wanted to continue our discussion on Motivation because I had some further thoughts that may be of great service to you in the long run. One of the big things that lead to creating some Motivation in your life or your exercise program is Goals. Everyone has heard this before I know. But guess what when you yourself do the work to set your own goals with some simple guidelines in mind it can really make all the difference in the world in terms of your success as well as your level of consistent motivation. We are all motivated to some degree every day by something or else we would not get out of bed. We are also all motivated by different things for the most part. We may all be motivated to go to work in order to pay our bills we may be motivated to do our exercise program because we do not want to look a certain way etc. But ultimately I believe there is a better way to create a strong motivation in your life that is by setting some simple goals. Here is the very basic blue print to setting some goals that will help you shape where it is you would like to go. Many times we are stumped being that we just do not know how to get started. So here it is no more excuses just do it!
Here is the outline first so you have it to refer back to:
S: Specific
M: Measurable
A: Attainable
R: Realistic
T: Timely
This is a very simple way to set some goals that will allow you to achieve what ever it is in life you are searching for. This will help you get started and give you some guidance to where you are going. As I said in the first Motivation Blog, you need to spend the time getting to know what it is you want in order to decide where it is you would like to go!
Specific - make it something that is defined. For example I am going to go to my Yoga Class 3 times per week. Don’t be vague this will leave opportunity not to achieve your goals leaving you feeling unsatisfied and probably end up beating yourself up mentally.
Measurable - 3 days per week is measurable. It is either 3 days or it is not. Always remember to start slow be optimistic but also keep in mind if you do, o days per week now start with 1-2. No body says you cannot go over your 1-2 days! Make it something you can measure what ever it is it should be quantifiable.
Attainable - I find this variable to be the most person specific. What is attainable for one person may not be for the next. This has to do with the idea of the example, is 3 days attainable or is it too much. Only the individual setting the goals can answer that question. When you set your goals make them challenging but not unrealistic, walk that fine line and check in with yourself.
Timely - this has to do with setting a time line for your goals. By next week I will begin doing my Yoga 3 days per week. Within 3 months I will work my way up to 3 times per week. Do not leave loose ends when it comes to being timely and setting goals in general. The idea is to create the most amount of structure that you are comfortable with. Do not say I want to go to yoga twice a week.
Say this instead.
My GOAL is to go to yoga: Monday, Thursday and Sunday at 9 a.m. within the next 3 months. Simple but it meets all the requirements.
Once you have set some goals around the things in your life you would like to obtain, spend some time doing some visualization of you not only achieving your goals but enjoying the journey. So often we become attached to the outcome of the situation and we loose the ability to focus on the work of the journey itself. If we did not have the journey and we only had the destination we would not learn grow and flourish in this lifetime. Picture yourself in the class, sweating and breathing and doing the work that you wanted to do. Don’t let it be enough to just say I did 3 days a week of yoga, have purpose to your goals and your life. Get something out of each moment of life but especially out of the things that are important enough to you to set goals for. Makes sense right. This is really easy but highly effective. I use this method myself as well as with many of my clients. It is a way to just keep you in check. Life can be very busy, crazy and overwhelming. Just keep in mind two things, one we create the reality and the environment we live in by what we dominantly think about every day. So watch your thoughts for they can be the life or death of your goals as well as all the other events that occur in your life. Second if your life is that crazy and hectic maybe it is time to re-evaluate what it is that is important and find a way to recreate some balance with the things that are most important. I wish you the best on whatever stage of your journey you happen to be. For more information and upcoming events visit our website for details.
In Good Health,
Ryan
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