Christine Casey ~ Change Begins with Choice

Do you know what you want out of life?  Do you feel fulfilled?  In order to achieve a complete and happy existence, you must identify your goal in life — an objective that will give your life true meaning — your “WHY”.

The most important characteristic that enables people to stay the course through great difficulties is that they have a powerful purpose. Whenever you want to make any change in your life, the purpose behind your goal is more important than the goal itself. Did you know that?  In fact, it will keep you going when obstacles appear.  Notice I stated “when” they appear because obstacles are inevitable, it’s all about how determined you are to reach your goals that will assist you through these times.

Regardless of whether you want to start your own business, raise a family, travel the world or be a concert pianist, you can accomplish it once you specify what you want to accomplish and when.  Knowing your “WHY” intensifies your desire and commitment, and if you can create enough reasons why you want to make a change, there’s nothing that can keep you for reaching your goal.

What are some things that you can do to keep you moving in the right direction?

• Write down the goal that you’d like to achieve and list all the reasons why you MUST achieve it. Go ahead, make it a huge list of all the reasons that will excite and motivate you to stay in action every day. What are the specific benefits you will experience? How will you feel about yourself?  How will this victory impact your self-image and confidence? How will it benefit your loved ones?
• What will it cost you to not achieve your goal? Equally as important as identifying the benefits you will receive for achieving your goal, it’s just as important to identify the consequences of not achieving your goal. Give some serious thought about the consequences you’ll experience personally, professionally and spiritually if you don’t take the necessary actions each day to make your goal happen. What will it cost you if you don’t start working out consistently? If you don’t make the prospecting calls you need to make each day? If you don’t stop smoking? And as importantly, how will that make you feel? Our emotions drive our behavior, so fully connect with how it will feel if you don’t achieve your goal. You’ll be a lot more likely to take action and keep taking it if you regularly connect with the cost of not following through.
• Start every day by focusing on why you want to achieve your goal and the cost not to follow through. Every single day, think about how achieving this goal will positively impact other areas of your life.  Allow yourself to feel the joy and excitement that you’ll experience by honoring your commitments to yourself today to make that goal a reality.  And, just as important, review what it will cost you if you don’t achieve your goal. What will it cost you if you don’t start eating a healthier diet, lower your cholesterol, or save money for the future? And how will those consequences make you feel? Our emotions drive our behavior, so fully connect with the pain of failure to motivate you to take action.

I’d like to leave you with this final thought — isn’t it exhilarating to meet people who have a purpose and the drive to make it happen? Well, do you realize that can be you! Remember, goals give you sense of direction and something to get excited about.  Life’s journey will be much more enjoyable if you know your destination.  Take time to think about your goal(s) in life — your “WHY”.