Why do you want to do the things you put on your New Year’s resolution list. Do you wish to do them just because you know you should want to do them? Or do you have a deeper reason to accomplish them.
If you just want to lose weight because you think everyone else thinks you should, you won’t be motivated to actually do the work required. If however, your reason is deeper than skin deep, and is based on how much healthier you will be and on how great you will feel, then there is reason for internal motivation.
Can you picture the end result in your mind? Clearly defining what your win looks like, is all about creating a strong picture of what success looks like. Imagining the finished picture will motivate you through the challenge.
So what does success for you look like. Does it mean you will be able to run a marathon? Does it mean you’ll be able to enjoy playing hockey with your boys and have energy left over?
If your goal is just about the “losing weight” it is pretty weak. But if your goal has deeper values built into it like family, and health, or freedom; then it becomes worth fighting. Worth putting heart into it. Worth internalising.
Your goal should be a stepping stone to a bigger reality. A reality that brings you closer to who you were created to be. Whether or not you know exactly what that is, I bet you have a good clue as to what that is.
If say, you picture your win as buying a brand new sports car at the end of it all, but your values protest against such a splurge on yourself, you are setting yourself up for failure. There is nothing wrong with driving a sports car, and you know it. But your values are disagreeing with your goal.
Defining your win as such will create conflict and tension in you, not motivation. It is self-sabotage at its best. So make sure you are aware of your values while you are defining your win.
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