It can be assured that everyone has a goal they would like to achieve. Most people know exactly what they need to do in order to achieve their goals too. Usually goals are set over a period of time where their ability to consistently do the right things is put to the test. In order for most goals to be achieved, habits need to be evaluated, changed and developed. Whenever we don’t achieve a goal that we have set for ourselves, it’s not that we weren’t capable of actually accomplishing it, but we weren’t able to successfully adapt the habits that would bring us to our desired result. Essentially, if you learn how to change and develop habits successfully, you will achieve any goal you want. Period.
Over the course of my time as a student I have tried many different things to get those end of the semester A’s. I tried a lot of different methods; learning how to study, learning time management, developing discipline, etc. There are many websites that will give you the information you need to become a better student. After I read one good article or a good book, I would immediately go into action, do what I was ‘supposed’ to do for about a week or two and then I would find my system would crumble in a few weeks.
Over years of persistent attempts, I began to become discouraged. What was wrong with me? Why couldn’t I hold my attention span for more than a few weeks? The answer I came up with was I was disciplined. After much reflection I realized that yes, this was very true, but I also realized that building discipline wouldn’t necessarily solve my problem. I had tried countless times before to build discipline and no dice. I knew that something just wasn’t right. I had the pieces to the puzzle but I couldn’t find how they fit together; this was a hard jigsaw.
I’ve read a lot of blog posts and a few books on goal achievement. The number one advice they all had in common was constant repetition, putting your goals in your face all the time everyday, 24/7. I read of how some people would write out their goals at the start of every morning so they could put themselves in the goal achieving mode. I read of how some people would post big posters of pictures and affirmations that reminded them of their goals each time they brushed their teeth, went to the bathroom or entered a room. They completely engulfed themselves with their goals. Their outward lives looked as if their inner lives literally revolved around them. As much as this helped, I felt that the ladder still wasn’t tall enough and I needed a little extra push. So I set out to discover what my extra push was exactly.
To best explain this I will use one goal I set for myself as an example. In August I realized that I really enjoyed studying Northern Shaolin Kung Fu and that I wanted to get back into practicing. As with any martial art, fitness level is by far the most crucial component in further advancement and study. Knowing this, I decided before I went back to taking classes, I will begin a hardcore fitness regime. I decided what I would do is run a mile each day during the work week and two miles each day on the weekends. I felt this was a good place to start and it allowed me to eventually up-the-anty when I felt I was ready.
The first week was great! I got up ran, stretched, showered, ate and got to class early every single day. It was amazing. I was pumped. I thought to myself, wow, I may really pull through this time. The next week I got busier with classes, went to bed a little later and two days out of that week I didn’t go running. I felt justified in my reasoning as to why I decided to not go running those few days; “Rest is important. I can’t expect to get a good workout without the right amount of sleep.” I knew this to be true, but at the same time it made me uneasy. After only one week of my goal, I’ve already ‘failed’ to some degree. I made the commitment to exercise everyday and I didn’t hold it. This discouraged me much and didn’t help motivate me to exercise consistently the next week.
A few weeks pass and I’m still exercising off and on. I’ll be consistent for one week, but then the next week I fall through the cracks. I felt like I was on a rollercoaster of extreme highs and extreme lows. I was finding it difficult to even finish my one mile too. I would get up and sometimes not even finish my run. It was discouraging. I finally came to the conclusion that I really needed to step back, reflect and analyse. I sat at my desk and looked around at my room and I could see all of my posters and pictures of encouragement. I put all of these things for me, so I could achieve my goal; so that it would make me so engulfed I could think of nothing else.
Nothing else? I thought about this phrase for a while and then asked, was I really thinking of nothing else? After pondering this for a little while I realized I wasn’t thinking of my goals at all! I was thinking about everything other than my goal! This was my problem. I decided a little experiment was appropriate after my revelation. I decided, the next time I went running, I would think of nothing else but Kung Fu. I was running so I could start up Kung Fu again. I tried this for a week and after that time period I felt it was easier for me to get up and feel pumped about running my mile. After feeling a sense of accomplishment, I started watching Shaolin Kung Fu video clips on YouTube.com before I went on my daily runs. My thoughts and emotions that developed while watching those clips carried over to my workout session and it helped me even more to think nothing else but Kung Fu.
I realized my new technique of habit enforcement had began to affect me when I recorded that I had run about twenty nine miles that whole month; running a mile each weekday and two miles each day of the weekend. It was an amazing experience to say, wow I really can do this. It takes time though and it won’t seem like it’s working until you’re there so patience and persistence is key.
What I offer you today is this little something I learned a while ago, remind yourself every single day why you’re doing what you’re doing. If you’re exercising, don’t think about the fact that you’re tired. Think about the fact that you are exercising and making yourself tired because you want to accomplish your goal. The more you do this, the stronger and easier it will be to summon a powerful drive force within you that let’s you keep on going.
Arnold Schwarzeneger was asked how he was able to become a world famous bodybuilder and a
Hollywood actor and he answered “DRIVE.” When you say to yourself, “Oh I’m tired and I want to stop,” you are basically asking yourself, “Why am I putting myself through this?” Answer your question. Say, “I am doing this because I want to accomplish this!” This will make you pumped and give you that extra little push to do that last bicep curl. It’ll push you to run that one or two minutes more. It’ll push you to spend that extra hour to finish writing your paper.
The more you do this, the easier it’ll be to say no to anything that will keep you from accomplishing your goals. After a while, you won’t hear that annoying, complaining voice in your head telling you to stop. All you will hear yourself say is, “I am walking one step closer to my goal.”
I remember when I was little watching those claymation Christmas movies and (I can’t remember which movie right off hand) I remember one of the little jingles they would sing; “Put one foot in front of the other and soon you’ll be walking ‘cross the floor! Put one foot in front of the other and soon you’ll be walking out the door!” Does that bring back any memories? Ya it might be a little cheesy but this song is telling you to take on step at a time. You can’t start the race without taking you’re first step and you can’t finish it without taking the next.
I hope this article has helped you get pumped up because it surely has helped me feel pumped right now! Use this as a tool to motivate you. Take the time to read this and/or something similar each day before you start your day and see what kind of effects it has on you.
I wish the best of luck to all of you!! Reach for the stars! I’d like to leave today with a quote:
Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.It is not just in some; it is in everyone.And as we let our own light shine, we consciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence authomatically liberates others.
-Marianne Williamson
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Here’s a great new recipe that I tried today for dinner! I found it out of my Healthy College Cookbook. It’s a very simple recipe that seriously took me all of nine minutes to prepare.
