Are you consistent?  Do your actions support you in accomplishing your goals?  I'm often amazed at how we (myself included) recognize a need or want, and then do things guaranteed to take us in exactly the opposite direction.

Take last night for instance.  A couple weeks ago I made a decision to lose 10 pounds by April 9th and posted it on my LinkedIn account, putting it out there for anyone who wanted to join me in a mutually supportive dialogue to achieve the goal.  I've been making consistent progress and was feeling pretty good about myself.  And then came the post-dinner munchies.  By the end of the evening, I had downed about 2 dozen sweet potato chips and finished off the evening with a small bowl of sugar-free ice cream.  Did I mention my goal was to lose 10 pounds?

I talk to individuals all the time who tell me they are working to get a particular job, or are striving to reach a very reachable goal.  Then in almost the same breath, they explained how they didn't respond in a timely manner to a request for information from "the employer of their dreams," or took some other action totally opposed to their desired goal.  Why do we do this?

I believe we become complacent within our successes losing focus of the end result.  I think we fail to keep the goal significantly in front of us, which allows us to deviate from the course we have committed to.  

We also make progress only to feel justified in rewarding ourselves by doing things that actually take us away from, or minimize the success we've accomplished.  And then we feel guilty, beating ourselves up for not maintaining our course.  So what can we do about it.

First, it's important to make sure the goal is clearly fixed in your mind, and reflected in your environment to support what you are trying to do.   Today I'm going to find some pictures to support, and remind me of what I'm trying to accomplish.  Secondly, I'm going to set a reward for myself that does not have anything to do with food.  In this way I can mark the milestones of success and feel good about it.

It's also important to not only think about the goal but to write down what it is you will be able to do, how you will feel, and what it will mean to you to accomplish the goal.  I can't wait to be able to put on one of my suits without feeling any tightness, or having to think about unbuttoning that middle button.  With the weather getting warmer I can't wait to slide into my kayak, rather than feeling like I'm dropping a bag of cement into it.  And finally, I can't wait to go to the doctor to hear him say that my sugar levels are low, my cholesterol is great and that I will very likely live to see my newest granddaughter grow up.

If you'd like to join a group invested in posting and supporting each other in their goals join us on my LinkedIn site "Motivation Station." We all struggle with many of the same issues and together we can find solutions to make a significant difference; not only in your life but for those around you.

So,  I'm headed downstairs to do some yoga, eat a couple egg whites, drink some green tea, and get back on track.  Have a great day and above all . . .

Be well!

John