A year ago, by my own criteria, I was an FMAG (Fat Middle Aged Guy) painfully aware of a collection of catabolic thoughts and energy that filled my head each time I drove to the gym:  resentment, bitterness, intimidation, fear, frustration, and insecurity.

But somewhere during those 12 months, a transformation took place without me recognizing it.   The drive to and from the gym began to also contain some anabolic thoughts and energy:  anticipation, enthusiasm, confidence, self-respect, and fearlessness.

Until the membership manager made a point of telling me about this designation and using the specific words 'the transformation is complete'...I was seemingly content to be the FMAG I was a year ago who had made some strides toward a few goals, but was pretty much the same person.

That is where I missed a fundamental self-coaching strategy along the way.  I failed to get familiar and intimate with the goal.  I had a clear understanding of point A, had a few tactical goals for point B, and even created the path to get from Point A to Point B.   HOWEVER, I failed to fully embrace what it would feel like when I reached Point B....I didn't take the time or pay attention to connecting with Point B at a visceral level.

Now that I have been credentialed as such, I can see that had I nurtured a more personal connection with 'Mike the Gym Rat' when I started this journey, there's a very good likelihood that the experience and the outcomes would have been dramatically more substantial and timely.  Certainly, I would have spared myself at least a few of those catabolically charged drives to the gym that sucked the life out of me.

So, my coaching lesson here is this:  Get intimate with your vision (goal) NOW.  Don't wait until you achieve it or begin to see a little bit of progress.....do it NOW!

Here's a few ways:

1.     Look Outside:  Find a a Mentor - find someone who's made the kind of transformation you are seeking, who can relate to where you are and give you a glimpse of what is awaiting you on the other side of all the pain of change.  

2.     Look Inside: Hire a Coach - work with someone who can push, poke, prod, and encourage you through your fears to see your best self and what you truly are capable of.    

3.     Use your gifts:  Embrace the Tactile - Use all five senses to begin to get intimate with the 'transformed' you.  What will it look, feel, smell, sound, and taste like.  (Try this: Be The Goal Exercise)    

4.     Look Up: to your Higher Coach:  Pray, Meditate, Center, etc....get quiet, listen, and focus your spirit on what you seek in the transformation.  Visualize the transformed YOU....Allow yourself to see it manifested. And connect it to your higher purpose.  (Try this: Plug It In Exercise )