Recently, you read my article about potential and losing hope when designing and meeting your goals (Your Potential Is Your Beginning…Not Your End). I explained how important hope is to everything we do in life because it is the glue that holds us to stick to the positive side of our humanness, which carries us through life in a balanced manner.
This means that through the challenges of life’s realities, we will need our characteristics, values, emotions, and endurance among other attributes to carry us on an unpredictable journey that we try to make as pleasant, rewarding, and joyful as possible. Along the way, we allow ourselves to be replenished by information, education, stimulation, people, and our ever precious passions. However, in the process of making our way through life, if our hope drops to a low level or is non-existent, then we have a problem; because it is the glue that makes everything else work systematically.
The 2 elements that can interfere with losing hope during a project in our lives are:
a)-a bad plan
b)-a bad support-system
1 A bad plan is one that is not well thought out in detail. You cannot make a plan for instance, that says, “In this year, I will lose 50 lbs.”. That plan will never come to fruition, I guarantee it.
However, if you begin to prioritize and create the necessary “baby steps” to get to the goal of losing 50 lbs.., then you will probably reach your goal.
For example: “baby steps” could include:
a)-on Mon., and Wed., I will spend 1/2 hour in
the morning at precisely 7:00 a.m. to begin walking and loosening up my body for two weeks.
b)-on the third week of my plan, I will increase my time to walk by 45 minutes for another two weeks.
c)-on the fourth week of my plan I will increase the pace of my walk for a few weeks and on the next week, I will begin running for 1/2 hour and increase accordingly every two weeks until I reach a good level of exercise.
The same plan applies to changing from bad eating habits to good eating habits in small steps, as well; until, you have reached a healthy program of good eating habits that will produce results. If you have a few setbacks, that’s O.K. But as long as you get back on track, then you will make real progress over all.
This was, of course, an example. However, everyone should have their own guidelines just as long as you are not too easy or too hard for yourself; or unless you have health issues and/or injuries, please speak and confer with your doctor.
A detailed and well-thought-out plan will eliminate the disillusionment, disappointment, and hopelessness you may otherwise feel if you try to do too much too soon. Witnessing the pounds dropping little by little or seeing first hand your strength building by walking or running, will be permanent accomplishments that will ultimately be the basis for your motivation. When you get weak, take stock of what you have accomplished thus far (motivation-factor), and that will set your emotions back on track.
Remember, the key to a working plan is to construct it with detail and specifics.
2- A bad support system will only bring you down, eventually, no matter how hard you try to resist. It is imperative that you foremost have a support system that it is 100% behind you while boosting your morale and participation; e.g., treating you and your plan as if you are already a winner. And the truth is, that you are already a winner because you have made an honest effort, instead of doing nothing.
Your support system can be people close to you, who offer you accountability if you do not have a professional coach. Make sure that you report your accomplishments no matter how small, letting them know that you are continuing on with your plan and meeting your goals.
They will marvel at your tenacity and commitment. It is a win-win situation for you and them because they are witnessing someone who can be an inspiration for whatever they may want to accomplish too.
Succeeding At Your Plan
Of course, there are other aspects that determine a successful plan and how you meet your set goals. However, in my experience, these two key elements are extremely necessary if you want to be successful. Adding other factors to the setting of goals depends on your goal and can be designed accordingly. Just be innovative and creative in designing a plan that will hold your interest and continue to be motivating.
*If you would like further help in this area, I am more than happy to advise and guide you to your success. Simply contact me through e-mail or phone and we can set a special plan in motion just for you.
In the meantime, I wish you the very best in attaining your goals and keeping hope while making huge strides in whatever you wish to accomplish; because, your lasting and authentic happiness lies in appreciation, satisfaction, and your accomplishments.
