These resources include knowing what you want, knowing how to get it and knowing how to keep yourself motivated along the
way. Here are some strategies to help you discover all three.
1. Plot out your goals.
It helps to have an action plan to keep you
on track. "Storyboarding" is a technique used by movie directors to sketch out a plotline, frame by frame, before they start
filming. In a similar way, you can make a blueprint for success by breaking your goal down into parts. Say you've given yourself
three months to lose 10 pounds. Make a chart of the timeline and build it up, week by week, with details of shopping strategies,
exercise tips and so forth—anything that helps make your goal concrete and achievable.
2. Envision your success.
Athletes mentally rehearse every step of their
winning routine to make it feel attainable. In the same way, you can make your own goals as real as possible by visualizing
yourself succeeding in particular scenarios, like making the right choices when dining out. Revisit these scenarios often,
and think about how good you'll feel about achieving your goals.
3. Don't sabotage yourself.
Many of us unconsciously sabotage ourselves
with self-destructive thoughts such as "I'll never lose weight." Whenever you catch yourself thinking this way, try to substitute
more constructive statements; for example, "I haven't lost as much weight as I would like, but I can change that. I'm going
to start by setting aside time to exercise three times each week."
4. Be your own
cheerleader.
Some people believe it's modest to put themselves down. But you wouldn't call a friend "fat" or
"ugly," would you? You deserve the same respect, so try becoming your own best friend. Celebrate your progress, and try not
to obsess about setbacks.
One way to do this is to make a list of your accomplishments in every area of your life (personal, professional and physical).
List the talents and skills that enabled you to achieve them, and look at this list often. Adds Posillico, "Begin a daily
journal of everything you did 'right' today." You'll be surprised how quickly it adds up!
5.
Avoid being a perfectionist.
Try not to think in all-or-nothing terms—that you've blown your diet, for
example, simply because you've overdone it at one meal. "We need to be kinder to ourselves, and learn to regard setbacks as
learning opportunities," says Posillico.
6. Follow through with your goals.
Believing you can achieve your weight-loss
goals is important, but you have to act too, by changing your eating habits, increasing your physical activity and so on.
You can't just think yourself slim, but you can think yourself into the right frame of mind to optimize your prospects.
7. Affirm your self-belief.
Feel your confidence wavering? One way to
reinforce your self-belief is with positive affirmations: simple, self-validating statements repeated as often as possible,
preferably daily. Try coming up with one or two of your own, and remember to keep them positive. You can—and you will—succeed,
as long as you believe you can do it!
