Motivation

by Mariana Bozesan

We can all remember a time in our lives when we have accomplished something that made us extremely proud. We had an idea we wanted to implement, something we wanted so badly (a job, a car, a new degree, etc.) that we became extremely creative in going after it. We did what ever it took to make it happen. We did not mind working day and night or sleeping less. We were driven, so determined to achieve a particular result that no effort was too much for us. Our end vision carried us through all the possible obstacles that came our way until finally we got what we were committed to accomplish.

Why did we do all that? What was the driving force? We call that motivation. Motivation is the single most important factor in our ability to follow through in life both short-term and long-term. It is the juice that oils the motor of our life.

Motivation is what turns a visionary into a leader.

We are all natural leaders if we know what we want and why we want it. We have proven it in our life so many times already, from small to large goals. This is what differentiates those who talk from those who go out and make it happen. We can all become driven by our end goals and refuse to get caught up by the excuses and the problems that occur along the way. By staying motivated, we keep our vision in front of us and turn problems into opportunities for growth. If our motivation is high enough, we find ways to overcome all challenges and unexpected difficulties. We just change our strategies and keep our enthusiasm and passion. These are exactly the same qualities that you need to apply right now to lose weight and become healthy and vibrant.

Just imagine yourself losing all the weight you want to lose and keeping it off forever. You never have to worry about food, counting calories, or your health. Imagine yourself fitting in your favorite dress and bursting with energy. Imagine yourself receiving compliments from total strangers, sharing the story of your weight success with all of your current friends and relatives and helping them achieve the same goals. Hundreds of thousands of people around the world have achieved their weight loss goals and so can you.

Pick up your journal and write down the goals you have in life. Imagine it is Christmas evening and you can make any wishes you have. Let your imagination flow. Write everything that comes to your mind as if you were a child making a list for Santa Claus:

• What are your goals in life?



• What do you want to accomplish at the personal, professional, financial, relationship level?



• What would you really want?

Prioritize the goals you have for the next 12 months and pick the top three of them. Then attach compelling reasons to them by writing down:

• Why do you want to achieve these three goals?



• What would that give you?



• How would achieving these goals make you feel?

Now let’s focus on and continue with our weight loss goals for a moment and journal the answers to the following questions:

• What are your goals for losing weight?



• How much weight do you want to lose in what specific time frame? Give exact (daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly) milestones for action items and goals you want to achieve. Make everything very specific in terms of time, exact weight including a vision of the bikini or clothing you want to wear, the place you want to wear it at and the compliments people are paying you.



• Why do you want to lose all that weight? What will that give you? How would that make you feel?



• Why have you failed to follow through in the past? What will be different this time? What are you willing to do to follow through and make this work now? Whose help are you going to enlist?



• Which concrete actions are you going to take today to show your total commitment to losing that weight this time around? Whose help will you enlist? Who will you call today to get support from? What gym will you join? Which books will you buy and read? Which live seminar will you attend to learn more and get more support? What will achieving that weight loss goal give you? How would that make you feel? How do you want to measure your success along the way? How do you want to stay on track?

By completing this hands-on exercise you have shown true commitment to your own personal growth and towards living a life of more meaning and fulfillment. You have made a significant step on your way to reaching your weight loss goal by knowing yourself better and what drives you in life. In the words of the great Roman Marcus Aurelius you have realized that "It is not death that man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live." You have recognized those fears and by knowing what you want you are on your way to more personal happiness and fulfillment.