Are You SERIOUS About Your Goals?

Are you serious about your goals? My husband asked me that question recently with regard to my weight loss goal. Eight years ago, I had successfully worked off (I don’t think “lost” does it justice) about 50 lbs, but over the last several years I’ve allowed my weight to slowly creep back up again. As a result, I have unwanted pounds that I’ve been carrying around. Unfortunately, according to the national average, I’m not alone. Current statistics reveal that over half of our population is above the healthy weight range for their bodies.

When I first heard the question, “Are you serious about your goal?” my natural reaction was, “Of course I am!” But then I stopped to think about it. Am I really? Or am I just giving that particular goal an occasional nod, pretending to be serious about it behind the disguise of on-again/off-again diets and irregular exercise programs?

What about you? What goals have you been putting off for “someday”. Have you fallen into the trap of saying, “I’ll have time to do that when my kids leave home,” or “I can afford that when I get my promotion,” or “My life is just too busy right now!”

Do you have a book inside you, but haven’t set a definite goal for writing it? Get serious about that goal and take action…TODAY! Start gathering research, outline your ideas, set aside time to write two pages a day, get a proposal off to a publisher (or purchase your ISBN if you’re going to self-publish). Big goals are accomplished one baby step at a time. Make a plan and commit to it.

What about that trip you’ve always wanted to take? Have you set a date for when you’re going to travel? I don’t care if it’s two years away, set the date and figure out how much money you’ll need to set aside out of each paycheck so that you don’t have to charge your vacation. Get on the Internet or go to the library and learn about the places you want to visit. If it’s outside the country, go ahead and get your passport. Two years will fly by quickly if you’re taking consistent steps towards preparing yourself for that trip. Otherwise, it will never happen.

Maybe your goal is to go back to school and get your degree or specialized certification in your field. Your goal might be to completely declutter your house and experience how renewed your spirit can feel in calm and serene surroundings. Or, like myself, you might be frustrated by midlife weight gain. Whatever your goal, ask yourself, “Am I really serious about accomplishing this?” Don’t wait another day. Take action now.

When I finally confronted my lazy attitude toward my weight-loss goal, I resolved to meet this challenge with the same determination and single-mindedness that I’ve used in meeting other goals in my life. Failure is not an option! I went online and found the closest Weight Watchers meeting and scheduled it in my daily planner. Then I called a friend and set a date to go rollerblading. We now meet at a local park after dinner several evenings a week. On the days she’s not available, I go walking with my husband in our neighborhood. I have a specific goal and a date by which I expect to reach my goal. Am I serious about my goal? You bet I am!

What have you been putting off? What desires (that’s all goals are without a plan of action) are you not taking seriously? It’s not too late to get serious…take that first step today!

Action Steps:

1. Determine which of your goals would have the biggest impact in your life if you actually got serious and developed a plan-of-action for reaching it.
2. Take the first baby step toward putting that plan into action. Make the call, buy the supplies, do something that tells your subconscious mind that you’re serious! Don’t put it off another day!
3. Make a list of at least ten reasons why you absolutely must reach this goal and what it will do for you to have reached it.
4. Track your daily efforts toward reaching your goal. Create a list of small rewards for taking the baby steps needed each day. Then plan how you’re going to celebrate your accomplishment when you’ve reached your goal. For some of you, reaching the goal will be all the reward you need (as in taking that dream vacation).

When I’m rollerblading on the trail, writing in my food journal, and celebrating each week’s small victory, I will be thinking of each of you and wishing you well on your own individual quest. Whatever it is, do it for you. You are in the process of creating the life that you deserve…and you deserve the BEST!