Two Key Steps to Achieving your Goals

Two Steps to Failure-Free Goals

We all have goals. We have that list which looks so crisp and pretty on January 1st. It may say “go on a vacation” or “lose 10 pounds” or “learn to play the piano”. But, by January 20th, that list is under a pile of papers and that goal is far from of your mind. Why is it that we can’t stick to these resolutions? We want to do these things but we just can’t get it done.
The reason is that our goals are vague. We want to get in shape. We want to be a positive person. But what does that mean?
In order for a goal to really stick it has to be both specific and challenging. We will often keep our ambitions unclear so there is no really measurable way to admit failure. If you want to “be more confident”, who’s to say if you’ve succeeded or not? There’s no way to measure the results so there is no way to say you haven’t met your aim.
A specific goal has details embedded in it and is clearly defined. You have pinpointed exactly what you want to do and you are working towards a certain result. If you want to get in shape, then have a specific weight goal. If you want to become more adventurous, then decide what it is you imagine an adventurous person does and do that; maybe adventurous to you means talking to strangers or it could mean skydiving. If you keep your goals unclear then you won’t have anything to work toward and you will have no idea if you are actually progressing towards a result.
Your goal must also be challenging. A “low goal” is one that not hard for you and will not ask you to exert yourself in any capacity. While these may come easier to you and you’ll feel more successful at the moment, the ultimate results will be sub par. Your self-esteem comes from moving out of your comfort zone and achieving despite the risk of failure.
These “challenging and specific” goals are ones that should exceed your immediate grasp; if you could achieve it today, then it’s not an appropriate goal. If you would like to learn to play the guitar, a “low goal” would be to buy music books and maybe learn a chord or two. While this is a great start, this goal has a high chance of immediate success and doesn’t push you out of your comfort zone. Instead, you should say you will learn three songs and will be performing a concert for family at Christmas. Now you have something challenging to shoot for and, when you’re sitting in the living room wowing everyone on Christmas Day, think of how proud you’ll be of yourself.

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How to Rededicate yourself - Never Quit

This is an elaborate ritual that involves forgetting the pities of the past, revitalizing your dreams, and coming up with an invigorated gameplan that you can work day in and day out. And it has to begin RIGHT NOW.
If you’re wondering whether its possible to begin later – maybe tomorrow – instead, stop and answer me this: Would you put off breathing or eating until tomorrow?
This is YOUR LIFE we’re talking about, and WHO YOU ARE ABOUT TO BECOME.  How dare you put that off for one more day?  You are astonishing and can’t afford to squander.
Rededication, while elaborate, begins with a few simple steps. One is revisiting your dreams. You have to make them as big, exciting, and bright as a star – so that your ship can always use them to find its way and be guided
Another step of rededication is having an INVIGORATED GAMEPLAN – one that is challenging, yet fun and doable. For instance, having a powerful and exciting picture of your dream or goal, combined with a simple game plan of doing XYZ to achieve the result you’re after.
There’ll always be twists, turns, and storms along the way – something you shouldn’t worry about. All you’re focused on  is how to get your ship from here to there, the rest will resolve itself as you try different things and evolve. One key ingredient that’ll make the difference is PATIENCE.
The first blow of an axe won’t have much of an effect on an oak tree. Nor will the second or third. It’s the 1000^th that will have an affect – at a time when most people have quit due to their impatience. They’ve been constantly looking for that instant hit, that quick fix. And while you’ve been working away at this one tree, they’ve been running around striking a single blow of the axe against a thousand oak trees, and wondering why YOU’RE SO MUCH FURTHER AHEAD.

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Start this New Year with a Bang - Acheiving your Goals

Start This New Year With A Bang!

Have you kept your 2012 New Year's Resolutions? Odds are you may have lost your way a little. Now it's time to get back on track and make 2011 the year that you achieve your fitness goals!

 

1st January, 2012- "From today onwards I will begin my journey to get strong and big/lose fat and will surely make it happen this year"

Maybe that was the New Year's resolution that you made to yourself in 2012. And probably by mid 2012 that was already a broken promise. You are definitely not the only one with this issue. I can safely say that 95% of all New Year's resolutions end up being unsuccessful. Barely 5% make it a success. Maybe you are guilty of making the same New Year's resolution every year and end up breaking it barely 21 days into the New Year every single time. Well if that is the case then you should realize that you need to plan well rather than just make a wish every 1st January and expect it to happen. Yes, all great achievements are, as they say, 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration.

I can safely say that 95% of all New Year's resolutions end up being unsuccessful

Anyways, regardless of how many unsuccessful New Year's resolutions we may make every year, we still find a new source of motivation and hope with every 1st of January approaching. That is something that I truly love about the human spirit. So, if you are one of those who never say die and are determined to make this year your best yet, then let me help you make it special this year.

Common Training Mistakes

First of all you need to look at the mistakes that you committed in 2012 so that you do not repeat them this year as well. Here are some of the common mistakes that trainees make when they fail. You may have committed one or many of them - check out for yourself.

• Failed to consistently train.
• Pushed too hard.
• Pushed too little.
• Neglected proper nutrition. Ate mostly junk and refined foods.
• Rested very little. Slept no more than 5 hours on most nights.
• Failed to progress with intensity, weight lifted, and going faster in your workouts.
• Changed your workouts too frequently to not gain from any of them.
• Were so confused between losing fat and gaining muscle that you ended doing nothing much.

Of course there can be other reasons too that may have caused you to fail in 2010. So if you can identify with any of the reasons mentioned above or any that you may have detected then obviously first you need to get that sorted out.

A common mistake is neglecting proper nutrition

Let's move onto training in 2013, assuming that you will sort out the other problems like nutrition, rest, etc.

Fixing Your Training Mistakes

Frankly speaking the number one problem I see that most trainees make in regards to their training is that they do not train for quality. Just one example to prove my point, have you ever seen a guy make a dumbbell lateral raise into a compound movement using his lower back, legs? Yes that is a fine example of poor quality training. So this year commit to improving your exercise form. Remember what eight times Mr. Olympia Lee Haney used to say "when you do a rep properly, one rep equals to two reps".
Another thing, please promise me that this year you will listen to your body better. I can't tell you how many times I have seen trainees show complete lack of patience and push their bodies so that hard that working out becomes fruitless and something that they dread.
A good workout should leave your body flooded with endorphins, growth hormone, and testosterone. In a simpler language, it should leave you feeling on top the world! If your workouts leave you crawling outside the gym then you have pushed yourself too far.

A good workout should leave you feeling on top of the world.

Okay so now lets move on to the workouts. I will share 3 workouts with you in this article, one for bodybuilding, one for fat loss and one for size and strength training. So who should do the workouts that I will suggest, beginners, intermediates or advanced trainees? The workouts that I shall suggest should be done by anyone wishing to improve their body. It will work great for beginners and early intermediates. However more advanced trainees who have overtrained their bodies out of the progression mode will also find the workouts to be great to help restart their progress once again by allowing their bodies to start recovering from workouts and get stronger and fitter.

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Key to Success - Positive Thinking

Positive thinking brings inner peace, success, improved relationships, better health, happiness and satisfaction. It also helps the daily affairs of life move more smoothly, and makes life look bright and promising.
Positive thinking is contagious. People around you pick your mental moods and are affected accordingly. Think about happiness, good health and success, and you will cause people to like you and desire to help you, because they enjoy the vibrations that a positive mind emits.
In order to make positive thinking yield results, you need to develop a positive attitude toward life, expect a successful outcome of whatever you do, but also take any necessary actions to ensure your success.
Effective positive thinking that brings results is much more than just repeating a few positive words, or telling yourself that everything is going to be all right. It has to be your predominant mental attitude. It is not enough to think positively for a few moments, and then letting fears and lack of belief enter your mind. Some effort and inner work are necessary.
Are you willing to make a real inner change?
Are you willing to change the way you think?
Are you willing to develop a mental power that can positively affect you, your environment and the people around you?
Here are a few actions and tips to help you develop the power of positive thinking:

• Always use only positive words while thinking and while talking. Use words such as, 'I can', 'I am able', 'it is possible', 'it can be done', etc.
  
• Allow into your awareness only feelings of happiness, strength and success.
  
• Try to disregard and ignore negative thoughts. Refuse to think such thoughts, and substitute them with constructive happy thoughts.
  
• In your conversation use words that evoke feelings and mental images of strength, happiness and success.
  
• Before starting with any plan or action, visualize clearly in your mind its successful outcome. If you visualize with concentration and faith, you will be amazed at the results.
  
• Read at least one page of inspiring book every day.
  
• Watch movies that make you feel happy.
  
• Minimize the time you listen to the news and read the papers.
  
• Associate yourself with people who think positively.
  
• Always sit and walk with your back straight. This will strengthen your confidence and inner strength.
  
• Walk, swim or engage in some other physical activity. This helps to develop a more positive attitude.

Think positive and expect only favorable results and situations, even if your current circumstances are not as you wish them to be. In time, your mental attitude will affect your life and circumstances and change them accordingly.
Follow the tips and suggestions in this article, and prove to yourself the reality the power of positive thinking.
When you expect success and say "I can", you fill yourself with confidence and joy.

Fill your mind with light, hope and feelings of strength, and soon your life will reflect these qualities.

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How to Attract a Job with Mind Power

You can attract the job you desire with the power of your mind. If you don't have the qualifications for the job, and you want it very much, you can acquire these qualification through studies, courses or workshops.
Too often, people who seek work accept what they are offered, even if they don't like the job, because they need money. For some, it never occurs at all that they might have a choice.
If you are looking for a job, or if you have one, but are seeking a better one, you can get it. I am not saying that you can get any job you want, but you can attract opprtunities, and get something better, if you follow certain steps.
Successful people use the power of their mind, though not always consciously. They think in a certain way that creates success. If you intend to be successful, you need to know how to use the power of your mind properly.
Our most predominat thoughts, the ones we repeat often, tend to materialize, especially the ones that we think with feeling, desire and faith.

How to Attract a Job with Mind Power

1. Think about the kind of job you wish to have. Take account of your qualifications, and whether you really would like to do it. Do not undervalue yourself, but use your common sense. Even if currently, there are no jobs in the field you are seeking, your mind power can create a new one for you.
   
2. At intervals during the day, when you have a few free minutes, visualize yourself working at the job of your choice. Make the picture as realistic as possible, with colors, sounds and feelings.
   
   
3. Visualize working in harmony with other people, and see yourself loving what you are doing.
   
4. Visualize yourself getting well paid for the job.
   
5. Visualize as clearly you can.
   
   
6. Feel, as if you have already got the new job. Believe that what you are visualizing is already true.
   
7. Repeating the same thoughts or mental images over and again, imprint them on the subconscious mind. In this way, you can program your subconscious mind to help you attract opportunities, situations and circumstances that correspond to these thoughts and images.
   
   Repeated thinking about a cerain subject, conditions the mind to be aware of relevant opportunities, and also awakens the energy and initiative to take advantage of them.

Your mind broadcasts your thoughts to the world. They are perceived by other people on the subconscious level, and if these people are in a position to help you, they will. Often, all kinds of "coincidences" happen, just to bring you into contact with the right people at the right time, so that you achieve your desire or aim.
When you don't have a job, or are seeking a better one, it is not always easy to ignore your doubts and worries. However, you need to think on what you want, not on the current situation, which you want to change. This the secert of success. You need constantly, to feed your mind with inspiration and motivation, and positive mental images.
You have a great power within you. You can use it to help you get a new and better job, and you can use it for almost anything else.
Visualize and Achieve

Learn how to use the powers of your mind and imagination to shape your life and achieve dreams and goals.

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How to Make the Law of Attraction work for you?

The law of attraction is not a new idea. It has always been here from ancient times, and people have always used it. Hunters, who painted scenes of hunting on the walls of caves thousands of years ago, used the law of attraction, as well as modern businessmen, who visualize what they wish to accomplish. You use it too, whenever you think, make plans or daydream.
Books on this subject started to be popular more than a hundred years ago, but the authors of these books did not use the term "the law of attraction". They called it the law of opulence, mental power, mental magic, the power of thoughts or creative visualization. It is the same law, the same power, only with a different name.
Many years ago, William Walker Atkinson, Richard Ingalese, Opheil and many others, have written books on the power of the mind to attract what one thinks about, and these books are still popular and available nowadays at bookstores. Other known authors are Joseph Murphy, Napoleon Hill and Wallace.D.Wattle. Later, Shakti Gawain wrote a book on the subject and popularized the term "Creative Visualization".
All of these books are about what is now termed as "The law of attraction". As you see, it is not a new subject, but due to the media, it became a "hot" subject today. If you look around in bookstores, the Internet, TV and the newspapers, you will find many new books and articles on this subject budding every day. This brings to mind the well-known phrase, "there is nothing new under the sun". It is the same subject with a different name.
The message of all these books is that if you keep thinking upon a certain subject, you will ultimately attract it into your life. Thoughts, mental images and feelings can move the subconscious mind and the Universal Mind to act on your behalf and manifest your desires.
This is a most inspiring and elating idea, but inspiration and feelings of elation are not enough. You need to know what to do and how to proceed; otherwise you will get no results. You need to do more than just daydream for a t put some effort into this project and do not apply certain mental rules, you might not get results, and this can lead to disappointment, discouragement and to losing of faith in the law of attraction and the powers of the mind.
Reading books or articles about the law of attraction awaken a sensation of few moments, once in a while, about what you wish to get or achieve. If you don'power. The realization that you can transform your life and create success brings excitement and hope, but these feelings can change into disappointment and frustration, if you don't know what to do next.
If you are told that you can create anything you want, but are not provided with the proper guidance and practical instructions, how can you proceed?
It is not enough just to visualize a goal for a few minutes, and then let doubts and disbelief fill your mind for the rest of the day.
It is not enough just to visualize a few times, and then wait for miracles to happen.

• You need to have a strong desire and motivation, and the commitment to do whatever is necessary to achieve your goal.
• You need persistence, concentration, the ability to visualize, and at least some degree of self-discipline.
• You need to learn to recognize opportunity when it appears, and to be willing and ready to take and use this opportunity.
• You need to be willing to act and take the required steps whenever needed, and not just wait for your desires to materialize from thin air or suddenly drop on you from the sky.

In order to take full advantage of the law of attraction you need to know certain rules and follow them. It is true, some people achieve great success, without knowing much or anything about it, but they intuitively use it correctly.
The law of attraction is not a method for getting rich quickly, without doing anything. It requires mental work, focus and visualization, and also the willingness to follow the mental work with any required actions on the physical plane.

Affirmations - Words with Power

Are you seeking to improve your life, find a new job, earn more money, improve your relationships or develop new habits? Positive affirmations can help you.

Learn how to use affirmations to attract success and improve your life.

Click Here for Details

 

 

 

This law can manifest your desires in many ways, sometimes obviously and directly, and sometimes in an indirect way, through various steps. Sometimes you might attain your goal in a sudden or miraculous way, and at other times slowly or indirectly, one thing leading to another. People might help you, a new job might come along, an idea might pop up in your mind, or your intuition might tell you to follow a certain course of action. These are just a few of the many ways, through which this law can help you manifest your desires.
In order to utilize this law consciously and get positive results, you need more than just general information; you need to know exactly how to use it. Some books point the way in a general manner, others are more instructive, and some are detailed. If you search a little and read books on the subject, you will eventually come across a book that offers practical and detailed information and guidance that can really help you.

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How to Motivate yourself

Motivation has become a popular word nowadays. There are motivational coaches and speakers, and motivational books and articles. What is it actually, and why do you need it?
Motivation is a driving force. In order to accomplish anything, you need a driving force, otherwise nothing will happen. A wish is not strong enough to make you take action. A wish is a weak desire. Only a strong desire can drive forward, to act and accomplish aims and goals.
In order to get motivated, you need to know exactly what it is that you want, to possess a strong desire, and to be willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish your goal.
More than often there is lack of motivation or only a short-lived one. How many times have you started enthusiastically a weight loss program, began a bodybuilding or aerobics training program or started to learn a foreign language, only to stop after a short while? Few people possess enough willpower and self-discipline to go through to the end with what they begin (this is one of the reasons I have written the book "Will Power and Self Discipline").
It easier to show motivation in connection with a subject that is dear to you. If you desire something, but you don't feel motivated enough to act, this means that the desire is not important enough. To be motivated to take action and do something in respect to your desire, you need to possess a really strong desire.
Motivation has much to do with the emotions and the imagination, which means that if you want to increase it, you have to work on your feelings and imagination.
Tips to increase your motivation:
1. Think, meditate and find out whether you really want to achieve your desire, and whether it is worth the effort and time.
2. Make your goal very clear. Writing it down will help.
3. Think often about your goal or desire.
4. Visualize your goal as already accomplished, and close your mind to contrary thoughts.
5. Read books or articles about the subject of your goal.
6. Read about people who have achieved success.
7. Think often about the benefits you will gain by achieving your goal.
8. Visualize, and think about how you would feel after achieving your goal.
9. Repeat positive affirmations such as: "I have the desire and inner strength to achieve my goal". Repeat this affirmation often, with faith and strong feelings.
10. Start with doing something small concerning your goal. Success in small matters leads to greater success.
Motivation is the powerful engine that moves you towards success and accomplishments in every area.

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How to achieve your goals

You’re Setting Yourself Up To FAIL

Every year, around January 1st, people come up with their New Years Resolutions.  But how many of them stick?  The actual success rate of people achieving their goals and resolutions is pathetic.  It’s something that people think they “should” do and it’s often some goal based on the moment, not something they’ve really put much thought into.
The problem is, most people are setting themselves up to FAIL.  They set goals, but time and time again they come up short.  They think to themselves, “Oh well…” or come up with some sort of story or excuse of why it didn’t happen.  The problem is, they are making it ACCEPTABLE to fail.  They are literally training themselves to accept failure, which is what their destiny will be about.  So the next time they set a goal, their mind is ALREADY doubting themselves.  They’ve already lost.

So Why Don’t People Actually Achieve Their Goals And Dreams?

I believe because they haven’t made their goal a MUST.  It’s still a “should” or something they would like to have happen.  They haven’t put themselves in a situation where their back is against the wall and they have no choice but to achieve the goal.  That’s why I understand that in order to achieve any goal that I set for myself, I need to use two forces:  Pain and Pleasure.

“Most people just SHOULD all over themselves.” ~ Tony Robbins

The way I use these two forces, is by understanding that every goal that I set for myself needs to have the following:
1) A painful consequence for not achieving the goal.
First and foremost, you need to create leverage on yourself by having a consequence on yourself for NOT achieving your goal.  You can do that in a few ways.  You can do it by simply asking yourself the questions, “What would it cost me in my life if I don’t achieve this goal?  What is the consequence?  What will I miss out on?” and by focusing on the answers to those questions, you begin to associate PAIN to not taking action and achieving your goals.

I put myself in a situation where if I didn’t follow through and get in the best shape of my life, then the consequence was far too painful.  I would feel embarrassed  I would be letting so many people down, I would have lost all of my credibility and respect from others on my blog, I would have wasted money that I paid for the competition and invested in my coach.  There was simply too much at stake, so I had NO CHOICE but to achieve the goal.  I couldn’t back out.  I couldn’t change my mind.  I couldn’t merely say, “This is too hard” and give up.  I had set myself up to WIN right from the very start.
There’s several ways you can have a consequence.  You could simply give your friend $500 and ask them to hold you accountable saying, “I only want you to give me this money back once I’ve achieved XYZ.”  This way, you have an extra incentive.  The key is to find the right leverage point for you.  Maybe it’s not $500, maybe it’s $1000, or it may not even be money.  Maybe you’ll clean your friends apartment for a week if you don’t do XYZ, or whatever – pick something that is so painful that you dont’ want to do it, that’s the point.
2) A pleasurable reward for achieving the goal.

You can’t just have pain drive you, but you also want to use pleasure.  You need to have a reward for achieving the goal, something to look forward to.  The reason is, if you aren’t CELEBRATING and REWARDING yourself for achieving a goal, then you’re also sending your brain the wrong message.  You’re telling your brain, “I did all this work to achieve this goal and that’s it?”  And so your brain isn’t going to want to go through the sacrifice, hard work and discipline it takes to achieve the goal if it’s only going to receive a tiny amount of pleasure.

What gets rewarded, gets repeated.

When you reward yourself and celebrate any action you take, or especially achieving a goal, you’re more likely to condition it as a new habit or pattern of success.  Unfortunately, most people beat themselves up too much and are trying to be perfect, which is the wrong way to go about it.
How can you create pleasure for achieving the goal?  You could simply do it by patting yourself on the back and giving yourself some emotional juice for it.  Or you could reward yourself by giving yourself permission to go on a shopping spree of a couple hundred bucks to buy some new clothes.  Maybe you can book a trip for yourself and take some time off.  Or, maybe you get to go to your favorite restaurant or buy that item you’ve been wanting to treat yourself with.  It’s different for everyone, you have to ask yourself, “What would give me pleasure and what’s a reward that would motivate me to take action?”

How Committed Are You?

You might be thinking to yourself, “This sounds way too stressful.  I don’t want that kind of pressure on myself to achieve my goals.”  And if you’re thinking this way, then I can tell that you’re not really committed to doing what it takes.  You’re already giving yourself permission to fail.  Pressure is a GOOD THING.  It will help you get things done.


Everyone functions better when there’s a deadline.  We perform at a higher level, and raise our standards.  It goes back to school. If you had a project that you had to do, but there’s no due date, would you actually get it done?  Most likely not.  But if I told you that this project is due next week, you would FIND A WAY to get it done.  Most students these days pull all nighters and will study day and night to get their school work done – this is one of the most important things you learn in school in my opinion – by giving yourself a consequence and reward for achieving your goals, then you’re most likely not committed.  Why even bother setting the goal in the first place if you aren’t going to stick with it and achieve it?
If you set a goal for yourself, achieve it.  Keep your word to yourself.  When you do what you say you’ll do, you’ll be amazed by how much your self-esteem and confidence skyrockets.

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