It's a new year and many of us create a New Year's resolution, or two, or three.
What is your resolution for 2009? Is this the same resolution you made last year? Did you achieve your goal? If not, think about why you didn't get it done.
Many times when we don't accomplish our goals it is because something was missing.
Here are 7 simple steps to achieve any goal: 1.
Make sure it is a goal you want to achieve 2.
Make it a promise to yourself 3.
What motivates you to want to achieve this goal? 4.
Tell others what you want to achieve 5.
Find others who can help you achieve your goal 6.
Remind yourself of your goal every day 7.
Take action to make it happen One of my goals for 2009 is to complete a marathon.
Let's see if it is likely I will do it by going through the 7 steps I just mentioned.
1.
Make sure it is a goal you want to achieve.
I have finished two marathons in the past and wanting to complete another one is something I definitely want to do.
I came up with the goal on my own; it wasn't planted in my mind by anyone else.
So yes, this is a goal that I want to achieve.
2.
Make it a promise to yourself.
I promise to finish a marathon, I set a timeframe.
I'm not one for breaking promises and commit to finishing a marathon in 2009.
3.
What motivates you to want to achieve this goal?There is a huge sense of accomplishment when crossing the finish line of a marathon.
It's not just that I finish, it's all of the hard work and commitment it took to train for the event.
I also like that I am in complete control over whether or not I finish.
You see, running is the one thing in my life that I have complete control over.
I have complete control over whether or not I go out for a training run so I can be confident when I step up to the starting line of the marathon.
4.
Tell others what you want to achieve.
I'm telling you now.
I've also told my friends, family, and co-workers what I plan to do.
They are all very supportive and ask me how my training is going.
It also feels good when they hear that I ran 13 miles over the weekend and they are in awe because they won't get out to walk one mile.
It feels good to see their reaction when I tell them I went out in 30 degree weather to get in my run.
I also know that I don't want to tell them I didn't do what I said I would.
5.
Find others who can help you achieve your goal.
My friends are not runners, so for support I go to areas where runners tend to congregate, such as the local park where there are people out running every day.
I get swept up in the motion of everyone running the trail and feel their energy.
I am also part of a running group that sends out monthly newsletters with training tips and local runs to participate in.
6.
Remind yourself of your goal every day.
I have a training schedule posted on my refrigerator and my desk at work.
I also have a map of the route of the marathon I am going to run.
This gives me a constant reminder of what I plan to accomplish this year.
I also update my running schedule on a daily basis so I can keep track of my progress.
I even mark the days of rest so that I can see that a day off is part of the plan and not feel guilty for relaxing.
7.
Take action to make it happen.
Every day I step out the door for a run, I am taking action.
The little things also help, such as updating my training schedule and putting out my running clothes the night before.
Each run brings me closer to achieving my goal of completing a marathon in 2009.
What are you doing to achieve your goals for 2009? You can follow these 7 simple steps to achieve your goal and know that you will do it.
Here's to your success.
Heather Dunlop For more information on Goal Setting, please visit http://www.
EasyHealthyYou.
com.