Have You Checked Your Vision Lately?
Bring Your Transformation Into Focus
For many of us, the new year is in full swing and if you’re anything like me, you probably cannot believe where the time has already gone! How have you been performing against your New Year’s resolutions? If you set personal goals for this year, are you pressing on with discipline and consistency? Or, are those resolutions and well-intended goals already a distant thing of the past? If you’re struggling mightily, or if you’ve fallen short of your goals and aspirations, I’d like to share with you a saying that has stuck with me since I was sixteen years old. The saying reads: “It’s never too late for an excellent ending!”
I’m not sure who came up with the saying but it has been a very powerful motivator in my life since the first time I read it. It’s a funny story how this saying, which was meant to entice customers to buy cheesecake, came to have such tremendous meaning in the life of a teenager (yours truly) that it was no longer a jingle, but instead became a guiding life principle. The saying reminds me that no matter your current condition (in relation to that which you wish to achieve), you can always recommit and begin again in pursuit of an excellent ending.
I’m hopeful that you are willing to give the thought of an excellent finish a little consideration. Done is better than perfect when it comes to resolutions and goals and an inspired restart can lead to an excellent ending! Reflect on your current position and rededicate yourself to your resolutions and/or goals but be sure to take a moment to check your vision. If you have made resolutions or goals without a clear understanding of the big picture transformation you seek, it is possible that a misalignment may exist which can partly be the reason you are falling short of achieving your goals. Here are five keys you can use to fortify your vision:
Vivid Picture
Have you created a vivid picture in your mind as to how your completed goal will look and feel in relation to your overall vision? Have you included the feelings/emotions, that you will experience when you actualize your transformation (vision)? This takes time and thoughtful reflection, but the clearer you are with your vivid picture of what you want and how obtaining it will make you feel, the more passionate you will become about continuing with your resolutions and achieving your goals. If you don’t have a clear picture in your mind as to what you are trying to accomplish, and the sensory details associated with your transformation, it’s much more challenging to remain focused. Developing a clear, vivid picture is a critical step in aligning your goals to your vision. A great tool for making your vision tangible is a vision board but be sure to reflect on the emotions and feelings attached to your success.
Inspire Through Celebrations
Are you inspired by your vision? If you have connected your feelings and emotions to the realization of your vision, the answer should be YES. But what about your goals? Do they offer you inspiration? How about the progress you are making against your resolution or goal? Does thinking about the progress make you smile? If not, then try celebrating the small and seemingly insignificant steps toward attaining your goal. The fact is that progress is progress, full stop. Call it what it is and make more of it. Progress is inspirational and should be treated as such! Achieving your goals will take time and effort. Change often requires that we do things that may be a stretch for us and as a result, we must acknowledge and celebrate all progress to remain inspired.
Sustain Your Belief
Do you have a sustained belief that you will achieve your goal? If you don’t expect to accomplish your goal, then how can you expect to be successful? Sometimes it takes extraordinary courage to believe in the face of evidence to the contrary. Things can go wrong. Problems will arise. The existence of unforeseen challenges can cause us to get discouraged but this is the time when you most need a sustained belief in your abilities, and if you create a habit of being both disciplined and consistent in your efforts, you can get through the difficult times. When being disciplined and consistent become synonymous with who you are, the problems are of little consequence. They no longer have the power to stop your motion. You might be slowed but you will not be stopped. Moreover, discipline and consistency will help you fortify the sustained belief that will result in an upward spiral of progress. People rise to the level of their beliefs, and you can too. When you believe, you will press forward in defiance of any challenges. Here's a cool quote from the movie Greater, The story of Brandon Burlsworth, possibly the greatest walk-on in the history of college football: "Two men receive $10,000. One had to work and toil for it. One was simply given the money. Who receives the greater benefit?”. It was Mr. Burlsworth's unyielding belief in himself and his level of discipline, consistency, and commitment to hard work that made his achievements possible. Its possible for you as well if you can sustain your beliefs.
Identify Personally
Do you identify with your goal now even though you have not yet achieved it? We must begin to identify with the person we want to become. Muhammad Ali convinced himself he was a champion long before he won his first championship and trained accordingly (and with discipline and consistency, I might add)! Once or twice each day, play the picture of your completed goal or resolution in your mind. Live your goal in your imagination and experience all the wonderful emotions that go with it! As you continue to do this, you’ll find that your thoughts and behaviors will become more aligned with the person you will be when you achieve your goal.
Observe And Adjust
Are you aware of the actions that are taking you closer to your goal and those that are moving you further away from success? When we create an action plan for our goals, we must spend time thinking about which action steps will be effective and which ones won’t. Mike Tyson once said “everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth”. So what do you do after the first metaphorical punch? Don’t give up! Try something else. After you take a specific action, observe the result. If it is positive, then continue to do it. If you don’t get the expected result, modify your action and try again. By being mindful about what is working and what isn’t, you can adjust your plan as needed so you will continue to move closer to your goal.
Never Quit
Have you adopted a never quit attitude? Have you decided that you will not stop, no matter how long it takes to achieve your goal? Muhammad Ali once said, “You don’t lose if you get knocked down, you lose if you stay down”. If you don’t have this attitude, you might find that obstacles cause you to give up on pursuing your goals. Choosing to quit on your transformation, doesn’t have to be your reality if you create a vivid picture of your vision; create sustained beliefs that are rooted in discipline and consistency; identify with (and, in fact become) the triumphant person that you have envisioned; remain mindful and observant; make key adjustments when needed; and never give up until you are transformed and experience the feelings and emotions associated with your transformation! Success can be your story if you believe that it is never too late for an excellent ending!
Hope Byus Coaching LLC can help
What decision do you need to make that will move you toward your goals? What steps does this decision involve? Without limits, what does a fulfilled life look like for you? Are you excited about your future or are you facing it with apprehension and fear?
For those of you who could use an accountability partner for ongoing support and inspiration, a professional coach can help you to find out what you need and can help inspire you to get there. Our goal is to successfully support you in realizing your full potential and assist in giving your life a new direction.
Our task oriented, collaborative sessions will help you to identify any problems and concerns that stand in the way of achieving your goals, and we will support you in applying the actions I shared earlier. We understand that breakthroughs require growth and growth requires vision followed by consistent action to successfully reach your goals. Book a free discovery session now!
