Here’s a fact: We all go through the process of setting goals and achieving them repeatedly during the course of a normal day. And we often do so without even thinking about it. For example, when you got up this morning, did you have something you wanted to accomplish, or did you just get up and wander around aimlessly? You had a goal, right?

Maybe it didn’t seem like a goal because it was something that you do almost every day. Even if it was just your normal routine, chances are you had a goal, or a whole bunch of goals to accomplish today. Did you go to work, get the kids off to school, or go grocery shopping? Did you do all three, and more?

How were you able to accomplish those things?

Likely, you planned them out ahead of time, and decided how they would fit into your schedule for the day. You probably made some preparations the night before and determined what time you needed to be up and going. As the day went on, you kept an eye on the clock and made whatever adjustments were needed.

Realize it or not, you were setting and achieving goals all day long. That’s what productive people do, and that makes you a successful goal-setter. True, this is goal setting on a very basic level, but what would your life be like without it? How many of the things that you do every day would not happen without your ability to follow through on your goals?

Could you take it to the next level?

Of course you could! Once you acknowledge that it is something you already know how to do, how hard is it to bump things up a notch or two? You have already proven that you are capable, so start by giving yourself some well-deserved approval. Don’t take your abilities for granted. Your ability to set and achieve your goals is part of what already defines your life.

Now is a perfect time to start thinking about ways to become more goal oriented. Many people are abandoning their hopes and dreams because of what they see as a challenging economic situation. What about You? Are you ready to throw in the towel on your long-term goals because things have gotten a little more challenging?

Did you know that even during the Great Depression, 75% of the workforce was still employed? Three fourths of the people still had jobs, homes, and cars. The kids still went to school in the morning, and came home to dinner every night. Not only that, but thousands actually found ways to prosper during those challenging times.

Break away from the mass mentality

When we set a goal we are actually claiming our independence from the crowd by accepting responsibility for the outcome we create. Many successful people even take it a step further by making themselves accountable to someone else.

Creating a sense of accountability can be as simple as announcing your goal to a friend, or group of friends. Granted, the thought of other people knowing your intention may make you feel somewhat vulnerable. In some cases, it might even increase the fear of failure. So…

Why in the world would you do that?

Because accountability is a very powerful motivator. When you tell others what you intend to accomplish, several things happen. You might think that it’s the simple fact that they know that creates the changes, it ‘s not. In reality, the fact that you know that they know is what immediately changes how seriously you view your own goals. When we make something public, we are much more compelled to follow through.

In an amazing way, accountability magnifies our own level of commitment. When our name and reputation are on the line, it becomes very personal. With greater commitment comes razor sharp focus and greater adaptability. What happens to the odds of your being successful under these conditions?

Your chances of success will skyrocket!

Why do people feel compelled to show up at work on time and ready to go? What is the driving force behind productivity and achievement worldwide? Why will we do almost anything within or power to keep from disappointing those we love and care about? The answer is the same to all three questions – accountability.

I am not talking about having to answer to others because, in reality we only answer to ourselves. I am talking about the motivation that is created when we stand up and announce to the world, “This is what you can expect from me.” It’s very powerful!

What do you see in the near future?

This is the time of year when people start struggling with resolutions they recently made. Have you ever thought about the word resolution? It is defined as a statement of intent, a vow, or a determination.

So, making a resolution at any time of year implies a commitment to facilitating some kind of positive change by establishing and achieving a goal. It means being determined to do it within a certain time frame.

Making resolutions is all about setting and achieving goals

Let me ask you a few questions:

1. Do you have some goals that you want
. . to achieve in the near future?
2. What would you be willing to do to achieve
. . unprecedented progress?
3. Are you ready to pull out all the stops and
. . make big things happen?

If you said yes to all three questions, then now is the time to start putting your goals down on paper and designing an action plan. If you said no to even one of those questions then ask yourself, “What would it take for me to be able to say yes?”

Keep asking yourself that question until you know the answer. Are limiting beliefs standing in your way? Have the talking heads convinced you that there are only dark days ahead? Have you failed in the past and don’t want to risk it again? Don’t be afraid of the answers you discover. All of these obstacles can be overcome once they have been identified. The important thing is to identify whatever is holding you back so it can be addressed.

Don’t forget about your abilities

Remember, we have already established that you are a capable goal-setter, and that you demonstrate this ability every single day. All it takes to make your bigger goals a reality is to ramp things up a bit. One of the most powerful ways that I have found to do this, is to join the 100 day challenge. It is absolutely amazing what you can accomplish in a relatively short period of time with the right focus, guidance, and support.

Personally, I am determine to radically ramp up the quality of my life and my business this year, and I would love to have you join me. Here’s a very cool free tool to help you get started, it’s called the Goal Setting Toolkit. So, how about it, are you going to let another year slip by or are you going to make something impressive happen?

Why not start right now by declaring your goals to the world and creating some accountability? All you need to do is write them in your comment below. Please, don’t put your dreams on the back burner. This can be the year you accomplish something amazing if you are truly willing to ramp up the way you think about setting goals.

What important goal do you want to accomplish?
How determined are you to make things happen?
The lines are open!

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At first glance, lack of motivation can often seem to be caused by laziness or procrastination , but looks can be deceiving!  If you’re struggling to stay motivated while working on your goals or any other endeavor, a little introspection can be just the thing to provide clarity and insight about what’s really happening beneath the surface.

When working with coaching clients who are struggling to stay motivated, it’s my job to find out why and help them get past it. Granted, sometimes the problem is exhaustion or burnout and then the prescription might be a vacation. But when that’s not the case I like to use a series of simple questions to reveal the underlying cause. If you are finding it difficult to stay motivated, try this…

Write down the answers to these 5 questions

1) Am I afraid of failing? Fear of failure is an all-too-common reason why people lose motivation.  If this is one of the reasons you’re holding back, you’ll likely be able to come up with clear ideas why you feel so afraid.  For example, you may write, “I’m afraid of embarrassing myself in front of my family and friends,” or “I’m afraid I’ll be really disappointed in myself if I don’t make this happen.”  Whatever comes to mind, write it down and then really think about whether it would be so terrible to experience – or if it would be much worse to not try at all.

2) Do I really believe in my own ability to persevere until I make it? Likewise, you may be feeling uncertain about your ability to overcome obstacles and challenges, which is slightly different than a fear of failure.  For example, you may have a certain measure of confidence in your skills and abilities but doubt that you have the determination and fortitude to achieve the full outcome you desire.

3) Have I grown bored with the goals that once meant so much to me? This is an excellent question to ask because sometimes you’re not aware that your priorities and preferences have changed, and you can gain a lot of clarity by understanding what you REALLY want.  If you do find that you’ve lost interest in your initial goals, you simply need to come up with some new and exciting goals that will spark your eagerness to move forward again.

4) Am I afraid of what it might mean if I succeed? Another common fear is the fear of success.  A fear of success is more about fearing the baggage that often comes along with success.  You may feel nervous about taking on extra responsibility, feel overwhelmed by the increased attention your success would bring, or you might even be worried that you’ll never be able to “top” this level of success in the future.  The only way to work through these fears is to discredit them.  When you break them down and really examine them, you usually find that they’re groundless or irrational, which helps you to move past them.

5) What would make me feel more motivated about this goal or activity? Sometimes you can’t find any clear reason for feeling unmotivated, but asking this question can often help you feel more in control of your own willingness to take action.  Not only do you realize that you’re not powerless against a lack of motivation, you may come up with creative ideas that could inspire your sense of enthusiasm again.

Motivations is empowering

When we feel motivated we are energized and want to make things happen. When we lack motivation everything seems like drudgery and we have to flog ourselves to get anything done. If this has been your experience lately, it’s worth a little effort to get to the bottom of it so you can regain your enthusiasm and get excited about making thing happen.

What gets you motivated?
How do you maintain your motivation and enthusiasm?
The lines are open!

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My book TRUE SELF is the fastest inexpensive way (coaching is the fastest) to make positive life changes very quickly. Do you want to discover your core passions, dismantle your hidden, limiting beliefs, and realize your most desired goals? TRUE SELF will guide you smoothly through the process.

Everyone has dreams they would like to see come true. How long would it take you to list three of your favorites? In fact, why not do that before we continue. Just write down three really important things that you would like to see become a reality in your life. Go ahead, I’ll wait!

All set? OK, let’s see if we can’t get you a little closer to making those dreams happen. The first thing that needs to happen is, we need to change your perception about the things on your list. It’s good to have dreams, but by nature, dreams are not very tangible. So let’s begin by changing the label. What should we call them instead of dreams?

How about calling them goals?

Are you thinking: What’s the big deal, what difference does it make whether we call them dreams or goals? I’m glad you asked. Here’s one of the dictionary’s definitions for dream.

Dream - An idea or hope that is impractical
or unlikely ever to be realized; idle hope.

Now let’s look at the way the word goal is defined and see which one is the most appropriate label for the three things you wrote down.

Goal – Something that somebody wants to
achieve or accomplish; something to aim for.

Clearly, if the three things on your list are to have any chance of becoming part of your reality, it would be better to refer to them as goals.

Goals involve intention

Unlike dreams, goals are something we aim for. That implies several things. The most important is, we intend to reach them. We have set our sights on them and they are now part of our focus. As a result, we become “goal-oriented.”

Let’s go to the dictionary again and see what it has to say about being goal-oriented:

Goal-oriented – Organized to achieve particular
goals: strongly motivated and highly organized
in achieving tasks that are specified in advance.

At this point we have left the realm of “dreams” far behind. Having goals is a lot closer to reality than simply dreaming about something. Of course, there’s still a big difference between aiming at a goal, and actually achieving it.

What else do we need?

Our definition for goal-oriented includes being organized and motivated. These are vital elements of any successful attempt at achieving our goals. It also mentioned something that is specified in advance. Let’s elaborate on that aspect a little.

The more refined and defined our goals are, the greater our chance of achieving them. It’s impossible to align your focus on something that is just a vague generality. Having a crystal clear vision of what we intend to accomplish gives us something to really focus on. Success requires that we take the time to clearly define our goals.

It doesn’t stop there!

There are several other necessary elements to setting and achieving goals. Here’s a sampling of things that will greatly increase your ability to turn dreams into reality.

1) Determination. This is especially important with respect to big goals that will require considerable time and energy. One way to increase your determination is to…

2) Break big goals into manageable stages. Smaller, “stepping stone goals” keep you from feeling overwhelmed. They also provide positive reinforcement and a sense of accomplishment along the way.

3) Eliminate distractions. If your efforts are too diluted, it really won’t matter what else you do. When you are serious about achieving an important goal you need to push less important things out of the picture.

4) Constantly evaluate your progress. To reach your target you must stay on course. That means checking you progress to make sure you are still moving in the right direction. Your path will always be somewhat fluid, so keep your eye on the ball.

5) Believe in yourself. Doubt is a waste of time and energy. Deal with doubts before you start working toward your goal, not after. Doubt is the opposite of determination and engaging in it will bring your progress to a standstill.

6) Make a commitment. Every important goal will present you with challenges along the way. If you are not totally committed to success, those challenges could seem insurmountable. Making a total commitment to success will shrink those challenges down so you can climb over them.

7) Make yourself accountable. Tell others what you intend to do so you will feel accountable. This can be very motivating for several reasons. The more accountability you feel, the more motivated you will become.

You must take ACTION or nothing will happen!

You will accomplish amazing things once you get focused. Remember, we are talking about accomplishing your dreams here, that’s important. I am constantly challenging myself and having fun in the process. Why don’t we do it together? So, grab your goals, leave a comment, and let’s blow all the obstacles out of our way.

It’s time for action, go ahead, challenge yourself so you can amaze yourself and accomplish your dreams!

If you want to get a jumpstart on making this your best year ever,
the 100 day challenge is hands down the world’s most powerful goal
achievement program. Here’s a little video from the guy who created it…

Learn more about the 100 Day Challenge

What amazing things will you accomplish?
What actions will you take to accomplish your dreams?
The lines are open!

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How often do you want to do something important, but instead of doing it you make excuses that convince you to postpone taking action? Now let me ask you this, after putting something off once, how easy is it to put that same thing off again?

It gets easier every time, doesn’t it? That’s what we might call the mañana mentality. In other words, why do today what you can put off until tomorrow? The truth is, the more we make excuses, the more we buy into them. Eventually, procrastination becomes integrated into our identity. We actually become a procrastinator.

We all procrastinate to some degree. Why?

There are several factors that support the mañana mentality. By the way, in case you didn’t know, mañana is Spanish for tomorrow, but the way that word is often used, it has come to represent an attitude of purposeful avoidance.

Before we look at some ways to beat procrastination, let’s look at some of the less obvious characteristics of the mañana mentality and their subtle effects on our thinking.

3 Characteristics of procrastination

1.  Procrastination is habit forming. Even if your honest intention is to only put something off temporarily, the very act of procrastinating sets up a chain reaction that makes it easier to do it again. Why? Because it’s habit forming!

2.  Procrastination enlarges the task. When we procrastinate it actually causes our mind to exaggerate the scale of the task involved. The more often we put off doing something the more intimidating it feels. Eventually, the task gets so out of proportion in our minds that chances are we will probably never be able to get ourselves to do it.

3.  Being over analytical leads to procrastination. Endlessly thinking about doing something can become an avoidance strategy. In the long run you end up spending more time and energy than it would require to just go do it. Along the way, you end up convincing yourself that it is something you can’t do. Now, instead of being productive you have spent your energy creating a limiting belief.

Now that we have looked into the eye of the procrastination monster,
let’s consider some effective ways to slay this beast once and for all.

7 Strategies to help you overcome procrastination

1. Vocabulary – Watch your choice of words and expressions when you talk about a task you need to do. This includes your verbal expressions and your self-talk. The words we use have a strong influence on our perception. To your nervous system there is a huge difference between “I should get this done” and “I want to get this done.”  With should, our subconscious mind is telling our conscious mind that we shouldn’t be wasting our time on this task, because it’s not something we want to do. If that’s not the case, try to rephrase the sentence to better reflect what the task actually means to you. A more positive wording might be “This is important to me because it contributes to my life and I would love to get it done soon.”

2. Make a commitment – Don’t leave things floating in the indecision zone, go ahead and make a decision to commit to doing it. There is power associated with a commitment. Once you commit to doing something, you will have access to the energy required to do it. Tasks are rarely as difficult as procrastination makes them seem. Once we’ve actually committed to producing our desired result we unleash the resources needed to take action and follow through to completion.

3. Know your reasons – Sometimes we get so caught up in our busy routine, running from one task to the next, that we forget to clarify the reasons we are doing something. Ask yourself “Why is this important to me and how does it contribute to my life?” Understanding the reasons behind your actions helps you appreciate the value of each task. Seeing the big picture also helps put the effort required in perspective with benefits you will receive.

4. Use pain and pleasure anchors – It is well established that we are hardwired to move toward pleasure and away from pain. If you associate the accomplishment of a task with pleasure and procrastination with pain, you will be motivated to take action. What do you stand to lose if you don’t complete this task? How will your life be better when you do complete it? Pain and pleasure paradigms have a powerful influence on what actions we will take and what actions we will avoid taking.

5. Focus on long term benefits – In our modern world the tendency is to choose instant gratification over long term benefits. While there is nothing inherently wrong with instant gratification it is only one form of satisfaction.  While quick results may seem preferable, they are often devoid of any real sense of achievement. Adopting a goal setting mentality will add a dimension of depth and gratification that can only be achieved by getting involved in a more involved process.

6. Visual Reminders – It can be very helpful to use visual reminders to pull our attention back to the task at hand. I think that’s the reason post-it’s were invented. You can write a one or two word message on them and stick them almost anywhere. This can be an effective way to help counteract the many distractions that bombard us on a daily basis. A word of warning, this doesn’t work if you have too many reminders plastered all over everything. So limit this strategy to no more than a couple of different tasks for optimal results.

7. Stop thinking and start doing – Quite often all that is required is to take that first step, even if you are not sure what the next step will be. Action has a way of simplifying things because it gets us out of our heads and into the real world. I am reminded of the Ready, Fire, Aim approach used by many successful people. If you tend to over think things, try this approach to get things moving. It can be a real procrastination breaker.

You can overcome procrastination!

When you break the procrastination cycle and start taking action, you will be surprised at how quickly and easily most tasks can be completed. In all likelihood, you will probably find yourself wondering why you didn’t just get it done in the first place.

There is no point in adding additional stress to our already busy (sometimes hectic) lives by constantly wrestling with procrastination. Apply some of these strategies and let me know how it works out for you. Do it today!

How do you avoid procrastination?
Do you ever find yourself slipping into the mañana mentality?
The lines are open!

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My book TRUE SELF is the fastest inexpensive way (coaching is the fastest) to make positive life changes very quickly. Do you want to discover your core passions, dismantle your hidden, limiting beliefs, and realize your most desired goals? TRUE SELF will guide you smoothly through the process.

Which of these two statements best describes your attitude when faced with trying circumstances?

“That’s just the way things are and
there is nothing I can do about it”
. . . . . .  . .. . .~or~
“I’m not going to let anything except
personal choice dictate my life.”

Have you ever wondered why some people seem so empowered and in control of their lives while others are convinced that they are hopelessly trapped? How is it that some individuals have the internal resources to rise above seemingly unbelievable adversity and go on to accomplish remarkable things against all odds?

When we feel trapped

Feeling trapped can create a strong sense of helplessness and hopelessness. From that state it can be very difficult to believe that there is anything we can do to change our situation. Giving way to this kind of negative perception makes it extremely difficult to come up with a plan of action or the motivation to follow through.

So, when it comes to meeting and conquering the negativity in your life, what can you do to initiate a positive change? What can you do during economic chaos or when it seems like everything has gone wrong? What can you do when your most important relationships are in a downward spiral or your best efforts never produce the right results? What can you do?

Remember that you have amazing, untapped ability

There is something very special about you that you may have forgotten (or never realized). You can do the most remarkable things, no matter what happens. That’s right, people can do incredible things, unbelievable things, despite the most impossible or disastrous circumstances.

I know it doesn’t always seem like it, but you have the ability and resources to be remarkable. That’s exactly why I wrote TRUE SELF, because I know that we all have amazing, untapped potential just waiting to be awakened.

Trust in your ability to be remarkable

Here is why humans can do amazing things: because they are remarkable and unlike any other creation. When a dog starts with weeds, he winds up with weeds and there is nothing he can do about it because he is a dog. But that’s not true with human beings. Humans can turn weeds into gardens.

Humans can turn nothing into something, pennies into a fortune, and disaster into success. There is only one reason they can do such transformational things and that is because every person has the ability to be remarkable.

There is almost nothing that you can’t change

Being remarkable means that you can change anything about yourself that you wish to change. If you don’t like how something is going for you, change it. If there is a lack or void in your life, change it. If something about your current circumstances, skill level, or personality doesn’t suit you, then make up your mind to change it. You are not trapped unless you choose to be!

If there is one thing to get excited about, it’s your incredible ability to do whatever you need to do to change your current reality. Start by asking yourself this simple question: What can I do, starting today, that will make a difference? Once you have your answer, take action and keep taking action. Make a choice to be remarkable and then follow through.

Have you made the choice to be remarkable?
Do you feel connected to your amazing potential?
The lines are open!

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I’m here to help. Sharing Life Skills is what I do. Whether it’s through the articles on this blog, our newsletter, my book TRUE SELF, or one-on-one coaching, my goal is to help you live an extraordinary life. You are a remarkable individual and you deserve to live a remarkable life.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” -Lao-tzu

Editor’s Note: his is a guest post by
Kristi Hines, the creator of Kikolani

Sometimes it is easier to set goals than to actually do something to work towards them.  Large projects can seem overwhelming, and if you feel like you are always busy with the day to day things, it can feel like you will never have the time to do something grander.

Childhood Wisdom

There is a song that I remember from elementary school that went something like this.

“Little by little, inch by inch
By the yard it’s hard, by the inch, what a cinch.
Never stare up the stairs, just step up the steps
Little by little, inch by inch.”

It was always just a cute little rhyme we sang during class, but looking back, what a great piece of advice.  Instead of letting yourself become consumed into thinking about how to get everything done in the entire scope of the project, just take it one step at a time.

Why This Works

Whenever you actually get started doing something, it tends to feel less daunting.  You might even find that it will be easier than you thought it would be during the planning phase.  Plus, once you begin to see any amount of progress, you will become more motivated to push into the project further and continue to get more things accomplished.

Breaking Your Big Idea Into Smaller Portions

So how do you break things down into simpler to tackle parts?  Here are just a few examples…

Imagine that your goal is to write a book.  Instead of thinking about the daunting task of what may feel like never-ending writing, why not just sit down and write a short summary of your story, a first paragraph, a list of characters, or a description of the main character?

Imagine that your goal is to start a blog.  Instead of thinking about setting the platform up, choosing the theme, writing the content, and marketing, why not just purchase the domain name and hosting?

Imagine that your goal is to do some spring cleaning?  Instead of thinking about how long it is going to take to go through all five rooms in your house, why not just look into one room, pick one closet, and throw some items you no longer want in a bag to be donated?

Imagine that your goal is to start exercising.  Instead of thinking about how tough it will be to commit waking up an hour earlier and starting a regular routine, why not just take five minutes and go out for a walk?

How Do You Tackle Your Projects?

Do you find it difficult to begin large projects?  Have you ever tried just starting with something simple to motivate yourself to get a project going?

Want to know more about Kristi? be sure to visit her at Kikolani for all the latest tips and pointers on blogging and social media. Her popular series Fetching Friday is something I look forward to every week.

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Have you ever heard the phrase, “you’ve got to really want it”? Many people believe that the secret to manifesting their dreams is a strong want or desire. To add emphasis they may say I really want to do this or have that. Well, I’m here to tell you that wanting isn’t going to get it done.

Why wanting doesn’t work!

The problem with wanting is that it’s in the same camp as wishing. Wanting, like wishing, is just a fantasy. It’s not even remotely associated with taking action, which means it has no power to motivate us. We all know that without motivation there is no action, and without action nothing happens.

When we are looking to create change, we need to use words that are anchored in action. We need to attach our desires to language that creates motivation and moves us toward doing instead of wishing. Can you think of any terminology that takes the concept of wanting and moves it in that direction?

How intention fills the bill

At first glance, having an intention seems a lot like wanting. But rest assured, on an emotional level it’s a completely different story. The very concept of an intention implies that we are intent on doing something. It’s a statement to our own nervous system that we are ready and willing to take action.

I realize that we often use these two terms interchangeably in daily conversation, and that’s not really a problem. However, when we truly want to make a change we need to be more selective about the signals we send to our subconscious mind.

An intention that changed my life

As a boy, my family used to vacation in Oregon. Without even realizing it at the time, I formed a deep attachment with those beautiful mountains and forests. Years later, this attachment would manifest itself in a powerful, and life changing way.

Sometime during my first year in collage I began to get really restless. I grew tired of school and wanted to do something else. At the time I didn’t realize where these feelings were coming from, or where they would lead. I just knew that I needed to make a major shift, so that’s what I did.

A new direction unfolds

Without analyzing the situation, I quit school and took a high paying job with a big construction company. I saw this move as transitional. It was my hope that this temporary change would provide me with a whole new perspective. Well it worked, because I soon realized that I wanted something drastically different. I wanted peace and quiet, I also wanted lots of space around me and a much slower pace.

Then it hit me, what I really wanted was those beautiful forests of Oregon that I had visited as a boy. This is where my restlessness gained some focus and my wants changed into an intention. At the time, I had no idea how I was going to pull it off, but I was absolutely certain that I would turn this new vision into a reality by using the power of intention.

Fast forward two years

My wants became the seeds for my intention to create a whole new life for myself. In turn, that intention moved me to take decisive action in the direction of my new goal. From that point on I began to define my intent into actionable steps. Everything I did, and every commitment I made, was weighed in the light of my new intention.

Within two years I had bought property, pulled up stakes in southern California, and was living in the forests of Oregon. I had left everything familiar behind. Besides the property, I had a tent, a jeep, and $1000. I was 21 years old and it was an amazing adventure. It was from this place of solitude that I would begin building a new life for myself based on a totally different perception.

The destiny of those who only had wants

I had several friends from my former life who also wanted to escape suburbia. They had dreams of moving somewhere new and living out their own fantasies. As it turned out, almost none of them were able to make it happen. They talked about it, but were never motivated enough to take decisive action.

You see, they had wants instead of intentions. They had dreams that were never allowed to reach the next level. They manifested the seeds of intention, but those seeds never germinated. Eventually, their dreams faded and life took over.

It’s your life; don’t settle for mediocrity

Acting on your dreams is the only way to breathe life into them. Your life can be whatever you want it to be, but it won’t happen just because you want it to. The power of  intention can change the course of your whole life, that’s what happened to me.

Do you have hopes and dreams that are lying dormant in your heart? How long are you willing to leave them there? If they are really important to you, wouldn’t now be a good time pull them out, dust them off, and turn them into an intention?

Did you discover a dream worthy of action?
Are you ready to take it to the next level?
The lines are open!

If you enjoyed this article, consider email or RSS updates!

My book TRUE SELF is the fastest inexpensive way (coaching is the fastest) to make positive life changes very quickly. From discovering and dismantling your limiting beliefs, to aligning with and realizing your most cherished goals – and everything in between. TRUE SELF will guide you through the process.

In every culture, nation, and religion there are special times set aside to celebrate life or some significant event. We generally refer to these special times as holidays. Have you ever wondered why people get so excited about holidays? Think for a moment about the role they play on an emotional level.

A break from the norm

Emotionally, holidays feel like a reward. Instead of working, those days are used for enjoyable activities like getting together with friends or family, having exceptional meals, or going on a vacation. It’s like being rewarded for all your hard work.

It’s a fact that everyone likes to be rewarded for their efforts and accomplishments. In fact, almost without exception effort is motivated by the prospect of some kind of reward. Taking time off from your normal routine to have fun and celebrate life fits into this “reward” category.

Rewards come in all shapes and sizes

Some rewards have material value while others have emotional value. Most people go to work primarily for the material reward that comes in the form of a paycheck. Others, a happy minority, love what they do so much that the monetary reward is secondary to the feelings of accomplishment they experience.

When we do something nice for someone we love, our reward may be as simple as a smile on their face. Making them feel good makes us happy, thus we are emotionally rewarded as well. This action-reward feedback loop is an intrinsic part of human nature and is closely related to the joy of giving and receiving.

Make your special times to celebrate life

For the most part, holidays are set by someone else. I’d like to propose a slightly different concept. I think that we should all get in the habit of rewarding ourselves for, and celebrating, our personal accomplishments.

No doubt, you have experienced some forward progress in your personal growth and development recently. Maybe you overcame some personal obstacle, or experienced a personal breakthrough of some kind. Perhaps you are making progress on a personal or professional goal.

Why not celebrate that?

Any time we succeed in elevating the quality of our life in some way, celebration is in order. You see, celebrating is one of the ways we give ourselves approval. Whenever you find yourself reflecting on your accomplishments, it’s time to stop and celebrate life. Doing so will funnel massive amounts of approval into your neurological feedback loop.

Celebrating is an effective way to anchor your efforts in positive emotions. More approval brings increased motivation to continue taking action. Increased action creates even more reasons for giving yourself approval. It’s a beautiful arrangement.

Feed the process

Without a built-in delivery system for receiving approval, motivation begins to fade. By celebrating our personal progress we are providing the approval needed to stay motivated.

“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate” -Oprah Winfrey

Personal development is a never-ending journey that pays giant dividends. Approval is the oil that keeps the whole process running smooth. So don’t wait for someone else to schedule a holiday, find your own ways to celebrate life, blessings, and accomplishments. It’s perfectly okay to let yourself know how much you approve.

How do you feel about personal celebration?
Are you ready to create your own holidays?
The lines are open!

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