Keeping Your Eyes on the Prize!

byMFreire

1.2K followers

Updated 9 years ago

In life, we inevitably encounter obstacles that are discouraging and make our goals feel unattainable. It doesn't have to be your new venture with WA--it could be an illness, a relationship, unexpected stress, an overextended schedule--anything that diverts our attention away from your goal.

Often the obstacles in our path can be temporary, momentary glitches. Other times they are more complex and formidable and can threaten to delay us indefinitely.

We have to be able to objectively assess the roadblocks and step away from our emotions in order to identify a new route and keep moving forward. We must always, always move forward, even if it's at a snail pace. It's a lot easier said than done.

When I joined WA in March, 2015, I knew I was in a great place. The energy from Kyle, Carson, and the community was incredible! I was happy and excited, but there were outside circumstances like house chores, not exercising, and the criticism from my husband would at times bring me down. I had to sit back and plan a strategy. Even with these negative influences I knew in my heart that failure was not an option.

The 1st step was to embrace the idea that it's OK to have a change in my path as long as the destination is the same.

We can all start off with best- intentioned plans, but inevitably life gets in the way, When that happens we have to be able to go back to the drawing board and think of new ideas to keep moving forward.

Many people mistakenly think the path to achieving our goals is supposed to be direct and easy, and consequently when they encounter the inevitable detour they don't know what to do, and their unanticipated disappointment undermines their momentum.

In reality, achieving our goals has more to do with our determination precisely in those moments when the universe gives us every sign that we should give up. Those are the times when we have to focus ourselves to keep moving forward.

We have to calibrate our expectations and become creative with the strategy, embracing the inevitable ebb and flow of productivity. In a world where nothing is ever perfect , we have to settle for fighting for our very best and turning challenges into unforeseen opportunities.

When I have to rethink my strategy, this is what I do.

!. Nurture your desire.

It's easy to loose focus of our end-goal, especially when something unexpected is thrown our way. Despite any obstacles, it's important to keep your desire alive and well. If you are spending your time criticizing yourself, try to re-frame the situation and channel your energy into something positive that will move you forward.

If you find yourself loosing enthusiasm, do something to rekindle your desire. Sometimes something as simple as reviewing your goals on a regular bases is enough to spark a renewed sense of interest.

2. Take time for yourself.

I'm the worst at this, but at the height of trying to finish my website and get it published I tried really hard to embrace the idea of kicking back with my feet up and indulging in something relaxing. I did a lot of reading, meditating, yoga and taking walks in the forest preserve behind my home. Now that I am back in "work" mode, I appreciate the time I had doing the activities I love.

We will always have the valleys and peaks in our lives, and although we want to be on top, it's important to take time when you are stuck in the valley to relax, rejuvenate, and possibly adjust your strategy and determine your next move. It will only make your journey back to the top more successful.

3. Re-evaluate your goals.

Halfway through my winter of disappointment and after a lot of denial, I finally realized my list of goals weren't going to materialize. They were unrealistic for me at the moment, because I had Neurosurgery and I needed time to heal. It's difficult to admit to yourself that you can't do something.

When I was ready to embrace the reality of the situation, I sat down and listed what I knew I could handle. I reminded myself that something was better than nothing as long as I was doing my best. Then, I added a little bit more to the list to challenge myself, but at the same time make it manageable.

4. Chunking.

What is chunking? A teacher in high school taught me this. When confronted with a large task or assignment, an effective strategy is to "chunk" the assignment, doing a little bit at a time. This will increase your chances of successfully completing the task and also doing a good job at it.

As I find myself able to handle more, I know I can always move up or down in my personal quota, but for right now my "chunks" are a realistic measure of something I can reasonably accomplish. While challenging yourself is never a bad idea, you shouldn't set yourself up to fail.

5. Log your efforts.

One way to help yourself see the "big Picture" is to keep track of what you do. I have a small journal where I log my effort each day on a particular project. By the end of the month I can see on paper what I have accomplished and it serves as a reminder that I am moving forward even when it feels like I'm not.

6. Celebrate

Taking the time to celebrate means you are taking care of yourself. You are the most important vehicle in accomplishing your goals and as such you should treat yourself with love and respect. When you are making progress, big or small, never forget to take the time to celebrate your efforts.

At the end of the day you must be your biggest fan. Put one foot in front of the other and keep walking forward, but don't forget to pause and celebrate the small victories throughout your journey.