Athletes from around the world are arriving in London for the performances of their lives. They will move faster on air, land and in water than previously believed possible. Milliseconds shatter world records.
These breathtaking performances will captivate millions of people from around the world, as we remain glued to the television and Internet. But what truly has our attention has little to do with Olympic sports. In reality, we pay virtually no attention to these very same sports outside of the Olympics. So what’s the real fascination?
The Olympics are about dreams coming true.
Whether athletes return home decorated in medals or not, they had a dream and went for it. They’ve achieved their personal best. And as many of us watch, we can’t help but reminisce on our own dreams – those dreams that we’ve shoved aside to make room for “reality.”
But what if just like the Olympic torch, you could reignite that dream?
The good news is that many of our dreams are not of Olympic proportion. Our dreams are actually much easier to achieve. We just need the right approach. So in the Olympic spirit, let’s revive those dreams to achieve our personal best. Read part 1 of this 4-part series.
What’s your gold medal?
Chances are your goal is within your reach, it just requires you to move through some uncomfortable changes at first. Over time though, taking small steps toward your goal can deliver big results. To get motivated you have to identify your “gold medal” or goal.
Answer these three questions to get started:
What do you want?
Olympians don’t just jump out of bed every morning eager for intense physical training. They sleep in comfortable beds, just like us, and have to resist the urge to hit the snooze button too. So what drives them to get out of bed? They know exactly what they want – a shiny gold medal.
What do you want? Set aside all of the ifs, ands and buts. If you could achieve anything, what would it be? Really give it some thought.
This may be the most important step in goal setting. Why did you choose that goal?
Why do you want to lose weight? Why do you want to eat healthier? Why do you want more money? It may seem odd to answer these questions, but the answers will help you get to the root of exactly what you’re striving for and keep you motivated.
If you’ve decided that you want to eat healthier just because that’s what “they” say you should do or because you want to look like a Photoshopped model, that’s not going to really motivate you to walk away from the chocolate cake. But if you’re thinking about eating healthier to lose 15 pounds so you can run around with your kids in the backyard, that’s a very different and more realistic scenario.
What does success looks like?
So now that you know what you want and why, paint a detailed picture of the end result. It helps you realize the possibility of your dream and feel the experience of it coming true. Some believe that visualization actually helps you attract your goals into your life. Just remember – it’s visualization partnered with action that’s the recipe for success.
An Olympian would likely envision the scoreboard showing her name at the top, the feel of the medal being placed around her neck, and the sound of the national anthem playing as a packed stadium roars in excitement.
You really have to engage all of your senses as you play out the scene of success in your mind.
So, now go for the gold … I mean goal. Identify exactly what your “gold medal” is; the more specific you are the more successful you will be.