“Whether it’s losing weight, quitting smoking, getting organized or climbing out of debt, everyone CAN still reach their goals,” says Steve Siebold, author of 177 Mental Toughness Secrets of The World Class, and an expert in the field of mental toughness training and critical thinking. “People need to focus on their thoughts, beliefs, philosophies and attitudes – otherwise they are setting themselves up to fail before they even begin.”
Here are 10 tips from Siebold for making the most of the last 100 days of 2015 and making good on those New Year’s resolutions:
1. Don’t focus on how to do it, but rather, why should I do it? Why do I want this goal to become a reality? The intensity of emotion with which this question is answered will determine whether the dream comes alive or dies.
2. Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is. Many times the only thing that separates winners from losers is the thought process. Winners have a “whatever it takes” attitude. They’ve made the decision to pay any price and bear any burden in the name of victory.
3. Get really clear about what you want to change. Define what it is and then get totally committed to doing it. You can’t just say, “I want to make more money” or “I want to lose weight.” Really get specific. “I want to increase my income by 20 percent and I’m going to read 10 books by Jan. 1, network with the top thought leaders in my field and find a mentor.” Or, “I want to lose 15 pounds by the end of the year. I’m going to join a gym, workout five days a week and change my diet.”
4. Avoid delusion and operate from objective reality. In other words, don’t expect reaching your goals to be a walk in the park. Know that it’s going to take a lot of hard work and there will be plenty of temptation to derail you along the way.
5. Expect to feel pain or suffer. Most people feel the pain or run into an obstacle and seek escape. Have a plan to push forward when this happens. If you’re not ready to suffer during adversity, you’re not going to be successful.
6. Developing a world-class self-talk may be the most powerful mental toughness tool. In other words, you have to learn to rely on you and become your own best source of support.
7. Take risks. Don’t always have a “play it safe” or “stay below the radar” mentality. Without risk, there can be no progress. Each time you take a risk, it’s an opportunity for learning and a chance to increase your confidence.
8. Feed your visions and starve your fears. In other words, don’t give into the negative thoughts that the goal is impossible. Ask yourself, “How can it be done?”
9. Compartmentalize your emotions and focus completely on the goal. This means becoming so laser focused on your goal and not worrying about the less important things in your life that don’t need immediate attention.
10. Stop caring about what other people think of your dreams. Psychologists call it “approval addiction,” and once you overcome it to any significant degree, you are free of the psychological chains that bind most people from ever experiencing world-class success.
Siebold says, “100 days is plenty of time to accomplish any goal you have. It’s time to get mentally tough and make a plan for long-term success. While amateurs often live in the past, champions look toward the future. Focus on the present while creating your ultimate vision and landscape of the future. Future orientation allows you to dream of grand visions and unlimited possibilities. It will also keep you motivated and moving forward because it keeps the proverbial carrot out in front. It all begins with taking full responsibility for your life and your future.”
