***Sustained Motivation!

In the beginning, it is easy to feel excitement about your goal-achieving venture. It is shiny new and filled with the sparkle of new potential. But eventually, something is likely to change your rosy outlook. Perhaps on second glance the task will seem too daunting. You may realize the process is more involved, complicated, or time-consuming than you imagined. You are going to procrastinate, become distracted, and grow weary or bored. As soon as you reach a point in your evolution that requires more self-discipline or strength of will than you believe you have, you will be tempted to quit. One day, you find yourself asking if your goal is worth the hassle.

Through the hardships and failed attempts, through countless times when things get complicated and overwhelming, you are the one who must decide to find focus, passion and energy once more. Only you can find your way through the endless succession of inner doubts and exceedingly elaborate, but oh-so-legitimate sounding, excuses. You are the one who must rise early, stay up late or change jobs in order to devote time to your creative process.

Why bother? Wouldn't it be easier to avoid the doubt and effort required to reach your goal? Wouldn't it be easier to stay inside the relative safety of our inner comfort circle? Henri Bergson (French philosopher, 1859-1941) wrote, "To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly." Dreams have more to do with who you become during the process then what you achieve at the end. Being involved in the manifestation of your dreams leads you into evolution. It allows you to become more then who you were before: more open, loving, confident, peaceful, powerful, and more comfortable in our own body.

Those bursts of initial passion are helpful to get you started, but to stay committed to a successful outcome requires sustained motivation. This means learning how to stay committed to achieving your goal for the long haul. You may have ups and downs, but you overall, you feel inspired and ready to take action. Follow these six tips below to gain sustained motivation and make your dreams come true!

1. Create A Vision of SuccessnGreat achievers have a habit. They "see" themselves living the life of their dreams. They imagine already having what they want. Teach yourself to visualize yourself succeeding. See the light at the end of the tunnel before even starting. Create an inner dialog of success and allow yourself to already feel the feelings of achievement.

2. Form a PartnershipnInstead of prodding, poking, and forcing yourself to make changes, create harmony with the changes you want to make. Envision the life you would like to live and form a rich and rewarding relationship with that life. Build a bridge of loving respect between you and your desire. See your dream as a living, delicate entity needing your kind attention so that is can grow and take shape. All it takes is your heart and motivation to take pride in what you are creating. You have choice to struggle and be angry about creating change in your life, or you could take a breath and make a new agreement within yourself. Decide to create a phenomenal connection between you and your dream.

3. Minimize AnxietynBecause learning new habits requires changes in your beliefs and behaviors, it can produce a mild level of anxiety. This anxiety can provide energy for motivation and perseverance. However, if your anxiety escalates, you may find the energy of your stress to be incapacitating. Minimize your levels of stress by being compassionate to yourself. Understand that some stress is normal as you make changes, but you don't have to make it worse by criticizing yourself. Learn to breathe, take time out and assess your situation, and relax before taking your next step.

4. See Your Best Case ScenarionThe worst will not always occur. Recognize catastrophe thinking. Here is a wonderful piece of advice I saw on a greeting card from the good people at Hallmark: "If I had to give up one sense, it would be my sense of impending doom." Stop scaring yourself into believing that every negative thing that happens along your goal achieving jou
ey is a horrific disaster. Yes, setbacks and obstacles can occur, but focus on problem solving and moving forward despite the presence of those roadblocks.

5. Never Miss Two Days in a RownMake an agreement with yourself that you will take action on your goal every single day. However, also take into account that you are human and life happens. When you miss a day of action, don't wait until Monday to begin again. Instead, tell yourself that you refuse to miss two days in a row. It is much easier to sustain your motivation if you start right back up again, instead of taking a long break. Motivation requires consistency.

6. Visualize Your Goal Ofte

Instead of worrying and stressing about all the negatives, set aside time each day to envision your new life. Imagine clearly, and with all your senses, what it will be like to live your goal. Relish the sensations of your exciting dream. Imagine yourself living and breathing and enjoying your ideal life. Touch your body lovingly, breathe in the love for yourself, and feel the safety and comfort of living inside your body. Imagine your body as healthy and active. Every day, make the choice to bring your dream front and center. As you focus on the excitement your dream generates, you begin to feel more energy and more ready to take the next step of your jou
ey.

Achieving goals is not a matter of having more discipline or willpower. It is a matter of motivating yourself and keeping your focus on your goal. Follow the steps above and create your own world of dreams made real!