Author: John Kenworthy
Copyright (c) 2008 GainMore Advantage
Every single thing you do and say has a degree of influence on you and on others. You are part of their external environment. You even exert a small degree of gravitational force on others, indeed, you exert gravitational force on the planet! Not a lot admittedly, but your mass does attract other mass. You knew that you should have paid attention in science class now. Just as aside, it's quite a useful factoid for use when you have gained a few pounds of weight - you do so in order to become more attractive! That's put paid to the glamour magazines.The same is true for other people exerting their influence over you. Everything that other people say or do is a part of your external environment and that exerts an influence in turn over your behaviour.
The external environment beyond other human beings, also has some influence over you. The weather for example - when it is raining, it is quite likely that you would alter your 'normal' behaviour by carrying an umbrella, or wearing a rain-proof coat. You know for sure that the weather can have a major influence over your golf. When there is lightening, you would wisely move away from the fairways under the trees or into the clubhouse. Being struck by lightening is one influence that everyone can do without.
The problem with influence is that human beings have a tendency to assume that there is little you can do to change the way something influences you. Well, let me put this straight. You can and you do.
Let us take an example of something that influences us and we do something about it - almost fight its influence on our lives. One that affects us all and that is our friend gravity. You see, gravity is ever present in our lives - there are a few exceptions but since that involves travelling into space I think I can safely assume that does not include you. If, by chance you have traveled into space - my question is - how far can you hit a drive out there? Must be awesome.
Back to earth. Gravity is a pretty constant force acting on our bodies - in order to combat the effects of gravity we develop muscles and utilise energy to stand against it. We truly appreciate how much effort is involved in keeping our body upright and moving only after suffering some physical damage, such as breaking a leg, even stubbing a toe let alone paralysis. When we are reasonably fit and well, we think little or nothing of getting up from a chair and walking, and most of the time, we do all this unconsciously. We have programmed our brain to take care of operating the correct muscles, keeping balance, walking, and all the while supplying those muscles and cells with energy through breathing and circulating our blood. If you had to consciously work out how to do everything we take fro granted, your conscious mind would be so occupied, nothing else would get done.
What's the point of this? Well, it's simple really - there are many many things occurring in your life, including when you practice and play golf, that influence your behaviour. Some things, like gravity, the weather, daylight, animals we cannot change. and we can choose to what extent we allow such to affect us and our behaviours. We can choose to be at cause for ourselves or at the effect of the environment and others. In other words, I'm disabling your potential for 'excuses'.
Five Levels of Influence
There are, according to John C. Maxwell, five levels of influence - each with their own rights and each with their power to influence.
Level 1 - Position -
This is when you have the positional authority (aka power) over someone else and they have to follow because of the power relationship. The most familiar situation when this is displayed is between children and their parent - in the never ending cycle of "why do I have to?" the exasperated parent running short of arguments or more frequently, time, responds "because I said so!" never an effective nor motivational response, but it sums up how leaders finally resort to this positional power to cause someone else to have to do something.
Level 2 - Permission -
based on relationships - where people follow because they want to as they have a good relationship with you
Level 3 - Production -
based on results that you have demonstrably achieved for the organisation. People follow because of what you have done for the organisation
Levels 4 - People Development -
based on reproduction - people follow because of what you have done for them personally. This is the top level for most people and is only achieved with those you have personally developed - though your reputation for enabling others to excel will allow a superior level 3 (results)
Level 5 - Person-hood -
based on respect - sadly very very few people will ever achieve this. Many aspire to this level - often disenfranchised level 1 leaders who consider that others should simply respect them. Leaders who demand 'respect' from authority rather than earn the genuine respect and admiration of others through their actions and continual display of care and concern for others, the organisation and standing up for forthright and important values.Your ability to influence others is often misunderstood at best, and reliant on 'luck' at worst. Few leaders understand their position of influence with each of their constituents and fewer still, work a deliberate plan to increase their influential effectiveness with others.In a future article I'll discuss how you lift your level of influence...
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
To Have an Amazing Life You Have to Take Amazing Risks
By:Esther Bartkiw
Walt Disney's first company went bankrupt. Instead of giving up he headed to Hollywood with twenty dollars and a suitcase to start a new business. He believed in himself and his ideas. It turned out to be a really good risk.
Michael Jordan was cut from his sophomore varsity basketball team for being too short. He stuck with the game and ended up one of the best basketball players in the world.
Terry Fox started his Marathon of Hope, running across Canada after having one leg amputated due to cancer. He wanted to raise money for cancer research. Terry never finished the run because cancer took his life. To date more then 400 million dollars have been raised for cancer research in his name.
Winston Churchill did poorly in school for which he was punished. He also had a stuttering speech impediment. Churchill went on to become the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and a Nobel Prize winner.
One of the greatest baseball players of all time Reggie Jackson struck out 2597 times at bat.
Each of these individuals teach us that in order to have an amazing life you have to believe in yourself and take extraordinary risks even when everything and everyone around you sends the message that you can't do it.
When you take risks you can start big or small according to your threshold of comfort. Some people take giant leaps and others feel more at ease with baby steps as they build their risk taking muscle. It doesn't matter which category you fall into, as long as you are taking risks.
Sometimes you just have to jump into things instead of dwelling or meditating on them for days on end because hesitation may result in a missed once in a life time opportunity. Just use logic and make sure you aren't putting your life or someone else's life in danger.
If you find that you want to take more risks but something is holding you back; or maybe just the thought of taking risks has you shuddering, get to the root of issue. Maybe you are holding onto a fear or belief in your mind that is limiting and negative. Perhaps you don't even know what is stopping you from taking the risk, you just know every time you want to step out and try something new, you find yourself frozen and rooted in place.
This is the perfect opportunity to examine your beliefs about risks, failure and making mistakes. Also notice and become aware of your beliefs and thoughts about yourself and your abilities.
A person might take a risk and make a mistake, but it isn't a failure until he or she decides that it is a failure and starts beating themselves up about it.
Are you worried about what other people might think of you? How do you measure success? Do you fear success? Are you dealing with lack of self confidence, self worth and deserving? Negative and limiting beliefs in any or all of these areas need to be uprooted, re-engineered and replaced with positive beliefs in order to start moving forward.
It's important to believe in yourself and to take risks. Holding a mind full of positive beliefs will support, encourage and propel you forward. When you start taking risks, jumping on opportunities and accepting challenges amazing things begin to happen; an amazing life unfolds and at the center of that is an amazing person. That amazing person is you.
Esther Bartkiw is a Core Belief Engineering Practitioner, Motivational Speaker, Nutritional Cleansing Coach and Author. She can be reached by email at esther(at)changefromwithin.ca Visit her website at http://www.changefromwithin.ca and follow her tweets at http://www.twitter.com/changeisgood
Walt Disney's first company went bankrupt. Instead of giving up he headed to Hollywood with twenty dollars and a suitcase to start a new business. He believed in himself and his ideas. It turned out to be a really good risk.
Michael Jordan was cut from his sophomore varsity basketball team for being too short. He stuck with the game and ended up one of the best basketball players in the world.
Terry Fox started his Marathon of Hope, running across Canada after having one leg amputated due to cancer. He wanted to raise money for cancer research. Terry never finished the run because cancer took his life. To date more then 400 million dollars have been raised for cancer research in his name.
Winston Churchill did poorly in school for which he was punished. He also had a stuttering speech impediment. Churchill went on to become the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and a Nobel Prize winner.
One of the greatest baseball players of all time Reggie Jackson struck out 2597 times at bat.
Each of these individuals teach us that in order to have an amazing life you have to believe in yourself and take extraordinary risks even when everything and everyone around you sends the message that you can't do it.
When you take risks you can start big or small according to your threshold of comfort. Some people take giant leaps and others feel more at ease with baby steps as they build their risk taking muscle. It doesn't matter which category you fall into, as long as you are taking risks.
Sometimes you just have to jump into things instead of dwelling or meditating on them for days on end because hesitation may result in a missed once in a life time opportunity. Just use logic and make sure you aren't putting your life or someone else's life in danger.
If you find that you want to take more risks but something is holding you back; or maybe just the thought of taking risks has you shuddering, get to the root of issue. Maybe you are holding onto a fear or belief in your mind that is limiting and negative. Perhaps you don't even know what is stopping you from taking the risk, you just know every time you want to step out and try something new, you find yourself frozen and rooted in place.
This is the perfect opportunity to examine your beliefs about risks, failure and making mistakes. Also notice and become aware of your beliefs and thoughts about yourself and your abilities.
A person might take a risk and make a mistake, but it isn't a failure until he or she decides that it is a failure and starts beating themselves up about it.
Are you worried about what other people might think of you? How do you measure success? Do you fear success? Are you dealing with lack of self confidence, self worth and deserving? Negative and limiting beliefs in any or all of these areas need to be uprooted, re-engineered and replaced with positive beliefs in order to start moving forward.
It's important to believe in yourself and to take risks. Holding a mind full of positive beliefs will support, encourage and propel you forward. When you start taking risks, jumping on opportunities and accepting challenges amazing things begin to happen; an amazing life unfolds and at the center of that is an amazing person. That amazing person is you.
Esther Bartkiw is a Core Belief Engineering Practitioner, Motivational Speaker, Nutritional Cleansing Coach and Author. She can be reached by email at esther(at)changefromwithin.ca Visit her website at http://www.changefromwithin.ca and follow her tweets at http://www.twitter.com/changeisgood
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Becoming Empowered - Paul Newman's Legacy Inspires Character
By Alice Vlietstra
Paul Newman, even with his transition and passing, inspires us to honor our American Roots. A legendary actor, he starred in 76 movies, giving us classics such as, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and "The Hustler." He was nominated for the Academy Award for a total of ten times and won it in 1987 for "The Color of Money." Beyond acting, he was known as a multi-talented liberal activist, a racecar driver, and a devoted husband and father. His marriage to Joan Woodard lasted over fifty years. As a philanthropist, he capitalized on his fame to raise millions for terminally ill children.
Most fascinating to me has been his entrepreneurial success in developing a leading premium food company that offers organic food and beverage products. The company, "Newman's Own," has a charitable mission that is expressed in its company motto: "Shameless exploitation in pursuit of the Common Good." All the profits and royalties after taxes are donated for educational and charitable purposes. So far they have donated more than 250 million to causes such as the "Hole in the Wall Camps" for children with life threatening illnesses. The company, now run by his daughter Nells, has a fierce brand loyalty.
The memory of Paul Newman that stands out the most to me is his parody of the American Gothic that is placed on Newman's Own products. The American Gothic is a 1930 portrait of a farmer with a pitchfork, a younger woman, and a farmhouse. It is an icon of its own, depicting stark frontal figures that face the viewer with authenticity and authority. It reminds us that America is built on the labors of men and women of virtue and a pioneering spirit. The images depict strengths such as industry, honesty, and community, as well good dose of humor for our
humanity. These strengths still endure today.
What is it that makes for Paul Newman's enduring legacy? I believe is his appeal to character. We are increasingly looking for deep and meaningful relationships in how we live our lives and what we buy. He has been an inspiration to us all.
Visit http://www.lifeontrackcoaching.com out more about the character strengths that give passion and purpose to your life.
Paul Newman, even with his transition and passing, inspires us to honor our American Roots. A legendary actor, he starred in 76 movies, giving us classics such as, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and "The Hustler." He was nominated for the Academy Award for a total of ten times and won it in 1987 for "The Color of Money." Beyond acting, he was known as a multi-talented liberal activist, a racecar driver, and a devoted husband and father. His marriage to Joan Woodard lasted over fifty years. As a philanthropist, he capitalized on his fame to raise millions for terminally ill children.
Most fascinating to me has been his entrepreneurial success in developing a leading premium food company that offers organic food and beverage products. The company, "Newman's Own," has a charitable mission that is expressed in its company motto: "Shameless exploitation in pursuit of the Common Good." All the profits and royalties after taxes are donated for educational and charitable purposes. So far they have donated more than 250 million to causes such as the "Hole in the Wall Camps" for children with life threatening illnesses. The company, now run by his daughter Nells, has a fierce brand loyalty.
The memory of Paul Newman that stands out the most to me is his parody of the American Gothic that is placed on Newman's Own products. The American Gothic is a 1930 portrait of a farmer with a pitchfork, a younger woman, and a farmhouse. It is an icon of its own, depicting stark frontal figures that face the viewer with authenticity and authority. It reminds us that America is built on the labors of men and women of virtue and a pioneering spirit. The images depict strengths such as industry, honesty, and community, as well good dose of humor for our
humanity. These strengths still endure today.
What is it that makes for Paul Newman's enduring legacy? I believe is his appeal to character. We are increasingly looking for deep and meaningful relationships in how we live our lives and what we buy. He has been an inspiration to us all.
Visit http://www.lifeontrackcoaching.com out more about the character strengths that give passion and purpose to your life.
The Power of the Imagination - Key to Success
By Alberto Posse
The power of the imagination is one of the keys to your success and personal happiness. Take a few minutes, if you will, and look around. What do you see? Are you satisfied with your life? What about your job? - Your social status? - Your physical condition? Now, close your eyes and think of what things you would want to change, if you could, to make yourself a more complete and fulfilled individual. Congratulations, my friend! If you have come up with a few things that could enhance your life if you had the power to change your present situation, you are well on your way to effecting that change.
By definition in the Funk and Wagnalls Encyclopadic College Dictionary, imagination is "the process of forming mental images of the objects of perception or thought in the absence of the concrete external stimuli; mental image or concept." The word "imagination" has its roots in the Latin word imagination, which meant a fantastic plan or scheme. Imagination is the ability for individuals to build mental scenes based on nothing that actually exists. The power of the imagination allows us to visualize. Let your mind go free or daydream and you are experiencing the powers of the imagination. The creative powers of the imagination allow great people to improve society through invention, and your imagination can help you reconstruct your life for the better.
The power of the imagination touches all of our senses. When you closed your eyes and pictured ways of improving yourself, did you picture yourself on a beach relaxing, or in your own office as C.E.O. of a company, or dining at a fabulous restaurant in midtown Manhattan? All of these things are possible for you because you have the ability to change your status in life through the power of your imagination. One of the great philosophers of our time, Dr. Wayne Dyer, wrote a famous best seller called, "You'll See It When You Believe It." Dr. Dyer teaches that the power of the imagination has a vital role in achievement and success in any area of our lives.
The power of the imagination allows us to visualize, or see, mental images of what we want to occur. If we think in a positive manner about our aims and goals, wants and desires, we are utilizing the power of the imagination to its fullest extent. What we imagine with a positive faith will come into actualization for us because the power of the imagination is the driving force behind creative visualization and positive thinking. Our inability to use the power of the imagination properly causes our failures, sufferings and unhappiness. However, understanding how to use the power of the imagination effectively will result in our success, happiness and contentment.
The Warrior Within, is responsible for putting people like you and me back on the right track to success and the good life by providing guidance, counseling, support and the educational tools to ensure success. The power of the imagination can propel you to achieve goals that you never otherwise would have considered possible. You can get on the path to financial success and happiness by learning how to use the power of the imagination to change your life. Just click on to
www.the-warrior-within.org , and take the initial steps toward a new and better life.
The Warrior Within is responsible for putting people like you and me back on the right track to success and the good life by providing guidance, counseling, support and the educational tools to ensure success. The power of the imagination can propel you to achieve goals that you never otherwise would have considered possible. You can get on the path to financial success and happiness by learning how to use the power of the imagination to change your life. Just click on to http://www.the-warrior-within.org, and take the initial steps toward a new and better life.
Alberto Posse believes that every person has a potential for greatness, they just need guidance and some help, which is why he founded The Warrior Within, to help others succeed.
The power of the imagination is one of the keys to your success and personal happiness. Take a few minutes, if you will, and look around. What do you see? Are you satisfied with your life? What about your job? - Your social status? - Your physical condition? Now, close your eyes and think of what things you would want to change, if you could, to make yourself a more complete and fulfilled individual. Congratulations, my friend! If you have come up with a few things that could enhance your life if you had the power to change your present situation, you are well on your way to effecting that change.
By definition in the Funk and Wagnalls Encyclopadic College Dictionary, imagination is "the process of forming mental images of the objects of perception or thought in the absence of the concrete external stimuli; mental image or concept." The word "imagination" has its roots in the Latin word imagination, which meant a fantastic plan or scheme. Imagination is the ability for individuals to build mental scenes based on nothing that actually exists. The power of the imagination allows us to visualize. Let your mind go free or daydream and you are experiencing the powers of the imagination. The creative powers of the imagination allow great people to improve society through invention, and your imagination can help you reconstruct your life for the better.
The power of the imagination touches all of our senses. When you closed your eyes and pictured ways of improving yourself, did you picture yourself on a beach relaxing, or in your own office as C.E.O. of a company, or dining at a fabulous restaurant in midtown Manhattan? All of these things are possible for you because you have the ability to change your status in life through the power of your imagination. One of the great philosophers of our time, Dr. Wayne Dyer, wrote a famous best seller called, "You'll See It When You Believe It." Dr. Dyer teaches that the power of the imagination has a vital role in achievement and success in any area of our lives.
The power of the imagination allows us to visualize, or see, mental images of what we want to occur. If we think in a positive manner about our aims and goals, wants and desires, we are utilizing the power of the imagination to its fullest extent. What we imagine with a positive faith will come into actualization for us because the power of the imagination is the driving force behind creative visualization and positive thinking. Our inability to use the power of the imagination properly causes our failures, sufferings and unhappiness. However, understanding how to use the power of the imagination effectively will result in our success, happiness and contentment.
The Warrior Within, is responsible for putting people like you and me back on the right track to success and the good life by providing guidance, counseling, support and the educational tools to ensure success. The power of the imagination can propel you to achieve goals that you never otherwise would have considered possible. You can get on the path to financial success and happiness by learning how to use the power of the imagination to change your life. Just click on to
www.the-warrior-within.org , and take the initial steps toward a new and better life.
The Warrior Within is responsible for putting people like you and me back on the right track to success and the good life by providing guidance, counseling, support and the educational tools to ensure success. The power of the imagination can propel you to achieve goals that you never otherwise would have considered possible. You can get on the path to financial success and happiness by learning how to use the power of the imagination to change your life. Just click on to http://www.the-warrior-within.org, and take the initial steps toward a new and better life.
Alberto Posse believes that every person has a potential for greatness, they just need guidance and some help, which is why he founded The Warrior Within, to help others succeed.
In Search of Wisdom
By Lance Winslow
It's not easy to attain wisdom and it's not something you can buy. Finally finishing your PhD dissertation does not mean you have wisdom and as Calvin Coolidge once said, there is no shortage of educated derelicts, but let's not pick on academia at least those folks are definitely in search of self-improvement and that elusive trait we call wisdom.
If you wish to gain wisdom, you must indeed commit to a life-time of learning and include all your observations, experiences, and education. Further, you cannot turn off your brain, lest you miss something, some tid-bit of information you can use to provide insight. Wishing to increase your knowledge base is a worthy endeavor and pursuit, but that alone means nothing if you are only committing to memory that which is already readily available on the Internet to everyone else.
Wisdom is far greater than mere knowledge, and the two must not be confused. One wise man once told me that; "Supreme Knowledge is attained when knowledge is consistently coupled with Wisdom and Desire." A thirst and desire to learn and understand is essential to the gaining of wisdom, but it will not come easily. My wise friend also told me:
Wisdom, is the only Perceptional mechanism that will allow you to act and react with a rational mind despite the influences from out as well as from within. The things we desire to know most about we choose to learn about most. The things we are Truly Determined to know will be known by us...sooner or later."
Ah, but if this is so then there is also a component of patience to wisdom then, and it appears to be so doesn't? So, if you are in search of wisdom; "Be Patient Grasshopper and Above All, You Must Desire to Attain Wisdom," think on this, I bet it will come to you.
"Lance Winslow" - Lance Winslow's Bio. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/.
It's not easy to attain wisdom and it's not something you can buy. Finally finishing your PhD dissertation does not mean you have wisdom and as Calvin Coolidge once said, there is no shortage of educated derelicts, but let's not pick on academia at least those folks are definitely in search of self-improvement and that elusive trait we call wisdom.
If you wish to gain wisdom, you must indeed commit to a life-time of learning and include all your observations, experiences, and education. Further, you cannot turn off your brain, lest you miss something, some tid-bit of information you can use to provide insight. Wishing to increase your knowledge base is a worthy endeavor and pursuit, but that alone means nothing if you are only committing to memory that which is already readily available on the Internet to everyone else.
Wisdom is far greater than mere knowledge, and the two must not be confused. One wise man once told me that; "Supreme Knowledge is attained when knowledge is consistently coupled with Wisdom and Desire." A thirst and desire to learn and understand is essential to the gaining of wisdom, but it will not come easily. My wise friend also told me:
Wisdom, is the only Perceptional mechanism that will allow you to act and react with a rational mind despite the influences from out as well as from within. The things we desire to know most about we choose to learn about most. The things we are Truly Determined to know will be known by us...sooner or later."
Ah, but if this is so then there is also a component of patience to wisdom then, and it appears to be so doesn't? So, if you are in search of wisdom; "Be Patient Grasshopper and Above All, You Must Desire to Attain Wisdom," think on this, I bet it will come to you.
"Lance Winslow" - Lance Winslow's Bio. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/.
How To Get Motivated To Lose Weight
By:Richard Adams
Mindset is possibly the most important factor when it comes to losing weight.
To lose weight you need to put in a lot of effort, and as a result you must be 100% motivated to achieving your goal.
Too many people make a half-hearted attempt at weight loss or start out well then give up within a few weeks (or even days).
The most common problem of all in those I see trying to lose weight is that they simply lack the discipline to achieve their goals no matter what the obstacles.
But look at it from another point of view - if you *do* put your mind to it and succeed how amazing will you feel?
Not just with your new slimmer body but also in knowing you managed to overcome some amazing obstacles - whatever they may be - and still come out on top.
You achieved your goal. You're a winner, a success.
So the topic of this article is exactly how to get motivated to lose weight.
There are three keys to motivation in weight loss and dieting.
The first of these is visualization. You need to stop seeing yourself as fat, or overweight or ugly or whatever negative word you use to describe yourself right now. That keeps you thinking "fat".
Instead imagine yourself slim. Not just "wouldn't it be nice to be thin". But instead "I'm going to be thin". No arguments. No compromise. It's going to happen no matter what.
Find pictures in magazines and on the Internet of how you'd like to look in the end. Get photos posted to your wall. Or start a scrapbook. Or use them as wallpaper on your computer or cell phone.
Rather than feeling jealous seeing other people who look how you want to look - instead appreciate how great they look and use them as motivation to achieve the same thing.
You'll even find "before and after" photos on some web sites if you hunt hard enough and some of these can be absolutely mind blowing. Find someone with a physique like you're going to have and focus on that. It's a huge motivator.
The second factor is a support group.
Often you can start well but life is so busy that soon enough the diet falls by the wayside.
With a support group your confidence and motivation is constantly bolstered by others, problems can be aired and solutions found.
So see if there is a local dieters meeting - such as Weight Watchers, convince a few friends of yours to lose weight at the same time as you or lastly (but just as good as the other two) join forums and membership sites on the Internet to meet like-minded individuals.
The third and final way to get motivated to lose weight is to keep a journal of your progress.
We can sometimes get frustrated at how long a transformation can take. It may be several weeks or even months before you can see noticeable results.
So measure and weigh yourself each week - at the same time on the same day each week - and ideally take a photo however unpleasant you may think it is and record all of this in your journal.
It will quickly show how you're developing and losing weight and will help spur you on toward your goal.
Now go get motivated - right now - don't procrastinate! Go buy your journal *today*!
Copyright (c) 2006 Richard Adams
Richard Adams successfully lost a 23lbs in 3 months and has continued his weight loss experiments ever since. FInd out the secrets of how to lose weight at his brand new, free site -> http://www.howtoloseweightnow.co.uk/
Mindset is possibly the most important factor when it comes to losing weight.
To lose weight you need to put in a lot of effort, and as a result you must be 100% motivated to achieving your goal.
Too many people make a half-hearted attempt at weight loss or start out well then give up within a few weeks (or even days).
The most common problem of all in those I see trying to lose weight is that they simply lack the discipline to achieve their goals no matter what the obstacles.
But look at it from another point of view - if you *do* put your mind to it and succeed how amazing will you feel?
Not just with your new slimmer body but also in knowing you managed to overcome some amazing obstacles - whatever they may be - and still come out on top.
You achieved your goal. You're a winner, a success.
So the topic of this article is exactly how to get motivated to lose weight.
There are three keys to motivation in weight loss and dieting.
The first of these is visualization. You need to stop seeing yourself as fat, or overweight or ugly or whatever negative word you use to describe yourself right now. That keeps you thinking "fat".
Instead imagine yourself slim. Not just "wouldn't it be nice to be thin". But instead "I'm going to be thin". No arguments. No compromise. It's going to happen no matter what.
Find pictures in magazines and on the Internet of how you'd like to look in the end. Get photos posted to your wall. Or start a scrapbook. Or use them as wallpaper on your computer or cell phone.
Rather than feeling jealous seeing other people who look how you want to look - instead appreciate how great they look and use them as motivation to achieve the same thing.
You'll even find "before and after" photos on some web sites if you hunt hard enough and some of these can be absolutely mind blowing. Find someone with a physique like you're going to have and focus on that. It's a huge motivator.
The second factor is a support group.
Often you can start well but life is so busy that soon enough the diet falls by the wayside.
With a support group your confidence and motivation is constantly bolstered by others, problems can be aired and solutions found.
So see if there is a local dieters meeting - such as Weight Watchers, convince a few friends of yours to lose weight at the same time as you or lastly (but just as good as the other two) join forums and membership sites on the Internet to meet like-minded individuals.
The third and final way to get motivated to lose weight is to keep a journal of your progress.
We can sometimes get frustrated at how long a transformation can take. It may be several weeks or even months before you can see noticeable results.
So measure and weigh yourself each week - at the same time on the same day each week - and ideally take a photo however unpleasant you may think it is and record all of this in your journal.
It will quickly show how you're developing and losing weight and will help spur you on toward your goal.
Now go get motivated - right now - don't procrastinate! Go buy your journal *today*!
Copyright (c) 2006 Richard Adams
Richard Adams successfully lost a 23lbs in 3 months and has continued his weight loss experiments ever since. FInd out the secrets of how to lose weight at his brand new, free site -> http://www.howtoloseweightnow.co.uk/
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