Taste Life Blog

I often ask people what they want. The top three answers are usually “I want to be happy, to lose weight or win the lottery.”  Everyone wants to feel fantastic about themselves and their lives. People want to live with a sense of accomplishment and living on purpose.  Women that I coach express often a desire for confidence. Confidence is really all about our beliefs.

Everyone focuses on a goal. The goal is where you want to be. I want to lose 25 pounds. Or, I want a new job.  But have you really decided to lose that weight or get a new job? Really? The power is in your decision. Your decision is a conscious and real choice, not a wish but total commitment.  Mary, a coaching client hired me to help her start her Wellcoach ®Coaching Practice. She was struggling with getting out of bed in the morning. She stated, “I am not a morning person. The first word I learned how to spell was bed.”   I asked her, “What do you want?” I want to use my sleep apnea machine. Why? “I need to feel fresh!”

First step: Determine your goal and your decision

Distinction: Decision vs. Goal*

Goal: Where you want to be. The who, what, how or “how to” of your decision.

Example: I will use my sleep apnea machine.

Decision: Declaration, 100% commitment, there is no turning back

Example: I need to feel fresh.

Goals are great, but the power is in your DECISION.  Once you make a committed decision you can set small baby goals to support your decision.  Your decision comes first.  You aren’t going to make a big change if you aren’t 100% fully committed. Your decision is YOUR FIRST step. Your decision is making a commitment to your goal as if you are standing in quick sand and almost sinking but there is no turning back.

Second step: Getting from your decision to your goal.

Ask yourself, Why do you want to achieve this goal so badly?

I asked Mary, “Why do you want to feel fresh?”

She quickly replied, “I need to get out of bed at a decent time. I want to feel energized so I can do what I need to do. I have 10 million things to do! When I get a late start to my day I feel like I messed up three hours and am behind all day! A lot of my life revolves around my poor sleep quality. I am ignoring a big piece to help me move forward. I am not neglecting my sleep anymore.”

Third step: Make a list of your preparation.

Steps you need to take to achieve this goal

Mary’s were:

Get out my machine.

Dust off my sleep apnea machine.

Get a new face mask

Put the face mask on three days this week.

Fourth step: You get what you want once you decide.

Decisions are based on your beliefs. Beliefs are based on your old life and past experiences.  The secret is in knowing this. If you have been wanting a goal and feel stuck, explore your beliefs. If you don’t do anything differently, one year from now, your life will look EXACTLY the same as it does now  (or maybe even worse because your inaction takes more energy than action.)

You live what you decide. It is up to you to be happy starting today. Better get busy!

*Source:  Adopted from Coach and Grow Rich by Michelle Schubnel.