1) Is my goal SMART?
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Realistic
- Time-bound
For example, “losing weight” is too generic and hard to figure out how to achieve. By re-writing your goal to say that you’d like to lose 20 lbs in 2 months by walking every morning with your best friend and switching out your 2 morning muffins for scrambled eggs and sautéed spinach, you may be more likely to achieve results.
2) What’s my “why?”
Do you want to live longer? What about lowering specific blood markers?
Do you want to reduce your symptoms or put your health condition into remission? Do you want to slow the progression of your neurological issue?
Why do you want to achieve this health goal?
3) What might happen if I don’t achieve my goal?
Right now, thinking about not achieving your goal, how does that make you feel?
Maybe you’re afraid you won’t live to see your son graduate college. Or maybe you might not be able to physically walk your daughter down the aisle.
Or maybe you just might not be able to fit back into those jeans you wore in high school. Serious question though: Who wants that, by the way? Wouldn’t they be out of style by now?
Thinking of the possibilities of what might happen if you don’t achieve your goal might help motivate you to push through on those difficult days where you might be considering giving up. Stick with it!
4) What might happen if I do achieve my goal?
Close your eyes and visualize yourself achieving your goal. Imagine how that would feel.
Are you happy? Are you healthier?
Imagine what you’d see, what you’d smell, what environment you’d be in. Who is with you?
Imagine being proud of yourself at your accomplishment.
Visualization has been studied quite a lot and been found to have immense positive effects. I do it every day as part of my Miracle Morning!
5) What are some things that I can’t do right now that achieving my goal would enable me to do?
Perhaps if you lose the weight, you’d be able to go out dancing with your friends like you used to.
Or if you stick to the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP), your pain might lessen enough for you to go back to work.
What would you love to be able to do?
6) Who can I ask to be my support?
Maybe you and your best friend embark on this journey together, or maybe you announce your health goal to your entire Facebook audience.
You know yourself best, so if you need outside accountability, just ask for it. Most people are happy to help!