Step 2: Make a goal - Goals not written down are only wishes.

Seems too simple, right? You have already done this step in the past I am sure many times. What will make it different this time? You are going to write it every morning.

Writing your goals every morning reminds both your conscious and subconscious mind that you have a plan and you are committed to it. Writing it every morning and knowing you will be writing it down in the morning also creates some accountability to yourself; the self that wants the change and is therefore willing to fight for the change.

I write my goals each morning and then put a star next to the goals I worked toward or got better at on the previous day. Looking back at our successes allows us to propel forward each day. When I don’t do so well, I take responsibility for it and recommit to the outcome I desire.

Another phenomenon this activity creates is it turns on what is called the Reticular Activating System of the brain. The RAS for short, is responsible for bringing things that are out of your conscious awareness into your conscious awareness because it believes it’s important for you to know about it. Have you ever purchased a new car thinking it was one of only a few on the road only to see it everywhere you go after you drive off the lot? Did everyone buy that same car the same day as you? No, of course not. Your RAS now brings to your conscious awareness that same car because you programmed it to see it as important.

Now imagine if your RAS brought to your attention the things in your life that lead you to your desired goal and outcome. How amazing is that! Taking the time to do this step each and every day will ensure you are programing your RAS to help you focus on the things that will help you achieve your desired outcome. The RAS will pay an important role in the following steps so let's get working on creating a compelling future for your RAS to focus on!

Action Step – Take a piece of paper and start writing down your goals. I feel 10 goals is sufficient to create a pattern in our lives however 5 might be the correct number for you. These goals should reflect life as you want it to be. Keep the goals realistic though. Don’t write down lose 100 lbs in just a month. As you know this will only lead to frustration and dissatisfaction. While these goals need to be realistic, they can be items that might be completed in a single day or a week. Maybe it is a goal that does not have a specific date yet but something you are sincerely striving for that might be years down the road. What I am trying to do is to create habits that will allow you to create lasting change. Lose 10 lbs in 2 months is great but what happens once you hit your goal?

I certainly hope your daily goal list has some items to keep you on task. Perhaps once you hit that goal, you add a new one that allows you to maintain that current state of being 10 lbs down. I recommend always having 10 goals on your daily goals sheet so just add one each time you accomplish one of them on your list. Now – Go get this next step started.