There is a magnet on my refrigerator that reads, “Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels.”  I look at it frequently and laugh.  My mother-in-law was just commenting the other day about how she wishes more people would do like she does and diet “when they need to,” and before it gets out of hand.  When she notices that she’s added a few pounds or her clothing feels tight, she cuts back on her food portions for a few days until she’s back down to the weight she wants.

My husband and I do the same thing.  In fact, this seems to be a common strategy among every thin person I know.  (There you have it; the diet secret over half of America is looking for – here’s another one.) 

This morning I looked at that magnet and realized that the same concept could really be applied to nearly any aspect of self-discipline.  Whatever it is you’re trying to accomplish, you’ll probably have to “give up” something else in order to get it.  The longer you’ve been struggling with trying to achieve something, the more likely this is to be true. 

For example, if you’ve been trying to become an early riser, but nearly every morning the feel of your bed is just too comfortable to overcome, you might need a phrase such as, “Nothing feels as good as getting an early start to my day.”  Think of all the reasons you want to become an early riser and develop a phrase for each of them.  When you go to bed at night, program your mind to think of one of them as soon as you awaken.  You might find that one of them works better than the others, or perhaps a rotation of all of them provide the jump-start you need to get going.  Before long, likely by 21 days, you’ll be an early riser.

You can do this with any goal.  List all of the reasons that you want something.  List all of the perceived obstacles that are keeping you from it.  Then create a phrase that puts the emphasis on doing the thing you really want to do.  Here’s another one.  I want a spotless, clean, sparkling home.  The only thing that keeps me from it is that I like to have time to sit, relax and read.  I use the excuse that I need that time and that it helps with my writing.  (Which is true, but there’s a balance in there somewhere.)  So a phrase such as, “Nothing is more relaxing than sitting down to read in a clean, spotless, sparkling home.” 

The great part about this process is that it’s not just an affirmation – which are great, don’t get me wrong – but a phrase like this, especially if you’ve written it yourself, gets right to your motivation, and your true desire.

I have a client who used the “Nothing tastes as good . . .” phrase to lose weight.  I told her she could use that same concept to achieve all of her goals.  Not believing me, but wanting it to be true, we worked together on one of her other goals, which was to save more money.  She knew she was constantly spending money she didn’t need to, making impulse purchases.  When I asked her why she did that, she responded, “Because it makes me feel rich, I guess – I really don’t know.”

Ah, but that was it.  So I had her try this:  “Nothing feels as rich as having money in the bank.”  She loved it!  Every time she was tempted to spend frivolously, she remembered that phrase.  (We printed a card for her to carry in her wallet, but she never needed it. It is, however, a good idea to put the phrase where you’ll see it at the opportune time.)  The result was a large bank account which she eventually invested and is now on her way to financial independence. 

Now it’s your turn.  What’s keeping you from creating the life of your dreams?  Only a phrase, really – just one little motivational phrase.  If you need help, just post a comment below or e-mail me. 

Until next time,

Live Joyfully!

You can subscribe to this blog here.

Get Inspired!  What do you want to create? Wake Up and Create the Life You Want: A Guide to Self-Empowerment has helped hundreds of people create the life of their dreams.  You can read their stories here.  If you choose the downloadable version, it comes with my free report on “The Science of Getting Rich.”

Get Organized!  Learn the secrets of getting and staying motivated and organized with the Eliminate Clutter and Organize Your Life E-book.  This inspiring book gives you step-by-step instructions for getting control of every area of your life.  Click here for the table of contents and to purchase.

***Please Note:  All transactions are processed through PayPal, but you can use Visa, MC, AMEX, or Discover.

Technorati Tags: Time Management, Personal Development, Conscious Creation, Coach, Success, Quit Smoking, Motivational Speaker, Retreat Leader, Motivation, Organize, Law of Attraction, Dental Practice Management, Consultant, Motivational Book, Self Help

Posted under Education, Inspiration, Law of Attraction, Leadership, Motivation, Success, Weight Loss