"The goal isn't to get rid of all your negative feelings. That's impossible. The goal is to change your response to them."
The people who are the most motivated are often the people who have been uncomfortable. Being uncomfortable with yourself, a job, a relationship or any sort of situation can be an incredible way to make changes in your life. You've got to get sick of living a certain way. You've got to get to the point where you demand more from yourself, where your current situation is no longer enough for you and change is the only way to shake the discomfort.
If there's something in your life that you're not happy with, use it as fuel to drive you. Let it be your reason to become better. Turn a negative situation into a positive by letting it be the final straw, the one thing that made all the difference.
Steps to make this happen:
I am using weight loss as an example -
1. Write down how the negative situation feels. Be descriptive. Be incredibly detailed so you can reread it later and be taken back to that exact feeling. Write down how you feel when you see an unflattering image of yourself, how you feel when your clothes don't fit you, how uncomfortable you feel, how you have no energy etc - whatever it is that makes you upset. Capture it.
2. Write down how you will feel when you achieve your goal. Envision it. What will you look like? What will you wear? Will you be more confident? Will you be stronger? Happier? Write it down. Use as much passion and enthusiasm as possible.
3. Write down your plan. How will you get from 1 to 2? What steps will you need to take to become the person you're determined to be. Write down the qualities you will need to possess - discipline, consistency, determination etc. Become the type of person who can do hard things. Tell yourself that you already are. Will you have a coach? Someone to guide you? Having a plan is incredibly important in order for you to reach your goals.
4. When you are overwhelmed with the situation - when you are tempted to go over your caloric intake, when you don't feel like exercising - read everything you have written in step 1. Let it fire you up. Get uncomfortable. Feel that pain. Use it to your advantage. Read step 2. and feel the happiness. Now read your plan in step 3. And get to work.
Attaching emotion to your goals means you are more likely to achieve them. Humans are driven by emotions - both positive and negative. Weight loss isn't always easy - it can be a difficult journey. Achieving your weight loss goal is proof to yourself that you are capable and you can do hard things. Remember that next time you're faced with a challenging situation and have confidence in your abilities to reach your desired outcome.