I’ve always made a total effort, even when the odds seemed entirely against me. I never quit trying; I never felt that I didn’t have a chance to win. ~ Arnold Palmer
Tips to Achieve Your Goals – the Mind/Body Connection
In the previous post, “Tips to Achieve Your Goals in the New Year and Beyond” the work of British psychologist Richard Wiseman revealed that only 12% of New Year’s Resolutions result in success (a failure rate of about 88%).
Much of the research in the past 20+ years about motivation and willpower have demonstrated that there is a mind-body connection for success.
What we know is that the most effective tips to achieve your goals, through the mind/body connection, is to consider that positive thinking addresses the mind, but action is the key to ingredient to achieving the goal.
Consider these mind/body connection tips and techniques for beating the odds to achieve what you want:
1. WILLPOWER: Flex your muscles
Research by Iris Hung has shown that tensing muscles can boost willpower and result in temptation avoidance.
Make a muscle with your biceps, grab a pencil tightly, hold a fist for a few seconds and you may find that your willpower is activated.
2. PROCRASTINATION: Clear a path by taking a step
One of the most effective ways to overcome procrastination is to carry out one small piece of an activity: facing a dirty kitchen? clean one cup or plate; dreading the beginning of a writing project? type a working title or your name or a random word/thought on the page; avoiding a work out? put on your gear and stretch your body for 3 – 5 minutes.
Once you begin, you will likely find that the procrastination energy reduces or clears and you will have a cleared the way to accomplishing the task.
3. Negativity: Let it out and let it go:
When we are in the midst of tackling the work of our projects and goals, we can experience resistance, overwhelm and negative thinking.
Rather than ignoring the negative self-talk, or engaging in positive affirmations, Wiseman encourages us to take action: acknowledge these self-defeating thoughts and feelings, by writing them down.
Once you have written down the negative, you can then clear a space to move on with a more positive outlook and take action. Says Wiseman, “You’ll boost your self-esteem and happiness by gaining control of your situation”.
You can read more about Richard Wiseman and his “Quirky Mind Stuff” research at: http://richardwiseman.wordpress.com/
Susan Jewkes Allen, MSW, GCDF – Career Counselor, LifeWork Integration Coach; San Francisco Bay Area