Habit #2: Begin with the End in Mind
What do you want? Where are you going? How are you going to get there? It’s a surprisingly high percentage of people that “float” in life waiting for it to take them somewhere, but don’t know exactly where. When I start a weight loss program with my patients, I refer them to one of my absolute favorite books “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey. This a timeless classic and best seller that outlines the 7 key habits that can make a person more effective personally, professionally, and in their family life.
Habit #2 is Begin with the End in Mind. What is your ideal goal weight? Most people will know their “magic” number. But do you even know what that looks like? How different will you be? When do you want to get there? How are you going to get there? To begin each day with the End in Mind, it means you have a clear understanding of your destination, and your visual clarity will provide you the map that points you in the right direction. The end result? A universal red carpet that creates that motivational drive for you to take the necessary steps to achieve your dreams, including weight loss.
We take it one step further and ask, what will it mean to you when you get there? How will you look? How will your friends and family react? What kind of life will you be living that you are not experiencing now? Weight loss and any other life goals that you set for yourself is all about connecting on a deeper level of who you are. Attached with meaning, you can create drive, you can create motivation, and you can create perseverance. Then you can make it happen, because no one else will do it for you.
So before you decide to start that “new fad diet” or join the gym just because there is a special, establish your end in mind. You might just realize that it takes more than just calories in and calories out. But you will also realize that you will get there faster when you know where you are going.
