W.I.T.S. is pleased to introduce our new blogger, Michelle Matte CSCS. Michelle will be sharing her personal, professional, and educational experiences in her biweekly posts!
Dream Big!
What would you do with your life if money were no object? What if you did not have to worry about paying the mortgage or putting the kids through college? If you had all the “me” time in the world, how would you spend it? Perhaps you would finally have time to work on your music, or write poetry, or putter in the garden. You might even be able to spend more time in the gym, lose weight, or sculpt an awesome beach body. Sadly, we often shrink our dreams to fit our means, rather than setting our sites on the grand prize. The challenge of 2015 is to dream big and to set the wheels in motion for life-changing, dream-driven success!
Be Perfectly Clear
Big dreams are often vague in nature. In order to realize your dreams, you must be specific in terms of what you want. Advanced Life Skills coach Jonathan Wells recommends creating a written list of things you would like to achieve or acquire. Be specific, and infuse your list with feelings. According to Wells, the process of writing requires a concrete thought. Adding an emotional element anchors you to your dreams and provides motivation and energy to turn them into obtainable goals.
Plan Your Work, Work Your Plan
Once you have clarified your dreams, review your list and identify steps you must take to begin to move toward their realization. The process of planning is key to turning dreams into goals. Take small actions every day to move toward your dream life. You may require additional tools to accomplish your dreams. Perhaps you need more education, or maybe you need professional advice. If your goal is to paint, you may need supplies. If you want to build a successful website, you might need a new computer. Make a list of the tools you will need to succeed, and make their acquisition part of your plan for success.
Refuse to Quit
Patient persistence is key to realizing your goals. Setbacks are inevitable, and discouragement will dog you. Begin each day anew, reviewing your list and recommitting to your journey. Spend a few minutes each day visualizing your dream life. Begin to act as though you have already succeeded. Change the script from, “I want to be,” to, “I am.” Above all, do not let anyone rob you of your dreams. They are your sacred blueprint for your best life, and only you can transform them into reality.
Resources
Among the most fundamental keys to success, according to Time Magazine’s Eric Barker, are energy and physical stamina. You may not have them now, but they are totally obtainable. To learn more about obtaining optimal physical well-being, consider enrolling in the W.I.T.S Certified Personal Trainer course, or the Lifestyle Fitness Coaching course, both available online.
References
Advanced Life Skills: Three Keys to Realizing Your Dreams and Goals
http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/3-keys-to-realizing-your-dreams-and-goals/
Time Magazine: Keys to Success: 6 Traits the Most Successful People Have in Common
http://time.com/99707/keys-to-success-6-traits-the-most-successful-people-have-in-common/
Images courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Michelle Matte has enjoyed a life-long career in the fitness industry, wearing a diversity of hats including group exercise instructor, personal trainer, gym manager, competitive sport aerobics judge, workshop presenter and instructor trainer. She is a contributing health and fitness writer for online resources including Suite 101, Livestrong.com and NaturalNews.com. Matte obtained her education from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. She has been a member of the W.I.T.S. faculty since 1998.