Yesterday, I made a long list of things that I want to achieve in 2012. Chances are, you may have made a resolution or two, as well.

Right now, you may be fired up to get to the gym, or to start that new diet, or to begin the process for whatever it is you have decided to change.

If so, woo hoo! Deciding to change is a huge step. Let’s harness that positive energy you are feeling right now and keep it going!

One way to do that is to look at your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs and see if they are supporting your new actions, or if they will soon be sending your positive intentions off the road and into the bushes.

For instance, how sustainable will your commitment to workout be if you are thinking thoughts like:

• “I hate exercise.”
• “I hate to sweat.
• “I have to work out perfectly everyday or there’s no sense in doing it.”
• “Exercise is no fun.”
• “I am hating every moment of this.

Those kinds of thoughts will drive your exercise plan right off the road and into a tree!

How do they make you feel? How much do they fuel your belief that you can meet your goal versus you can’t? What direction are they pointing you in?

Chances are if you’re thinking thoughts like these, you aren’t going to be able to jump right away to the idea that, “exercise is fun and you love it.” How honest does that feel? So begin by easing up on your thoughts just a little bit.

For instance:

• “This may be hard, but I really want to meet my goal.”
• “I know when I get this done I’m going to feel better.”
• “I can do anything for 10 minutes.”
• “I don’t have to be perfect, but I do need to be consistent.”
• “As I build up my endurance with this, I’ll be able to try new activities, and maybe I’ll find one that I really enjoy.”
• “Each small step I’m taking is moving me closer to my goal.”
• “I don’t have to love it to do it.”
• “My desire to reach my goal is bigger then how I feel about exercise.”
• “Once I get this done, I don’t have to think about it again today.”
• “I want to do this because I want to be healthy, fit, and lean.”

Easing up a little on your thoughts feels better and fuels your positive beliefs that you can do something.

Aligning your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs to support your actions is like making sure your car is in drive, you have a solid hold on the steering wheel, and you have plenty of gas in the tank as you ease down on the gas pedal.

What can you do to notice if your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs are moving you where you want to go? If they aren’t, what can you do to begin to change them?

Together we can do it!

Photo by graur razvan ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net