How To Run (And Achieve Your Goals)

Okay, the title is a little misleading.  I want to talk about taking a dream and making it a reality. Whether it's running 1000 miles or losing some weight, whatever it is, there's a process for taking a dream, and turning it into something you achieve.

A dream put on paper becomes a goal...

There is so much power in simply writing something down. So do it!  Write down your dream or whatever it is you want to accomplish. Peter Economy writes in an article "Psychology professor Dr. Gail Matthews, at the Dominican University in California, led a study on goal-setting with nearly 270 participants. The results? You are 42 percent more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down." There is so much powerful reinforcement into putting it on paper. It makes that thing seem tangible, and it is. It's right in front of you now.

A goal with actionable steps becomes a plan..

Now you have your goal on paper, but the process doesn't stop there. Now we need to put some steps on that same sheet of paper as to how. What's the first step? Is it getting a new pair of running shoes? Is it getting a gym membership? Is it to meal prep for the next day?  Then what's next?  Write down all the steps necessary to get you where you want to be. Big goals may need to be broken down into smaller parts. Running 1000 miles in a year just means running 20 miles a week and that means only running 4 miles 5 days a week. That doesn't sound too bad, now does it?  Losing 20 pounds in 6 months means losing less that 4 pounds a month. Losing 1 pound a week makes it sound much more manageable. And it is!

A Plan backed by action makes your dreams come true.

Follow your plan. Make sure you're measuring your progress. Readjust if need be. Make sure you're being flexible and realistic. And remember, any amount of progress is putting you closer to where you want to be. Any amount of progress is more than you made before. Celebrate the little wins, because those little wins add up to big wins! Making your dreams come true is that same way you run; One foot in front of the other.

What are you waiting for? Put those dreams on paper!