You must get real about what you want, not realistic! People set realistic goals because it’s the safe thing to do. Safe or realistic are other words for fear. Fear of wanting too much. The problem with setting your goals too low is that they don’t inspire us. You really aren’t going to be happy just losing fifteen pounds if what you really need is to lose fifty. So, decide what you want and go for it. But, you can’t stop there.
When setting your goals, what does fifteen or fifty pounds actually mean? They are only numbers—what are you going to get or have as a result of carving fifty pounds of fat off of your body? How are you going to feel? Who’s going to look at you differently? How are they going to look at you? What are you going to wear? How proud are you going to be? This world is about how we feel because how we feel is our world. How are you going to feel?! Your goals need to center on just that.
Get real not realistic about your goals. Nobody is inspired by what is realistic or what others think is realistic. What’s inspiring about saying, “I’d like to look alright,” or “I’d like to feel alright”, or “I’d like to be average?” At work, you don’t get ahead by aspiring to the middle. In school, you didn’t pat yourself on the back for getting a C. Your kids don’t buy you the No. 1 Dad t-shirt for showing up for them once in awhile. Getting real about your health and fitness is no different.
Decide what you want and go for it, unabashedly and unapologetically. Aim for what you really want deep down inside — that’s what inspires us to do great things! Look at your dreams as goals and then live your dreams!
