I don’t know if you are like me, but as much as the start of a new year and the goals that come along with it excite me, it can be a bit overwhelming…
Especially if I haven’t gotten clear on what my new goals are, and how I plan on accomplishing those goals.
However, I found a solution to my frustration. One of my favorite business coaches, Michelle Schubnel, introduced the “Future Letter” exercise to me.
I wrote one last night, and recorded it today so that I can hear it everyday, as many times as I want. Even though I wrote my letter pertaining to my business, you can use the “future letter” for any goal you want to accomplish, especially
FITNESS & WEIGHT LOSS GOALS!!!!
The “Future Letter” is an inspiring and motivating way to gain clarity on the type of body you want to create AND maintain, and the type of woman you want to become in 2014.
Here’s how to create your future letter.
1. Imagine it’s one year from now and you are writing a letter to someone who want to celebrate your fitness success with you. Write about yourself accomplishing your fitness goals, feeling beautiful in your skin, and living life in your new body in the next year as if those things have already happened.
2. How do you want to feel in the next year, after you have lost your weight and created your dream body? Write what comes to mind; focus on what you want versus what you don’t want.
3. What is different? What types of clothing are you wearing? What new things/activities are you doing? How is your family benefiting?
The “Future Letter” helps you create your vision of fitness success. It helps you to connect with what you really want to achieve with yourself and your body. Again, focus on what you want versus what you “should do” or “need to do”.
Areas to address
* What your new body looks like
* How you developed TOTAL body confidence
* What skills you learned to accomplish your goals
* Challenges you overcame to accomplish your goals
* Weight loss strategies you used
* Support system you created for yourself
* New discoveries about yourself, your abilities, etc…
* Anything else that is important to you regarding your body, yourself, and your confidence
4. After you have written your “Future Letter”, read it daily, or record it. I actually downloaded a recording app where I have all my statements and letters stored. I can fall asleep listening to them, if I like. Whatever you do, make sure you hear the words you wrote DAILY.
This exercise may seem corny, or not like the typical weight loss strategy, but if you do it for yourself, it works. You reach your goals and visions by keeping them in front of you- a letter is one way of doing that. When you keep your goals near, you memorize them, and they become a part of you.
If your fitness goals and answering these questions don’t stir some type of emotion in you, then your goal is not inspirational, motivating, or strong enough to sustain you in the long run. Keep digging until you find the goal(s) that moves you.
What are you going to add into your “Future Letter”? Feel free to leave your answers in the comments section below!
And if you want access to future blog posts such as this one, click here.
Pamela Brown
Fitness Success Coach