In the beginning, it’s fun to write goals down, especially if you have a fancy new notebook or you have constructed a special program or spreadsheet to use in your computer. What gets old is keeping up with the goals once you’ve set them. In the following paragraphs, we’ll look at three simple steps you can use to get and stay motivated to set and reach your goals.

Visualization

It’s easy enough to talk about visualization – the act of visualizing your goal already accomplished – but how often do you let yourself get carried away. Jim Carrey did just that when years ago, he wrote himself a check for millions of dollars for acting services. The mock check he wrote himself was for 10 million dollars; he went on to command 20 million dollars for just one movie. Maybe he even visualized himself telling that story on “Larry King Live” to millions of viewers. The point is, he was so serious about his goal that he visualized the realization of it to the point that he took massive action and made it happen.

Notation

How many times do you revisit the goals you write down and update your progress? How many steps have you been able to cross off your list? Remember, goals are simply specific steps that are broken down into manageable pieces. For example, if your goal is to lose ten pounds in a certain amount of time, when you have lost only two pounds, don’t moan and groan that you have lost only two pounds; instead divide those ten pounds into increments of two pounds each and go in to your goal setting list and cross those two pounds off. Now rewrite your goal to lose eight pounds. Don’t you feel a sense of accomplishment? Of course you do! You see, small steps like these are what reaching goals of any size are all about.

Celebration

You don’t have to wait until your goal is 100% completely reached to celebrate. Celebrate each step of the goal reaching ladder if you like. Do whatever it takes to stay motivated. For example, if your goal is to save $1,000 for a special vacation, don’t be discouraged when you realize part way through your goal timetable that you only have $250 saved. Celebrate! Buy yourself a travel magazine that features your destination or if you don’t want to spend any money at all, work in to your food budget a special dish from the area of your planned vacation. Spend the evening cooking a themed dinner and listening to the kind of music you’ll hear on your vacation. Celebrate each step of the goal setting and reaching process until you’re all the way there!