Keeping Momentum toward Your Goals

Late last year, 24 Hour Fitness bought my gym. Since then, I’ve noticed a big spike in attendance at all hours of the day.

Of course, the New Year has a lot to do with it. People make resolutions and are eager to make them stick.

Still, when I complimented a manager on the increase in business, I was surprised to see him shake his head.

“Wait until next month. It’ll be empty. People won’t keep this up.”

As a New Life Story coach, I couldn’t unstick these words from my head. It points to a fundamental question: Why do people start with the best of intentions and then, if they struggle or find they’re failing, throw in the towel and go back to where they were when they began – or worse?

There are any number of things that contribute to self-sabotage. Some are more common than others. All of us are susceptible. Keeping an eye out for these 5 potential pitfalls goes a long way in keeping your momentum up and in sync with your good intentions…

Ac-cen-tu-ating the Positive

On the blog this month, I take a look at a few of the most common pitfalls in creating meaningful changes – snares that can trap even the most resilient people now and again. (Don’t worry: I also share ideas for avoiding them!)

One thing several of these pitfalls have in common is that they involve negative self-talk. This is the internal voice of “no,” “you can’t do it,” and “you knew you would fail.” The trouble is, our thoughts inspire our actions. If we dwell on “can’t,” we never discover all we can.

Making positive self-talk an everyday thing – a habit – makes it a whole lot easier to silence our inner critic when the going gets tough. Nurturing that skill turns positive into the norm and helps you maintain momentum toward your goals.

A few resources to help you work on this skill:

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

cauliflower soup I’m newly smitten with this quick, delicious and healthy soup. What’s wonderful about it – it’s equally delicious cold or warm. And it’s so filling that we’ve been enjoying it as a satisfying main course with a slice of hearty whole grain bread and a salad.

The recipe comes from Dr. Mark Hyman’s Blood Sugar Solution 10-Day Detox Diet. We like to kick it up a little with ¼ teaspoon of cayenne while cooking, 2 tablespoons of brewer’s yeast before blending and 2 teaspoons of Bragg’s Liquid Aminos just before serving.

Ingredients
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil (reserve ¼ tsp. for serving)
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1 medium cauliflower, cut into 2-inch chunks
¼ c. raw cashews
2 tbsp. sesame seeds (or 1 tbsp. tahini)
¼ avocado
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

Heat the oil in a medium soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic. Sauté for 5 minutes, until translucent.

Add 4 cups of water, along with the cauliflower, cashews and seeds/tahini.

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cauliflower is tender.

Let cool for 5 minutes, then transfer to a blender (or use a handheld immersion blender to blend the soup in the pot). Puree with the avocado until smooth.

Season with salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with parsley. Enjoy!

Keeping Momentum toward Your Goals

Ac-cen-tu-ating the Positive

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

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