• 1Define Your Wellness Mission (VIDEO)
  • 2Motivation, Support and More...
  • 3Step 1: Set Goals
  • 4Step 2: Set Priorities
  • 5Step 3: Identify Harmful Patterns
  • 6Small changes = Big Change
  • 7Step 4: Make Gradual Changes
  • 8Step 5: Learn to Make Good Decisions
  • 9Step 5: Learn to Make Good Decisions - The benefits of good habits
  • 10Step 5: Learn to Make Good Decisions - The consequences of bad habits
  • 11Step 6: Plan for Setbacks
  • 12Goals: Expectation vs. Intention...
  • 13Step 7: Reach Your Goal
  • 14Mindful Awareness & Telomerase
  • 15Step 8: A Successful Future
CHAPTER 13

Step 7: Reach Your Goal

Goal! You have proven that you have the power to change many habits, improve your health and enjoy your life more. Once you have altered your life to reach the goals you set for yourself, the work of maintaining your newfound life balance will go on. For now, be in the moment and savor your success!

PART 1

The Homestretch

Voices
Daniel J. Siegel, MD
As you get closer to a goal--whether it's a certain running distance, a weight-loss milestone or a number of days without smoking—it can seem farther away. Why is that? If your progress slow down near the end, you may want to revisit whether your ultimate Magic Number goal is realistic. If you're 4 pounds away from a goal weight you established, maybe you are right where you ought to be. If you can't quite make it to 6 miles during your run, you may be gaining enough health benefits by running 5.5 miles to keep you fit and strong. Goals are often measured by a quantifiable means for the sake of marking progress. But your ultimate goal here is to be healthy, feel better, enjoy your life more. So if you find yourself falling short of a goal, give this some thought: Maybe you have already arrived at your goal.
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PART 2

Celebrate Yourself!

Just the Facts
More on Epigenetics
No matter how you have imagined your success would be marked by the world (blaring trumpets? A ticker-tape parade?) the truth is that life will go on nearly as usual once you achieve your goal or goals. Even though you realize the positive results you have gained, including improved health and greater satisfaction with your life, reaching this pinnacle did not resolve every problem in your life. READ MORE

Reaching a wellness goal is a very big deal. Make sure you mark it accordingly! If you have given up smoking for a good, long stretch, treat yourself to some new running shoes or a great book. Weight loss goals are often marked with clothes that fit—an especially appropriate and necessary celebration. Certainly, mastering the factors that can improve your life is its own reward, but revel in it anyway. You will have done hard work by the time you reach your goals, and you will continue to work to maintain your new way of living. For now, you deserve that ticker-tape parade! LESS
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Photo credit for breast cancer walkers: Robert Neff