Most of us can visualise the way we’d like to live as we progress through our lives. Maybe we see a more prestigious home or a stylish vehicle in our mind’s eye. Most of us see changes to our appearance; a trimmer physique and a transformed wardrobe.

Dreaming of these things tells us what we’d love to have in the next few years – which is a good way to fire up a goal plan. Without these ideas, we’re not likely to put anything into practice.

Positive visualisation alone won’t bring results though. We must accept that changes will be needed. “The definition of insanity,” according to Albert Einstein, “is to do the same thing and expect different results.” Or put another way, we’ll carry on having what we’ve always had if we carry on doing what we’ve always done.

We need to not only massively change the way we do things, but also massively change the way we think. Only then will we make big steps forward in what we have. Not a big revelation then to realise that a smidgen of exertion will be needed to get the things we want to have. The relationship between giving and getting is well understood! Yet simply doing the work won’t automatically give us the lifestyle we’re after.

People who achieve much in life internalise winning attitudes along the way. They adopt the right behaviour and thought processes. For instance, if our aim is to slim down and lose twenty five pounds in weight, then we must work-out and eat in the same way a lighter, healthier person would do.

If socialising beckons, but the work-out hasn’t been done, then socialising must wait. There will be time for enjoyment when the task is accomplished in the achiever’s mind-set. Slimming with a positive attitude brings results in faster and makes the whole discipline much easier.

We don’t succeed because we’re lucky! A robust attitude to our efforts will support us when we experience the knocks.

If we look at how others have reached their goals (in autobiographies and such-like) we can build some resilience. A familiar thread runs through each of their stories – that what they have now is largely the result of what they did and who they became before the gravy train started to roll. By concentrating on becoming the person we need to be, the effort we have to do will be more enjoyable and bring us the things we want to have much sooner.

(C) Scott Edwards. Look at WeightLossDietWar.com for great advice on the diet and weight loss diets.