Setting goals is a very important part of The Mental Health Gym philosophy. Rational behavior change enables emotional growth and the maintenance of mental fitness. The opposite of change is staying stuck. The downloadable exercise cards on the products page of this website enables the management of change by providing a format for goal-setting and monitoring progress. It can be used to identify areas of change – such as spending more time with the family, reading or studying on a consistent basis, exercising regularly, exploring a hobby, etc. – and then measuring and gradually increasing steps in the direction of the intended change.
In addition to the behavioral aspects of change, one must also be aware of the attitude that enhances the ability to change. Inertia, boredom, low frustration tolerance, and lack of self-discipline are among the enemies of change. For example if everybody who joined a gym or health club actually used its facilities on a consistent basis, there would be a constant line to use most pieces of equipment – but that is rarely the case. Some people buy books that they plan to read but never take them off the shelf, and some buy the necessary materials to complete home or gardening projects that they never begin.
Assuming that the goals that you set are realistic and meaningful, you may find it helpful to keep the following question close to the surface of your thinking so that you can call on it whenever there is the temptation to avoid or quit moving forward. The question is, “How is this helping me get to my goal?” I’ve found it to be a simple question that is a great motivator for me to change my behavior and overcome any temptation to stay stuck.
See if it works for you, and let us know if you’ve got other ideas to enhance the likelihood of our staying with and achieving our goals.