The Power Of Positive Pressure.

We have noticed that many people who start a weight loss program in full force end up losing momentum after a few weeks. One way to help overcome this is to use the power of positive pressure. Most people have been conditioned to believe that they should "go through" life as much as possible and should avoid "pressure situations." Gravitate towards situations where no one demands you. THIS IS NOT OK. You see the opposite of what you think, deep down, we want pressure; In fact, we need pressure to feel excited and passionate about life.

Think of the firefighter who rescues a child from a burning building without a second to spare, the doctor who saves a patient's life, or the quarterback who throws the last-minute touchdown. The fact is that we are all capable of much more than we might think we are, but our potential is often crushed by what society teaches us: that pressure is bad. Finally, through years of conditioning, pressure is seen as an obstacle and not as the powerful driving force it is. You can harness the power of pressure in many ways. Some people do this by telling their friends, family, and coworkers about their goals. These people have found that this extra drive prevents them from giving up because they did not want to be seen as giving up. I've put together 5 simple ways to harness the power of positive pressure.

1. Verbalize Your Goals: Write down your goals and verbalize them to friends and family. Also read them daily creating an anchor or positive affirmation.

2. Challenge someone: Nothing drives people more than the ability to compete. Have a friendly contest to see who reaches their goal first. The winner takes everything.

3. Have a positive imagination: Someone once said, "When it comes to willpower versus imagination, imagination always wins." Many people attribute their weight problems to a lack of willpower, when in fact they may need to think positively.

4. Plan your reward: use the carrot-stick approach. What will you achieve when you reach your goal, new clothes, vacations, etc.? Go find a vacation brochure or shop for the clothes you want to fit and hang them in plain sight in your room. Have some short and long term rewards.

5. Put your heart into it: conceive it, believe it, get it. Make your goals fun, but make them a driving force.