Why does it seem like some goals are so hard to follow through? Take weight loss for example, why do most people start off highly charged and optimistic, full of drive and motivation but lose that empowerment and fail to meet their goal? We are creatures full of good intentions, but many of our most desired goals never come close to completing often because we lose our motivation.

Why? There are so many helpful tips and suggestions to help us reach our goals and most really do work... If we stay motivated. What gets in our way? What can we be especially aware of to combat loss of motivation? There are indeed a few more common reasons we as humans get off path and end up losing that drive.

A biggie is striving for perfectionism. We may not consider ourselves perfectionists, but take a closer look when taking on a new goal. First off, analyze your end goal. Is the end result practical and truly attainable in the first place? If we are striving for something so far from our natural capabilities, we may end up more surprised at loosing our passion to go after it than we thought. Also, if we are looking for perfection in ourselves it will be extremely difficult to manage setbacks when we confront them. No one can reach a goal without some challenges along the way, that person would be perfect. We are not perfect, so stop trying to be!

How about self comparisons? Are we trying to do or be as good as someone else who reached a similar goal? "My neighbor just lost 20 pounds, I'm going to too!" Losing 20 pounds may indeed be a realistic and healthy goal for you, maybe not. Either way, the manner in which somebody else accomplishes something is not a promise that you can do the same. We all need inspiration in life, that is undoubtedly true. But when we strive to meet our goals at someone else's pace, it becomes their goal in our self. Constantly comparing ourselves with others is not only unrealistic, but unhealthy. You are an individual and need to be patient and understand your unique needs and potentials. We only begin to see what we're capable of when we focus on ourselves, what we're capable of, and not others. I like what a friend told me one time, "Trying to be like anyone else is a waste of time. There is only one "you" and that is who you should be.

Lastly, we may have in the beginning a great deal of motivation, but little plans to carry it out. When you have a plan you have something to stick to, a sense of accountability. It becomes easier to make excused for why you couldn't get that activity done. Really, there will always be an excuse for why you didn't have time or couldn't make that happen. Things get done when we have priorities and priories are set out within a plan. A good plan will keep you on track, help you know where to make sacrifices, and reach the next step. As you accomplish that next step, your motivation will be refueled.

These are the major things I've noticed in myself and others that have a negative impact on staying motivated. If we act otherwise, act decisively, and play an intentional part in reaching goals, we will renew our strength and motivation continuously. That is something worth taking charge of.