Have you or someone close to you ever undergone a physical transformation such as weight loss or physical training? Perhaps the goal began with a particular clothing size you desired to fit into, or a way you wanted to feel about yourself which improving your physical condition would provide.

Whether it was purely a personal desire, or one brought on by a health concern, one of the keys to realizing your goal is perseverance. Perseverance keeps you completely focused when there is less than 10 seconds to make the basket that will win the game. It is the force which protects you from the doubts that could slow you down or prevent you from realizing your goal.

With a physical goal such as weight loss, believing in the possibility of manifesting what you envision for your body is one of the first ways you set yourself up for success; that continued belief and focus serve as the gift of perseverance you give yourself to make your vision a reality. There is also a mental and emotional connection to what you believe, aspire to, and experience. They can be cooperative in your efforts or steal the very joy you seek not only during your process, but after you've achieved what you desired.

Transformation of any aspect of your life experience is just like making a physical transformation. It doesn't matter whether it's a new type of relationship you want to attract, a more fulfilling career, or a better life experience. In the process of physical change, we experience the same kinds of challenges we have when transforming those other aspects of our life experience.

It's been almost ten years since I lost the extra 45 pounds I had been carrying on my frame. I can easily recall the feelings I experienced as I worked hard to maintain the vision I had for myself. There was so much excitement at the beginning when the first several pounds of water weight began to come off. Although my entire eating regimen changed in addition to working out regularly, the energy I derived from committing to my health in such a big way was huge. I even felt a surge in my ability to be disciplined as I saw immediate changes in my face and arms.

It was so exciting at the start. Naturally, I wanted to reach my goal the day before I started it--in other words, I wanted the results immediately! How often do you find yourself getting impatient with the time frame your goals seem to require?

Sometimes a goal may even feel easy in the beginning due to the excitement of envisioning it and first committing to it. The tougher work often begins once you have successfully shifted your perspective; unfortunately, it's after people shift mentally that they become more susceptible to negativity, doubt and frustration.

Just as I saw immediate changes after beginning my diet, many of us often experience positive changes as soon as we alter our attitude or perspective. It is after this initial phase that we must continue our new behaviors and attitudes with the patience and belief to go the distance. This is where we need our perseverance to bridge the gap between vision and reality until they become one. Since we are directing our thoughts, our behaviors and our actions, note that whatever you envision eventually becomes your reality.

At this point, understanding the mental and emotional connection can be extremely helpful. It is very easy for us to understand something intellectually. Have you ever had an argument with someone close to you during which the person disappointed you or acted in way that was very hurtful? Perhaps you were able to comprehend mentally what took place, and either forgave that person or discounted the incident all together. Weeks, even months later, something happens and you find those old feelings of hurt resurfacing even though intellectually you had already let go of the incident.

This is a prime example of the difference between intellectually embracing something and emotionally absorbing it. When we embark on the journey of transforming or manifesting aspects of our lives, we must recognize the importance of emotionally grasping the process in addition to intellectually assessing it. The emotional shift takes longer than the mental one, which is why some people can't seem to feel excitement after achieving a long awaited goal; emotionally they are still connected to their previous circumstances even though, mentally, they can acknowledge the difference.

Last month I made a tremendous move from one living space to another. I used the entire month to sort, pack and transfer my belongings. I would have thought that taking so much time to move would have helped me feel the process that much more; instead, just the opposite happened.

I had imagined that when I finally finished moving the last box and piece of furniture, I'd feel an awesome sense of joy about my new home. On the contrary, since mentally I had so many tasks on my list every day for a month, when I finished, all I could do was come up with more things to do that were not even related to my move or enjoying my new home.

Intellectually I recognized my move was complete; emotionally I couldn't seem to feel the joy of having completing it. Your mind keeps you focused on the task or the items on the list to achieve the task; your emotions give you ability to recognize what has been achieved during the execution of your list such as the changes in how you think, believe, how you view the world and your own life experience. Combining these two aspects of self give you incredible power and strength to create whatever you desire successfully and enjoy it!

When I examined the entire process of my move, I realized that throughout I'd seen the progress without emotionally recognizing it. Emotionally, I felt the job was just as big in the middle and the end as it appeared in the beginning. That's when I discovered that I had been so focused on the goal, I had forgotten to appreciate the progress I was making during the process.

Even after I successfully completed my move, I still felt like I had so much to do--which only made me create more lists in order to validate those feelings. It was a week after my move before I fully understood why I was unable to feel the full joy of my new home. Hence, I cleared my list of future "to do's" for a couple of days, set time aside to look around, make some tea and journal about the move as well as my beautiful new surroundings. Within a couple of days, I felt more relaxed and began to experience the full excitement of my move. I also had much more clarity and energy for creating my next list of goals related to other aspects of my life.

Whether you like to journal, bike ride, read, or even watch a little mindless television, take the time during the process of working toward your goals to be sure you are emotionally absorbing the changes within yourself as well as your circumstances. Use your mind to help you maintain discipline and focus. When you are emotionally in harmony with your focus and action, you will maximize your productivity and results while being able to fully appreciate your achievements along the way.

This is what perseverance is all about. When I participated in the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day walk, I was focused on my goal of reaching the finish line. However, it was the beautiful views of the countryside during the walk, the stops for refreshments and water, and the socializing with others that enriched me with the joy, enhancing my physical stamina.

Once you define your desires, give yourself the gift of being fully present in the journey so you can maximize your perseverance, and enjoy an extraordinary sense of excitement throughout! We can harness your power to create desired change together in a personal coaching session when you email me at Charly_organic@yahoo.com.