Go the distance

Conjuring up the motivation to begin a task is challenging — but staying on track is often the biggest hurdle we face in achieving our goals.

We might procrastinate for a while and make a few excuses for not starting something. Still, most of us will eventually put one foot in front of the other and get moving in our chosen direction.

However, once we are on the path, we'll face difficulties that can easily throw us off track. Soon, fatigue sets in, and our tolerance to go that extra mile plummets.

What makes reaching success elusive is that the obstacles we need to cross are usually in proportion to our goals; the greater the goal, the bigger the hurdle.

To achieve something of significance, we need to go the full distance, which means finding the strength to persevere despite all hindrances.

If you've started down the road toward a goal and are struggling to muster up the energy to clear the hurdles in your path, the following meditation will help. Practice whenever you feel tired, overwhelmed, and tempted to abandon the course.

Do it now
Begin in a comfortable position. Take several deep breaths to clear your mind and relax your body.

• First, visualise the result of achieving your goal. For example, if you want to master a difficult yoga pose, see yourself in that pose. If you want to publish a book, see yourself holding the finished product. If you want to run a marathon, see yourself at the finish line.
• Next, in your mind's eye, draw a line between where you are now and where you wish to be, then bring your attention to the hurdles that keep you from advancing. Do your wrists hurt while practicing inversions in prep for your master pose? Are you struggling to sit still long enough to write that book? Do your knees ache when you run longer than an hour? Whatever your obstacle, see it as a brick wall that is too tall to climb.
• Now, let your will and determination turn that brick wall into a big pile of rubble. Accept that obstacles won't go away completely, but you can make them surmountable with a little creativity and mental imagery.
• When you put your mind into action, you will produce the energy required to overcome even the tallest hurdles. You just need to approach these obstacles from another perspective, one that enables you to see and believe that they are crossable and conquerable.