As a coach, I have found that every single client I have ever worked with has had something they wanted to achieve. Whether it's toning up, slimming down, being stronger, or feeling more confident, the desire for change is usually driven by a feeling, hope, or impulse to do, feel, or experience something different.

When it comes to goal setting and motivation, I have realized that most trainers tend to focus on statistics or numbers, such as pounds lost or sessions needed to reach an intended result. However, this approach overlooks the most important aspect of behavior change for an adult - their feelings and desires.

As an adult, the goals we set usually center around work or personal goals, and often these personal goals can be broken down into external and internal goals. External goals may involve wanting to look good in a bathing suit, show up to a high school reunion and turn heads, or play with their kids without getting tired. Internal goals, on the other hand, are deeper, such as feeling confident or being happy with what they see in the mirror.

As a coach, my focus is on the feeling behind the surface-level achievement, as this is what will turn a short-term client into a highly motivated individual. By setting clear and tough goals that provide direction and a roadmap, I help clients achieve success and fuel motivation and build positive momentum.

Motivation is crucial to helping clients achieve their goals, and teaching clients positive self-talk, visualization, and providing constant external encouragement are all great ways to keep clients motivated. When clients are motivated, they're more likely to persevere until they achieve success. I have an unconditional positive regard for all of my clients, I know they can achieve the goals we have set for them, and nothing can shake that confidence I have for them.

Setting goals and staying motivated will then help build self-confidence, which is essential to seeing progress and achieving long-term success. By visualizing the end goal and achieving small successes along the way, clients can build self-confidence and feel empowered to achieve even more than the initial goals we had identified.

Finally, setting goals and staying motivated leads to continuous growth. Once a client achieves one goal, they often have more in mind, and this is where reading between the lines can be crucial. By understanding the deeper desires and motivations behind a client's goals, I can help them achieve not just surface-level achievements but also greater happiness, health, and confidence in all aspects of their life. This positive cycle can then lead them through any kind of distraction or slump, once they have achieved success one time, they know they can do it again!

As adults we have so many demands on our time and resources. Those demands that we don’t feel like can be met will get pushed to the back burner, put on the shelf to get to “someday.” By focusing on the feeling behind the surface-level achievement, setting clear and tough goals, staying motivated, building self-confidence, and achieving continuous growth, clients can achieve long-term success and lead fulfilling and happy lives.