When you decide to make positive changes in your life, you will inevitably be faced with the need to make sacrifices in the process. You might decide to exchange a few hours of television viewing for classroom instruction to get your degree, or you might give up your favorite sugary foods while training for an athletic competition. Whatever the specifics are, the sacrificial process remains the same: give up one thing so you can gain something else.

Making sacrifices is not easy, especially if you have deeply ingrained habits. You may be able to recall many failed diet attempts or unrealized goals in your past because you simply couldn’t muster the strength and will to stick with it. Think back to those times for a moment, and you’ll remember that your immediate desire seemed more pressing than your long-term desire. No matter how badly you wanted to lose weight, the desire for your favorite foods was stronger in the moment you decided to cheat on your diet. This may be frustrating to realize, but it’s actually very good news! It means you are not weak or undisciplined; you simply need a stronger incentive to stay on track with your goals.

In order to make your sacrifices successful, you need to make your long-term objective as compelling and real as any temptation staring you in the face right now. You need to minimize the urgency of your existing cravings and strengthen the substance of what you really want. Close your eyes and call up a mental image of how things will be when you succeed at your objective. Really allow yourself to get into the feelings you will experience when you reach your goal. Generate a sense of pride and excitement about your accomplishments, and bask in the joy of victory! This type of powerful focus makes temptations shrink before your very eyes, leaving plenty of room for the realization of something much better.