It happens to all of us at some stage - you want to achieve change in your life, but just cannot motivate yourself to do it. You really want to reach success, lose weight, or eat differently, but just do not have the push or willingness to take action. Every time you think about getting started on your desire to change, something more important comes up, like washing the dog or running your mom's errands. 我们每个人在某个阶段都会发现自己想改变生活，但是却找不到动力。你很希望成功、希望减肥、或改变饮食，可就是没有采取行动的动力或积极性。 每次当想要改变时，就会有更重要的事情出现，比如给狗洗澡或给母亲跑腿。

    The good news is that every person, including you, has the amazing potential to turn his or her desires into reality. You can achieve your dreams! However, to do so, you have to know how. It is easy to reach a high level of motivation once you know the few important areas to focus on. To increase your motivation, follow the simple steps outlined below: 好消息是包括你在内的每个人都有将愿望实现的惊人潜力。你是能够实现梦想的！不过，你必须知道如何来实现。 一旦你知道了几个需要关注的方面，那么获得动力就是很容易的事情。要提高动力，可以按以下方法来做：

    1. Motivation and Goal Setting

    动力和目标设定

    When it comes to living a healthy and confident life, real goal achievement involves much more than good intentions. For example, it is not enough to know you want to eat differently or that you want to lose weight. Motivation can be defined as an impulse to channel energy and action toward a specific goal. This means, 1） you have to know what you want and be passionate about it, and, 2） you have to know how to set a goal. Goal setting is a powerful skill to learn because you give yourself a specific direction and you give your energy a precise focus.

    要过上健康自信的生活，仅有好的意愿是不行的。例如，光知道你想改变饮食或减肥是不够的。所谓动力就是引导你为一个目标投入精力和行动的冲动。这就是说，1）你得知道自己想要什么，并对此有激情；2）你得知道如何设定目标。设定目标是一种需要学习的重要技巧，因为你得给自己一个明确的方向，为你的精力找一个精确的焦点。

    设定了目标，却总是管不住自己、行动不了？其实关键不是管住自己，而是要兑现自己和目标之间的承诺。

    2. Manage Agreements

    管理"协定"

    In business management circles, there is a saying that you cannot manage people you can only manage agreements. Indeed, great leaders are compassionate and attempt to understand the feelings of their employees, but they do not try to manage other people's emotions and personalities. Instead, great leaders get great results from their people by managing agreements. This is also true for self-motivation. Learn to make adult, respectful decisions about the direction you are moving toward. Make specific agreements about your responsibility and commitment to precise actions. Then ask yourself, "Can I count on myself to follow through with this commitment, with 100-percent compliance? Can I count on myself for that?" If the answer is "Yes" then you have an agreement. Now, as you move forward and encounter inner resistance or emotional obstacles, you can manage your agreements without becoming trapped in sticky emotions. Agreements maintain motivation and action.liuxuepaper.com