The Key Ingredient of Success in Your Goals Is Implementation Intentions

Psychologist peter golwitzer suggests the key ingredient of success inyour goals as what he calls implementation intentions. These are when you visualize difficulties that might come up in pursuing your goal and decide in advance how you will handle them. Many goals get derailed by events that are unexpected, but not unimaginable. Imagining obstacles in advance and deciding your response can make those responses more effective when the time actually comes. Now, since your motivation is usually highest when you are in the phase of setting the goal, this prior planning can keep you from abandoning your goal when things get difficult.