Got goals? As you get after them, get ready for the Emotional Cycle of Change. It's the mental and emotional roadmap for each stage of the journey, from starting line to celebrating success. 

It doesn't matter if your goal is to drop 50 pounds, build financial freedom from your home-based business, become debt-free, foster the world's greatest marriage, or something else that could change your life. You will walk through a myriad of emotions, from excitement and confidence to pessimism and doubt.

The good news is, everyone who pursues something significant walks through the Emotional Cycle of Change. Your goal might be unique, but the mental journey is the same.

Like any adventure or road trip, you’ll be more likely to stick with it and succeed if you know what's in store.

You, like everyone else, will walk through the five stages of the Emotional Cycle of Change.

Those who see it through to the end, and experience success, get far more than the goal itself. They become better versions of themselves, and more influential to those around them.

The Emotional Cycle of Change

I learned of the Emotional Cycle of Change through reading The 12-Week Year by Brian Moran. 

In the span of a few pages, I understood where and why so many people throw in the towel on their goals, or become consumed by excuses, even though they have what it takes to succeed.

As I reflected back on the clients I'd trained, and the goals I'd personally pursued, I could see the Emotional Cycle of Change play out in my own life, as well as those I'd worked with.

Note: If you are a fitness professional, coach, or mentor, I hope you can use the Emotional Cycle of Change to lead and guide your clients, students, and mentees through their cycles of change.

Success rates in a gym, network marketing business, debt reduction program, and almost any other personal or professional growth opportunity are very similar. And they are very low.

It’s not that the gym is a scam, the business is flawed, the program doesn’t work, or that personal growth is a hoax.

The issue is, people give up! It’s not because they’re incapable, have bad luck, or have a more difficult life than anyone else. They give up for a variety of reasons (excuses), but the simple fact is, they give up.

The Emotional Cycle of Change helps you understand where in the journey, and why, you're tempted to give up. As you consider the different stages, it will empower you to push through them yourself, as well as pull others from one to the next, and onto their goals.

The Emotional Cycle of Change involves five mental and emotional stages. Everyone goes through each step, in order, whether they realize it or not.

I hope that by sharing the Emotional Cycle of Change, you’ll know what’s to come, emotionally as you build a business, shed body fat, get rid of debt, improve your relationships, or build the fittest body you’ve ever had.

Stage I: Uninformed Optimism

Uninformed Optimism is the starting line. Some people don't even make it to the starting line, so if you make it here, kudos to you. Of course, it's just the start...

If Stage 1 were a physical location, I imagine it being in a beautiful park with a lake nearby. The sun shines bright and feels warm on your skin. The crowd around you is just big enough to make you feel like you're not alone, but not so crowded that it becomes intimidating.

Stage 1 is 100% excitement, 0% effort.

You come up with new ideas, write out your goals, attend motivational seminars, read encouraging books, take training courses, make dream boards, tell friends what you’re going to do, sign up for a gym membership, or consult with a coach or fitness professional.

You feel excited about the possibilities. You imagine the achievement. You daydream about your destiny.

You can picture yourself succeeding, but you haven't yet stepped forward to make any progress.