Whether you plan to climb Mount Everest, lose 10 pounds or break a new sales record, your journey to your next goal will contain moments - maybe days - where you lack motivation.

Motivation is not the same as inspiration, which is what caused you to create and commit to the goal in the first place. Motivation is the driving force that keeps you going, long after the initial excitement of the decision has passed, and when the pain or monotony of the daily grind of progressing towards accomplishment seems to outweigh the finish line in the distance.

Many a goal has been laid aside by people who lost their sense of commitment when it came to performing the day-to-day tasks involved in reaching the goal. Consistency is not easy; it IS, however, what makes the difference between those who reach their goals and those who don't.

With this in mind, we have put together the following list of suggestions to help build your consistency and commitment muscles, which will keep you motivated to reach your goals and pursue your dreams!

* Change Your Mind: This is another way of saying JUST DO IT. Do whatever it takes to give yourself the perspective you had when you began your quest. Look around you at others who do not have what you want, and remind yourself how you never want to be that way. Ask yourself the tough questions such as 'what will happen if I carry on this way and NEVER get to this goal?' 'What will I think of myself in 10 years if things are basically the same as they are now?'...etc.. Human beings have been shown to act to avoid pain far more often and consistently than to gain pleasure, so if scaring yourself a little is what it takes to stay on track, then DO IT.

* Get a Partner: Two people reaching for the same dream can make for a powerful motivator. If you know your partner is going to show up at the gym each morning and expect you to be there, will it not be easier to drag yourself out of bed on those few mornings when you'd really rather not? Also, having someone to share your ideas, victories and little benchmarks along the way can be really motivating.

* Tell Someone: Better yet, tell everyone! The more people you tell about your goals, the more you will feel like carrying on with them when the going gets a little tough. Many people keep such things quiet, but for some people it is far easier to justify breaking a promise to themselves - sad, but true - than it is to let someone else down who is expecting great things of you.

* Imprint Your Vision: Find some pictures of people accomplishing your goals, or looking as you picture yourself when you're making it happen. For example, collect pictures of the exact way you want your body to look; a climber at the mountain peak throwing their hands in the air in triumph; a salesperson happily accepting the Number One award. Use these images on a daily basis to train your subconscious mind as to what you want your life to look like. You may create a vision board or just tape the picture/s up where you will see them every day - on your bathroom mirror, your fridge, or beside your computer.

* Review and re-commit: Each morning when you wake up and/or every evening, take a few moments to remember what is important to you. You made your goals for a reason, in a moment when you had your 'bigger picture' clearly in mind. By re-focusing each day and re-committing to your goals, you will ensure that you spend your daily time working on what is ultimately important to you, rather than getting caught up in the small stuff and finding in a few years' time that we have wasted our moments.

Shauna Arthurs is a writer/editor, Prosperity Coach and Co-founder/owner of a network of web-based businesses, including Breathing Prosperity (learn to eat, sleep and breathe prosperity!) and Daily Motivation - get your daily boost! With these tips in mind, you will progress slowly and surely toward that which you dream of. One last tip is to read the articles at Daily Motivation every day - give yourself a daily boost of motivation! http://www.dailymotivation.info/