052: Have You Aged Out of Setting Goals?
Do you still think about goals or goal-setting?
As far as personal growth is concerned, goals might still be on your radar.
And if you're longevity-minded, you might need to reboot of some goals you've set aside or recently discovered.
Perhaps you don't really age out of goal setting but I am interested in giving you a fresh way of looking at it.
I give credit in this issue to a recent article from one of my favorite thought-provokers, Ryan Holiday.
Sprinkled throughout will be some off-the-grid thoughts about setting goals.
To kick things off try this groundbreaking goal related thought from Holiday:
"Goals, by their nature, are finite and fleeting. Once you achieve them, what then? You might experience a brief moment of pleasure and satisfaction, but soon, you’re left with two choices: either stop doing the thing altogether, having reached your destination, or realize that there is no destination, that you keep going and going and going."1
For example, if you've reached or are nearing retirement age (as most define it), you can probably relate to Holiday's, "brief moment of pleasure and satisfaction...," comment.
But then there's that darned sense of "...having reached your destination, or realize that there is no destination,."
That's a common experience with what I call the "retirement dilemma.”
Retirement being one of those goal-themed life accomplishments you achieve in your second-half era.
Goals are useful but evolve as you age: they prompt regrets or resolve
Regrets for what we think we've aged out of ever accomplishing.
And...
Resolve that there must be something more that keeps you moving forward regardless of what age you are or what circumstances you're in.
Let's think about a goal-evolution.
- Choosing to be present in the moments
- Being active in something worthwhile
- Maintaining awareness about your capacity for growth and ongoing contribution
Presence allows you the everyday gifts of satisfying moments
Goals lean towards a future focus.
When I take specific, measurable action I'll achieve a future result.
It's useful to consider that there's an "everyday" component you could miss when you get locked into goal achievement mode.
It's this...
" ...the quiet day-to-dayness of the work. In immersing yourself in the craft, not the charts. In being process-driven, not goal-driven."2
Being present brings an everyday-ness to your life.
While still being somewhat of a goal-guy, I'm helped by Holiday's idea of "being process-driven."
It's added some refreshing perspective to what could otherwise be an unfullfilling grind (as goal setting and acheivement tends to be on occasion).
When you become goal-weary:
- Presence simply reminds you where you need to show-up everyday doing those things that matter most to you.
- Presence confirms that you're here...in the moment...not mindlessly drifting into unproductive actions.
- Presence enables you to make the most of your time because moments can be lost if you're always driven to achieve something...out-there.
Persistence drives meaningful activity and results
Growth and longevity favors persistence.
After all, second-half living requires new levels of energy.
And if you still have goals in the mix, you'll need persistent energy to keep going.
Persistence is valuable when it's directed towards something meaningful.
"In Discipline Is Destiny, I write about the practice of Kaizen, the Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement. Always finding some way to make a little progress. Focusing on the joys of getting a little bit better every day. This is the secret to being internally driven, to being Every Day.3
- Choose your "Kaizen" and persistently improve something in your life.
- Focus on the "small wins" that add meaning and value to your life.
- Find your joy in aging and get better at living your "number" (your age, that is).
Perspective keeps you intentional about growing and contributing
I say this often, you're not done...until you are!
You're still here so let that perspective be the daily reboot you need to be more intentional about your growth and the legacy you're creating.
"You don’t control what happens to you, what adversity gets placed in your path, but you always control whether you show up every day and give your best or not. No one can stop you from that."4
Being intentional about your growth and your unique contribution to your corner-of-the-world enables you to respond to adversity instead of reacting to it.
- Use your influence when you face something out of your control.
- Keep it in perspective when things don't go your way.
- Always do your best - that's the one thing you CAN control.
You might not completely surrender your affinity for goals but given a choice you might find the evolution to be more fulfilling as you age
- Being present everyday
- Getting better everyday
- Being intentional everyday
Press on...
Eddie
Source:
https://ryanholiday.medium.com/this-is-why-i-dont-have-goals-and-what-to-do-instead-f5280b9e7e1a