Whether it’s for work or for personal life, people set goals for many reasons. Goals can be trivial or life-changing. For example, someone could have the following goals: learn new skills, obtain a promotion, buy a house, and live abroad. Goals provide us with direction and motivate us towards a greater purpose or achievement. Without them, it could be easy to meander through life without meaning.
The act of setting a goal will not get us there alone. It takes effort. We need to build habits and discipline that will help us to stay focused on reaching where we want to go. This got me thinking about a visual analogy that I could use and share with others when it comes to setting and pursuing goals.
Let’s imagine that you have reached a milestone in your life or a point where you need a new and interesting challenge. You are on the edge of a (not too high) cliff by the edge of some clear blue, comfortably warm water.
1. Look to the horizon
Pause for a moment. Where are you right now? Where do you want to be? The simple act of thinking about those two questions will help you to focus your sights on a horizon — on a goal. Like the horizon, which appears around 3 miles away, don’t set your goals too far. In doing so, you could increase the number of variables that you will face along the way. Focus instead on attainable and visible horizons.
2. Dive into the water
Now that you have seen where you want to go, you can take that first big leap in the right direction. At first, as you enter the water, it can be confusing and discomforting. There’s a change in temperature, splashing sounds, and the impact of hitting the water. This is that uncomfortable start that we sometimes experience when we set new goals. There are unknowns and details that need to be figured out. After all, it’s there is an ocean between us and where we want to be. Anything could happen.
3. Start swimming
After your momentary disorientating submersion you have returned to the surface of the water, found your feet and have begun kicking. You start to pick up a good pace, moving forward and gaining momentum. You regulate your breathing, find a good rhythm and settle into the swim. It feels good.
4. Lift your head
You’re moving forward, that’s good — but are you moving in the right direction? With your head down and only focused on moving forwards it’s easy to lose track of the big picture — of the horizon. There are also winds and currents and other factors that can steer you off course over time. Lifting your head from the water, taking a pause from the kicks and the strokes allows you to check in. Is the horizon still where you think it is? Are you reaching closer? Do you need to course-correct at all?
5. Swim again…
Armed with the confidence that you are on the right track and taking stock of your energy you can continue swimming towards your goal which is getting closer and closer. You will want to repeat the cycle of swimming and pausing to lift your head. Create habits to repeat the act of lifting your head to ensure that you are on track and that you are spending your time and energy wisely.
Closing thoughts
Why not keep this analogy in your head next time you are thinking about goal-setting or goal-tracking? Ask yourself when was the last time that you paused to take stock and check on the horizon.
It’s all too easy to just keep our heads down and swim aimlessly. It feels good to move and to move forward. But, you can be moving forward and be off-course — moving further and further from where you ultimately want to be. Find a rhythm that works for you to pause and lift your head.
Now, where did I put those swimming goggles?
Powering this week’s thoughts
Music plays such an important role when I am thinking, working, and reflecting. I also find it interesting to see what others are listening to. It's a gateway into an aspect of their personality. That's why I'd like to share, with each article, an artist or playlist that I have been listening to that week. Here's this week’s: