Goals are Simply Tools to Focus Your Energy-3.27.23

Today’s quotation:

Goals are simply tools to focus your energy in positive directions; they can be changed as your priorities change, new ones added, and others dropped.-O. Carl Simonton

Today’s Meditation:

Goals are important to us if for nothing else, to provide us with a sense of direction.  Many of us allow others to define our goals for us–quotas at work, assignments due in two weeks, deadlines, contracts, etc.  But the goals that we set for ourselves can be the most important for us, as they allow us to move in directions that we wouldn’t pursue if we didn’t take the time and make an effort to set goals.

Of course, goals must be realistic if they will be helpful to us.  We will likely be quite disappointed if we set a goal of earning a million dollars by Friday and don’t own a significant retail chain.  If we set a goal of setting aside three thousand dollars in savings over the next twelve months, we probably have a much better chance of reaching our goal.

Goals also need to be somewhat specific.  My goal of becoming “a better person” over the next year could be challenging to accomplish because of the abstract meaning of “better” and the difficulties in measuring my progress.  My goal of performing thirty unsolicited good deeds over the next six months, though, is something that I can measure and gauge my progress towards.  Our goals can help us to improve our lives; thus, they’re essential for us not just to create but to consider carefully whether or not they’re worth our while and will serve us well in our lives.

If we want to add direction to our lives, we need goals.  But we must also remember those goals must be flexible and disposable when they no longer serve us well.  And if we want to ensure that we can achieve them, we need to ensure they’re realistic.  Our goals can be precious to us, so we must make them an essential part of our lives.

Questions to consider about goals are simply tools:

What are your main goals in your life right now?  How close are you to achieving them?

Why do so many people neglect to set goals in their lives?

What do you imagine a life without realistic goals would be like when thinking about goals are simply tools?

For further thought:

The victory of success is half won when one gains the habit of setting goals and achieving them.  Even the most tedious chore will become endurable as you parade through each day convinced that each task, no matter how menial or boring, brings you closer to achieving your dreams.-Og Mandino

If you missed our last Daily Meditation, it is right here.