Working Towards Goals and The Future
(this was written for my community college class in the Fall of 2018, a group who seemed – by and large – to be lacking in the goal-setting department)
She was sitting on the floor twiddling her tiny, soft toes when she put her hands down on the plush carpet and pushed herself to her feet. Unsteady, she reaches for the coffee table to support herself. Looking around for encouragement she sees her mother watching, smiling with excitement. She lets go of the coffee table and arms outstretched she gingerly takes her first step. Suddenly, she stumbles and falls to the ground. Undeterred she gets back on her feet and takes another step, then another and another. Little did she know that she had just achieved one of the most important goals in her life, she started walking.
Life is a process of goal-directed actions, whether they are designed or happen instinctively. Motivation through instinct is a biological habit to aid survival and is an important part of being human. Setting goals are what takes us forward in life by fueling ambition and motivating personal growth. It allows us to focus on where we want to go in our lives, whether this relates to personal, family or career goals. Not all of them work to plan and some never develop beyond their declaration. Whereas, others are believed in so deeply that all obstacles would be overcome to achieve it.
A goal’s success is a function of (a), how high the standard is set, and (b), its relation to personal belief and capabilities otherwise known as one’s Core Values. Goals set to a high standard, but still attainable, are more likely to create the drive to commit, compared to ones that are low or ones that are so high they become unrealistic.
Goals that are measurable, whether, in the distance, time or value presents visual 
evidence of the process. Setting specific goals aids focus as it provides a clear and defined direction to the destination. Once the challenging yet realistic, clear and concise goal has down on paper they will more likely be achieved to a higher level as a visual starting point has been set.
Working towards goals and the future may not always run smoothly. Plans and priorities may change, habits may need to be adapted and new ways of thinking may need to be developed. Beliefs that limit progress will need to be identified and changed accordingly, even if this means facing fears and failures. At worst the goal may need to be changed altogether, which is when questions start to be asked about why the goal was originally set. Was it unrealistic? Was time managed effectively? Does it need to be broken down into smaller, more manageable goals? Have the lessons along the way presented another avenue that was overlooked?
Let’s say that, starting out, a goal was to set up a business; more specifically, to get an invention into the market within a year. This required a plan with baby steps of strategies, tactics and processes. Knowledge and belief in the product gave confidence that this goal could be achieved. Habits had to be adapted to an ever-changing routine on working towards the end reward, of seeing the product being displayed on store shelves. This required research, stepping outside of comfort zones, developing new abilities and connecting to new people.
The knowledge, experience, and connections gathered on the journey become just as important than the destination itself. The goal is steered by the person you become along the way, but then without the goal, there would be no motivation for growth. It is the lessons along the way that unfolds potential and the goal is the reward. It is letting go of the coffee table and learning from each stumble to get you where you want to be.
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You can learn (or, rather, re-learn) goal directed behavior. In fact, to be successful in life, you MUST remain goal-directed. Why? Because whether you know it or not, the Universe will impose goals for you should you neglect to do so for yourself.
Think about it: If I stop eating healthfully and assume my weight will magically remain at a healthy level, the Universe has something else in store for me: Obesity. If I stop viewing my college classes as opportunities to learn, to grow, to become a better me, then the Universe has other ideas: I will stop learning, stop growing, and become the less than best version of me.
It is said that we begin the process of dying the day we are born. This has more to do with the inevitable march of time than it does our God-given ability to stay engaged right up until the last moment. Staying engaged is a choice and at that, it can be a goal. Whether you are 18, 30, 50 or even 75, setting the goal of remaining engaged and engaging renders life a far more enriching experience for you and for all those around you.
