Title: Finding Meaningful Goals: What Do You Truly Desire?
Written on
Chapter 1: The Essence of Goal-Setting
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on my aspirations. This could be due to the changing seasons or perhaps my advancing age and feelings of uncertainty about my path.
I’m not one to set New Year’s resolutions, as I believe we have the power to transform our lives whenever we choose—at any moment. One crucial factor I consider when establishing a goal is whether it holds value for me. Currently, I aim to dedicate more time to my fiction writing, refining my storytelling skills and sharing my tales with those interested in reading them.
This goal is meaningful to me; writing nourishes my spirit, no matter how abstract that might sound. However, not every ambition is worth our energy, especially if it detracts from our experience of life.
For instance, I recently read about Bryan Johnson, who has a straightforward aim: to avoid death. He goes to extreme lengths to achieve this, such as taking over a hundred pills daily and meticulously controlling his diet, exercise, and sleep. While he encourages others to join him on this journey, I do not feel drawn to it.
The reason I choose not to follow Bryan’s regimen is that I doubt it would enhance my quality of life, even if it might extend my lifespan. I would prefer to leave this world having lived a fulfilling life rather than merely existing for an extended period.
It’s essential to weigh these considerations. Yes, I wish to avoid death, but I equally don’t want to reach an advanced age only to realize I spent my time focused on prolonging my life rather than truly living it.
Thus, we must select our goals with care and pose some fundamental questions:
- Do I truly desire this?
- Will it be worthwhile in the long run?
- Will it enhance my life?
- Will it bring me joy?
- What sacrifices am I willing to make?
There are various ways to enrich our lives, such as increasing physical activity, eating better, and spending quality time with loved ones. These objectives might indeed be worth pursuing and could contribute to a longer life. However, my priority is to allocate more time to activities that bring me joy. While I will engage in these healthier habits, I’m not willing to completely abandon my favorite pizza or skip my morning runs entirely.
While my writing may eventually provide a comfortable income, financial gain isn't my primary focus, although it remains a goal since I need to eat!
Moreover, goals involve not just intention but also execution. Having the desire is insufficient without a concrete plan. Last year, I contemplated training for a marathon, but after completing only half the distance, I realized it would significantly affect my overall happiness. I’m content with regular 10K runs; that’s sufficient for me. I lacked the motivation to run a marathon, and the preparation was, frankly, making me somewhat unhappy.
You might aspire to achieve a six-pack, but are you ready for the substantial effort required? More importantly, will the work necessary to attain those toned abs be worth it?
Only you can respond to that inquiry.
It's Acceptable to Let Go
Abandoning a goal doesn't necessarily mean failure. Perhaps you didn’t want it enough, or you may have believed you desired it at one point, but ultimately it wasn’t a suitable match for you.
Choose your objectives wisely.
When contemplating a goal, we must keep three fundamental principles in mind:
- We should be genuinely committed to the goal.
- We need the necessary skills to achieve it (and if we lack those skills, our first goal must be to acquire them).
- We must avoid conflicting goals.
Additionally, our aspirations should be attainable, so it's crucial to remain realistic about our capabilities. Despite what some may suggest, you can’t become whatever you wish.
There are always limits. For instance, you might dream of being a time traveler like the Doctor, but the laws of physics prevent that from being possible. Similarly, I will never reach a height of six feet, no matter how dedicated I am—my biology sets that boundary.
If we cannot commit to a goal, it indicates that we don’t truly want to achieve it. If we need to learn specific skills to reach our goal but are unwilling to do so, we cannot genuinely commit. And if we have too many objectives, we may struggle to concentrate on what truly matters to us.
So, what do you genuinely desire?
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Thank you for taking the time to read this; it means a lot. I thrive on fresh air and coffee. While fresh air is free (for now), coffee isn’t. If you appreciate my work, please consider buying me a cup!