The Messy Process of Changing Ourselves
Should We Start with Goals or Objectives?
Howdy good people! How are you feeling heading into a summer weekend? I’m feeling ouchy. I fell the other day while out walking and my dominant arm is speaking to me. Today’s post will necessarily be light and continues on our theme of how to make change in our lives. Maybe a bite-sized installment is good not only for my hand, but also so we can digest it. Let’s grab some connected Inspo and go!
Today’s Inspiration:
We all need to see the good that is constantly happening in our world, so we have a round-up of inspiring stories from the KarunaNews website. The links take you to a short summary and offer the option to read the entire story. (They aren’t all new, but they are all compelling and connected.)
'Feierabend': The German Concept that Helps Disconnect from the Workday
Around the World, People Yearn for Significant Change Rather Than a Return to a Pre-Covid Normal
A Fitness Trainer Uses His Decade Behind Bars Experience to Help and Transform Former Inmates
Video of the Day: How Little Experiments Can Lead to Big Success
Quote of the Day:
The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.
--Carl Rogers
Today’s Probing Question:
How can we most effectively embark on our quest for personal change – by setting clear goals or objectives?
Traditional advice on making change often starts with setting a really clear goal, often called a SMART goal, as the focus of a change effort. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound.
The Video of the Day turns this idea on it’s head. In the interview Emmanuel Acho, a former NFL player, sports analyst and author, says he finds that goal setting has more negative consequences than positive ones.
He aims, instead, for objectives, which he describes as a direction to invest energy in. The direction might be increasing your physical activity, eating healthier, or becoming more outgoing. There is no inherent limit or finish line, instead there is just a wide-open trajectory for you to move toward.
In contrast, a goal would be, “I plan to lose 10 pounds by July 15.” Acho says that if you don’t achieve your goal, your self-belief tanks and a lot of negative consequences accrue. He stays away from setting goals that are based around this, the ‘I succeeded or I failed’ mindset.
Take Action:
Spend a few minutes thinking about the area of your life that you want to change, whether that is friendships, health, work, finances.
Create an objective and a goal. See which one feels more inviting and inspiring for you and which one motivates you to action.
I would love to hear your comments on which is appealing more to you, having a concrete goal or an objective, a trajectory to move toward.
BTW, mine is making healthier choices about food and movement. Does that sound more like a goal or an objective to you?
Colleen Osborne is a ‘Conscious Life Creation’ Coach and Qi Gong Teacher who lives in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.She is on a mission to Level Up, both herself and the human species. Learn more about her work HERE.
Hope you heal quickly! Ouch