LSD and coked-out dolphins
Photo by Pagie Page on Unsplash
Setting goals feels so damn good.
It’s like smoking a cigarette with James Dean on the tailgate of an old Chevy.
It’s like curling up next to a crackling fire and eating warm chocolate chip cookies with your grandma.
It’s like taking LSD and surfing a 40-ft wave strapped to the back of a coked-out dolphin.
I guess what I’m trying to say is:
Setting impressive goals feels almost as good as actually accomplishing those goals. And instead of keeping you accountable…
They actually take away your hunger…
Which is the last thing you want when pursuing a goal.
Those types of goals, like…
I’m going to write a book this year…
I’m going to lose 50 lbs before June, or…
I’m going to finally launch my business…
Often amount to nothing.
(I’m speaking from experience here. I’ve said “I’m going to write a book” more times than I can count. Want to know how many books I’ve actually written? Zero.)
A lot of people recommend setting SMART goals. And I think that makes sense. But there’s one part of SMART goals that gets easily f*cked up. (More on that in a second.)
In case you’re not familiar with SMART goals, they’re goals that are…
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Time-based
The part that gets f*cked up is the “Attainable” part.
Somebody smarter than me once said something like:
“People overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in 10 years.”
So we go into a New Year believing we’re going to accomplish everything we ever wanted in just 365 days, when in reality…
It’s insanely difficult to do that.
And the hardest part isn’t actually doing the work to accomplish those things…
It’s adopting the MINDSET and becoming the PERSON we need to be in order to accomplish those things.
Re-wiring all those pesky little circuits in our brains.
Anyway, the bottom line is that we set goals that aren’t actually attainable, because we think we can do more in the short-term than we are generally willing (or able) to.
It IS possible to accomplish lofty goals in a short time-frame, it just requires us to get really f*cking uncomfortable — and to stay that way for a while…
So we (understandably) give up.
That’s where I’m suggesting something a little different:
Instead of focusing on setting goals that make you feel good…
Focus on building momentum instead.
This is why you’ll hear people recommend setting incredibly unambitious goals, like working on your novel for 5 minutes per day.
Part of this is because that 5 minutes can easily turn into 50 minutes…
But I think the most important part is that the act of working on something for 5 minutes every day builds momentum and changes your identity.
Doing something the 51st time is a lot easier than doing it the very first time.
And instead of being someone who WANTS to write a book…
You become someone who is ACTIVELY WORKING on a manuscript.
That’s a big difference.
(I just started listening to Unfu*k Yourself by Gary John Bishop last night, and this is something he talks about.)
Because, like I said, it’s changing our mindset and identity that really holds us back from our goals.
If we can commit to getting uncomfortable just a tiny little bit each day…
Our mindset and our identity begins to change…
We build momentum that pushes us toward the things we want…
And accomplishing our goals becomes A LOT f*cking easier.
The beauty is that, in the beginning, these new habits are decisions…
But over time, they turn into automated actions.
So something that starts as an effortful activity becomes an effortless part of your identity.
All that being the case, it might be worth considering the role of momentum in your goals for 2021.
What’s REALLY going to get you closer to finishing that novel?
Telling yourself “I’m going to write 50,000 words by December 31, 2021?”
Or actually committing to sitting down for a few minutes every day and putting words on the page?
Just something to think about.
Have a great weekend.
Robert
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