Point of Completion: You Achieved Your Goal, Now What?
I live and breathe goal-setting, with my clients and in my personal life. Yes, I am one of those people who is always in the process of choosing goals to pursue and is engaged in actively achieving them. Goal-setting is something that’s always present for me. Because I set goals for different areas of my life; for example; in my business, in my fitness, in the destinations I explore, and in my relationships, I have to be consistent and persistent in confronting challenges and outline clear strategies to efficiently navigate multiple, often conflicting, demands and priorities. My most important and unwavering commitment is to pursue growth, not perfection. I use small wins to achieve big goals. You’ve probably experienced the exhilaration that comes with being at the finish line, feeling immensely proud of the achievement. But have you ever felt sad and deflated after reaching a huge goal? We talk a lot about goal-setting, making the plan to achieve it, and the hard work needed to actually succeed. But we don’t usually talk about what happens once an audacious goal is accomplished. It’s actually quite normal that reaching a high can feel like a letdown. But much like completing a big trek, there aren’t likely to be any photos of the mid-hike diarrhea nor the post-hike blues on Instagram. We only get to see the happy moments and beautiful views.
By design, goals have a specific timeline for the start and completion dates. We are often told to prepare for success but brace ourselves for failure. It is assumed that reaching a goal would make us happy, right? However, the irony of it all is that after jumping through hoop after hoop and milestone after milestone just to get to the finish line, when we actually reach the end point, we often feel depleted. It is super common to experience a comedown after accomplishing a big goal. Thru-hikers call it the post-trail blues. After walking all day, every day, for weeks, or even months, through incredible landscapes deeply immersed in nature and completely removed from all worldly concerns, you finally arrive at your destination. You are euphorically happy celebrating your success. Like a drug’s effect, it can last from a few hours to a couple of days. Then what?
Pretty soon, you come down from the high. Reality sinks in. Life can feel dull, and the normal routine you’ve missed can feel oppressive. It may feel like your body and brain are going through endorphin withdrawal being deprived of purpose-boosting fuel.?Where do you go from here? What is next? It is common for hikers and athletes to always be planning the next hike, or race, as soon as one ends. This is true for goal-oriented people as well. Many of us grew up indoctrinated that we live our purpose when we set and achieve meaningful goals. So, if setting goals can fill us with energy and positive emotions, how can reaching a goal feel like a disappointment? Just as the journey in between point A and point B is rarely linear, the achievement of a goal is not really an end, but rather a new beginning. Planning for the next goal before you finish the current one is a highly constructive approach to self-actualization. You set the direction and the pace toward impact, learning, and growth. And then you keep going one goal at a time.
Goals can give us a grounding sense of purpose, direction, and order. Reaching and checking off milestones provides a sense of accomplishment and comfort about our progress. We gain confidence when we are engaged in a meaningful pursuit. Being part of something bigger than ourselves provides personal value through our work and effort. Goal-setting is a practice that starts with a lot of careful consideration of what you truly want to achieve, continues with a lot of hard work, and ends with a lot of insight and learning through trial and error. While you may be reaching your potential one goal at a time, through the process you achieve exponential personal growth. The ultimate objective of goal-setting is to deliver on your promise to self. Therefore, it is a never-ending?endeavor.?With every new goal you achieve, you set the stage to move forward to the next growth phase.
Five ways to move on to the next step:
1. Get back to the basics
We live in a society obsessed with performance and success. It usually means fame, money, or prestige. You are winning in life when you have one or all. From an early age, we are evaluated within a context of a test-centric, achievement-oriented culture. Our worth is measured by grades, the university we attend, the degrees we obtain, competitions and awards we win, the jobs and titles we hold, and the promotions and financial rewards we gain. Success is equated with achievement, and achievement is assumed to be the benchmark for true character, satisfaction, and happiness. But it has been long established that success does not guarantee long-term happiness, well-being, or fulfillment. These are sustainable when you have a clear sense of personal meaning, which is connected to a larger purpose. Once you understand what is the way you truly want to contribute and have an impact, it’s easier to maintain a positive mindset and emotional wellness beyond any specific goal, or achievement. You might not reach a goal, but you can always choose to live true to yourself; to be a kind human being who in small ways makes a big difference. Instead of fixating on goals, use them to deliver on your promise.
2. Live in the direction of your purpose
There are many ways to live in accordance to your purpose, or calling. Goals are means to an end, a tool to keep focus on your overarching intention for how you want to be and live. There are mean goals and ultimate purpose. The mean goals are the steps you need to take to get closer to living your life’s purpose, as you define it. For example, if you want to live courageously, set a mean goal to do something that scares you. When you apply for a job, consider how it would serve a purpose beyond just the paycheck. The work to deliver on the mean goals isn’t always enjoyable. And it always involves discomfort. Facing challenges and obstacles can be stressful at times. To keep on the right track, align every mean goal with what you are working toward and why you are doing it. And to align with the ever-changing world, goals, too, must be dynamic and change constantly. It is not the size of the dream that matters but rather the consistency of the approach that makes a difference. No matter how many goals you set and try on for size, none would suffice on its own. But every goal will move you forward and help you get stronger and better. Each goal stacks up. With time you will end up with a considerable amount of impact. The way to achieve big is through small goals and micro habits to improve 1% every day.
领英推荐
3. Think one goal ahead
Our goals craft how our life flows. Always be thinking ahead to the next goal, the next adventure. There’s nothing quite like something to look forward to and to get excited about. Time and logistics limit the capacity to invest in multiple, simultaneous goals. But when working toward one, you can plan for a sequel, the next chapter in your life story, to follow your current goal. Each goal is more like a milestone and a stepping stone walking your path toward self-mastery and self-actualization. Every ending is the beginning of something new, and every beginning is always a new opportunity. Our life’s journey is in equal parts nostalgia for what was and anticipation of things to come. Life is a continuous process of becoming, of arrival into who we are. And with each goal, we gain wisdom, knowledge, and skills. Thus, we become a better and an improved version of our previous self, whether the goal is achieved, or discarded for another. Every endeavor, any goal we set and attempt to reach, is but one link in the chain of our master plan. Together, they all lead to a life of purpose and meaning. So, no more achievement blues. Change and transitions are the essence of living life fully. Everything about and around us is transitory. How exciting it is to keep in motion embracing change as it comes and the endless possibilities ahead!
4. Emphasize effort over end result
When you focus on the work and the efforts you put in repeatedly day in and day out, results will follow.?Achievements are like dropping a pebble in the water. There’s a ripple effect, but it’s a splash, and it’s gone in a minute. Think of impact like a candle burning bright. It provides light and warmth, but not for long. The point is to keep goals and achievements in perspective. Of course, you are important and your actions matter. But as a whole, taking the long-term perspective. Life comes in phases. Each phase presents different experiences, challenges, opportunities, accomplishments, and failures. Setting the right goals for each phase can be empowering. The process can inspire your long-term vision and fuel your short-term motivation. Making the effort to push beyond the comfort zone is necessary for personal growth. However, chasing specific outcomes, or putting too much emphasis on accomplishments can be counterproductive. Like anything that is overdone, it can leave us exhausted and burned out. Valuing the process without attachment to results removes the fear factor associated with failing and the yearning for success, which is always transient. Nothing will ever satisfy the achievement monster lurking inside us. Thus, the best strategy is to reach balance between making the effort and trusting that there’s a greater plan unfolding.
5. Reflect and learn
Reflecting on an accomplishment gives positive reinforcement to everything that was successfully achieved as well as provides ideas for things to do better. Once you complete a goal it is helpful to look back at the process to note the worth of your efforts and actions. It is not too dissimilar from looking at vacation photos. It brings the memories alive again. You have achieved something major and gained many new experiences. There’s benefit in looking back to look ahead. Acknowledge what you have learned and how you have grown. But know there’s still more to learn, farther to go, and further to grow. Apply the lessons learned and insights to link the past to the future you want to create.
Celebrate and honor who you are now as you work to become the best possible version of yourself. Remind yourself to:
In a world where most goals are not completed, you should celebrate every victory. And then think ahead to the next hill to climb. But before you get started, take the time to reflect and take stock.