The most interesting (or rather intriguing) cult of modern thinking is the one of goal setting. Most modern leadership gurus emphasize on this particular fact of goal setting and how this act can elevate individuals from the realm of ordinary to something spectacular! We have all heard it through some medium or the other that goal setting is an essential tool and jotting down your goals into a notebook and consistently reviewing them every day, and incessantly working on the subtle details can take you closer to the stated objective. Am I critical about this practice? Do I have my reservations in believing this? Am I an ardent follower of goal setting? Do I believe that this really can help elevate oneself towards excellence? My first statement of this blog gives a rather strange mix of my thoughts. On the one hand it sounds positive and on the other, it has a negative connotation to it. Read on to know more……
Historically, basing it on the limited awareness that I possess on the subject of goal setting, there have been a few exceptionally prominent personalities who have demonstrated the art of goal setting and chasing down on them to transform the dreams hidden in the goals to reality. Alexander the Great is one of those awe-inspiring figures, who set down on a mission of conquering the whole world, but fell short of achieving it. Swami Vivekananda was another such phenomenal personality who travelled the globe to impart philosophy and spirituality to the western world, and in return provide some financial aid to his countrymen. Mahatma Gandhi set on a goal to free the entire nation by using his omnipotent means of nonviolence. As Beethoven composed music and Michelangelo moved his hands with dexterity over his masterpiece sculptures, these legends always set goals to their highest of standards and invariably achieved them. What drove them to achieve their goals? Was it a goal written on a piece of paper that was reviewed every morning and inspiration drawn from that? I don’t think that was the case. The internal drive to achieve their goals was the fuel to a burning desire. A desire (good or bad) was the propelling force to reach out to their goals.
So why is it that in this modern era, special emphasis is given on writing and reviewing of goals? Has mankind so evolved that one needs to review his goals every morning and draw inspiration from that? Why can’t we be naturally motivated like the people mentioned earlier? Does the fire in the belly drowse each night and rekindling is required in the morning? If the fire burns constantly, where is the need for relighting it? Could it be possible that with evolution, the memory fails us every night and a fresh dose of goal reviewing is required every morning?
The fact is simple. We, in this modern age and society, set far too many goals and try to achieve them in unrealistic timeframes. We break goals in to personal, professional, finance, health - to name a few, and wish to achieve each of these goals. Faster the better seems to have become the mantra. Setting simple goals and doing the things necessary to achieve them decides the outcome. Life cannot just be lived by chasing dreams and achieving goals. Goals should be set; there is no doubt about that. But goals should not rip the fun out of your life. If chasing a goal is stopping you from meeting your friends, even achieving that goal will not give you happiness. Happiness also lies in small things and there has to be mix of audacious goal chasing with sublime involvement in a hobby or any activity that pleases the soul.
An engine cannot run consistently forever. It needs to cool down. A human cannot keep running behind and chasing goals all the time. He needs to relax as well. What I am insinuating is that, once we know what we need to achieve, take small steps in improving yourself, and work passionately to achieve that goal. No goal is too big unless it’s realistic. Figure out what you are passionate about doing and make that the goal of your life. Once you know what you want to achieve, and if the fire inside burns to keep the motivation ignited, you don’t need to refuel your memory. Every aspect of life can be managed by diligently applying oneself to a cause and once done, there won’t be any looking back. The push comes from inside and not from the outside.
Like the tides strike the shore with relentless force and subdues to a state of calm, the passion needs to stir the soul such sublimely that it brings the best in an individual. Once the best is delivered, the goal is invariably achieved and then calmness shall prevail in the face of achievements. The next tide shall surely rise and so shall the goals - and every time, the outcome will be equally spectacular!!
Historically, basing it on the limited awareness that I possess on the subject of goal setting, there have been a few exceptionally prominent personalities who have demonstrated the art of goal setting and chasing down on them to transform the dreams hidden in the goals to reality. Alexander the Great is one of those awe-inspiring figures, who set down on a mission of conquering the whole world, but fell short of achieving it. Swami Vivekananda was another such phenomenal personality who travelled the globe to impart philosophy and spirituality to the western world, and in return provide some financial aid to his countrymen. Mahatma Gandhi set on a goal to free the entire nation by using his omnipotent means of nonviolence. As Beethoven composed music and Michelangelo moved his hands with dexterity over his masterpiece sculptures, these legends always set goals to their highest of standards and invariably achieved them. What drove them to achieve their goals? Was it a goal written on a piece of paper that was reviewed every morning and inspiration drawn from that? I don’t think that was the case. The internal drive to achieve their goals was the fuel to a burning desire. A desire (good or bad) was the propelling force to reach out to their goals.
So why is it that in this modern era, special emphasis is given on writing and reviewing of goals? Has mankind so evolved that one needs to review his goals every morning and draw inspiration from that? Why can’t we be naturally motivated like the people mentioned earlier? Does the fire in the belly drowse each night and rekindling is required in the morning? If the fire burns constantly, where is the need for relighting it? Could it be possible that with evolution, the memory fails us every night and a fresh dose of goal reviewing is required every morning?
The fact is simple. We, in this modern age and society, set far too many goals and try to achieve them in unrealistic timeframes. We break goals in to personal, professional, finance, health - to name a few, and wish to achieve each of these goals. Faster the better seems to have become the mantra. Setting simple goals and doing the things necessary to achieve them decides the outcome. Life cannot just be lived by chasing dreams and achieving goals. Goals should be set; there is no doubt about that. But goals should not rip the fun out of your life. If chasing a goal is stopping you from meeting your friends, even achieving that goal will not give you happiness. Happiness also lies in small things and there has to be mix of audacious goal chasing with sublime involvement in a hobby or any activity that pleases the soul.
An engine cannot run consistently forever. It needs to cool down. A human cannot keep running behind and chasing goals all the time. He needs to relax as well. What I am insinuating is that, once we know what we need to achieve, take small steps in improving yourself, and work passionately to achieve that goal. No goal is too big unless it’s realistic. Figure out what you are passionate about doing and make that the goal of your life. Once you know what you want to achieve, and if the fire inside burns to keep the motivation ignited, you don’t need to refuel your memory. Every aspect of life can be managed by diligently applying oneself to a cause and once done, there won’t be any looking back. The push comes from inside and not from the outside.
Like the tides strike the shore with relentless force and subdues to a state of calm, the passion needs to stir the soul such sublimely that it brings the best in an individual. Once the best is delivered, the goal is invariably achieved and then calmness shall prevail in the face of achievements. The next tide shall surely rise and so shall the goals - and every time, the outcome will be equally spectacular!!
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