Little by Little

    I consider myself to be a very goal-driven person. For the past few years, I have set goals and constantly revised them. I have separated my goals out into the categories of "Physical", "Spiritual", "Mental/Emotional", "Intellectual", and "Social". This categorization is meant to cover the various aspects of health, though I will soon be adding a sixth category, "Vocational/Financial". 

    When setting goals, I generally start by writing a vision for each category. For example, the vision for "Physical" may be something like "Maintain a healthy weight and physique with consistent exercise, sufficient sleep, and a balanced diet." After stating the vision, I would then list specific goals such as, "Do bodyweight exercises 4-5x a week." or "Consistently get 8 hours of sleep a night." This is the pattern I would follow for each category. 

A note about this methodology: 

    Although this method of goal setting is well-structured and can be useful, I have recently felt a strong desire to change it. The issue lies with the vision I have for each category of my health. The vision represents some sort of ideal way of being, which I expect to achieve through my goals. What I have found, however, is that no matter how hard I try, I can never quite achieve that idealized vision. For the simple reason that I am expecting perfection of myself. This can lead me to feel unfulfilled and insufficient. My efforts are not matching my expectations. I could try harder with my goals (more effort) but I will never achieve the idealized state of being that I hope for.

    I do believe that we should have high standards for ourselves, and that we should set goals which push us and encourage growth. My issue lies in the very large divide between the ideal and my present reality. There is a tendency to think that if I just do more than I can obtain that ideal. I have found this to be a fantasy. My ideal is perfection, and no amount of personal effort can ever obtain anything near perfection. 

A better way:

    My new approach is going to involve goals that are reasonable, tangible, and specific. I will no longer write out an idealized vision I hope to obtain. What I will do, is consider what I want to accomplish and which direction I want to move towards. From there I will set goals which align with my values and priorities. Perhaps, I will write down a long-term goal and then simply break it down into various short-term goals. For example, a long-term goal could be, "Release and EP" (an EP is like an album, but with only 4-5 songs). The short-term goals would include things like, "Write a complete song" or "Do vocal exercises 3 times a week."

    This approach to goal setting will help me day by day to become a better person and to accomplish the things I want to accomplish. No goal is set in stone, and I will constantly update them. I will continue to use the aforementioned categories and I will work to change my lofty expectations for myself. I will strive to be more patient with my progress and kinder to myself. I am going to enjoy the journey even while I look towards the destination. The approach can be summarized by the phrase "little by little." With a focus on the present and a clear, but flexible direction, I believe I can accomplish great things in my life.