Goal Setting Revisited
Western culture is arguably over-obsessed with goals and achievement in general. So why write a post about the importance of goal setting?
Spiritually-minded people are becoming increasingly turned off by goal setting as it is sometimes perceived as a “materialistic ideal.” Although that’s often true, goal setting can be re-contextualized as a valuable practice for any creative professional.
From my experience as a coach, I’ve found that the elimination or vilification of goal setting creates various internal blocks and inner frustrations. Oftentimes all that is needed is a new perspective on the internal value goal setting can offer.
Here are few reminders about the benefits of setting goals and keeping them in mind:
- Goals help you set the compass, providing direction from a fixed point of observation.
- Goals give you something to measure against.
- Goals can help illuminate your attachments, showing where you’re getting “hooked.”
- Goals provide clarity, which leads to more focused performance.
- Goals help you clarify your values.
- Goals can help you and your team improve your overall performance.
- Goals can provide structure and help protect against external distractions.
Goal setting isn’t just about “achieving” goals; that’s where the Western mindset muddies the water. Whether or not you achieve a goal is often irrelevant.
Your intention, focus, resolve, commitment, and inner decision are what matter most. In fact, you’ll find that your goals tend to manifest effortlessly when you let go of wanting them. That’s right. It seems counterintuitive but our desires and wants actually block the attainment of our goals. How? The energy of desire and its corresponding level of consciousness is a destructive force that aligns us with our animal nature.
What you hold in mind tends to manifest, but only when the conditions—both internal and external—are appropriate.
Enjoy the process of goal setting—it can be a lot of fun. Realize that it is designed to provide insights into your own way of being, not just help you achieve, gain status, or accumulate more things.
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Scott,
Sweet article. It’s interesting how when one turns their back on what they want how it automatically materializes. I notice that if the team does this as a whole, things happen a lot quicker, which is why I find The Wanderer Archetype to be quite helpful when de-energizing desire and letting go of fear.
Thanks,
Michael