Why Your Goals Should Be Just Out of Reach

There are goals and then there are GOALS.

You know, those big aspirational goals that we tend to resist. Because who has time for aspirational goals when you already feel like you don't get enough done in a day?

I admit that for most of my life I didn't set personal goals, much less aspirational ones.  I just didn’t see the point.  I mean, if I don’t have control over everything in my life and can't guarantee my success then why bother?

But then I discovered that I’d been thinking about goals all wrong.

Goals aren’t about control, achievement or success.

Wait? What?

How can that be true if all you see are articles and tips on "how to achieve your goals" and "setting goals for success" everywhere you look? 

And if that’s not what they’re for then what else is there?

Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to achieve goals. We can all use a good win now and then. But, if you set a goal just for the sake of achieving it then, well, you're sort of missing the point. I know I was.

Goals are about generating creativity, learning new skills, finding your way through limiting beliefs, becoming the person you want to be, and living the life you want to live. 

Now, I'm not talking about your everyday garden-variety goal like lose 10 lbs or get a raise. These goals are bigger, much much bigger.

These are goals that...

... dare to challenge the status quo.

...make you feel both scared and excited at the same time.

...fire you up when you imagine what it would be like to achieve them.

...give you goosebumps when you realize you’ve just gotten one step closer.

These are aspirational goals and they are fuel for your life.

I clearly didn’t know how to do goals the right way. And when I tried to think about aspirational goals it just felt too ridiculous, too dreamy, too unrealistic, and too selfish.  

But then I did it. Like, really did it. And, once I started working on this big, incredible, aspirational goal I realized what I had been missing all along. Everything.

Nothing compares to the feeling of being on a mission that you've chosen because you love it and you believe in it.

It brings clarity about what steps to take every day, comfort in knowing that even the hardest work you have to do will be a bit easier and totally worth it because you clearly see the purpose it serves, confidence because you're always learning something new, and courage to try new things that you would never have done before. 

So, whether you’re a goal setter or not, think about what your biggest, dreamiest goal could be. Go ahead, nothing bad will happen. The sky won’t fall. The world won’t stop spinning. And your dog won't stop loving you (and those treats you keep in your pocket). Just give this way of thinking a try and see what happens.

Does it feel ridiculous? Good, then feel ridiculous! 

Does it seem unrealistic? Great! So do all the other amazing things that happen in our lives until they actually happen.

Does it feel selfish? Good for you! It’s about time you had a selfish thought! Because you and I both know you’re not actually selfish, so just own that feeling for a minute. You've earned the right to dream big for yourself.

Get used to dreaming big and aspiring for more.  Because aspirations are what lead you toward all the things you’ve always wanted to try but never had the time for, toward finding more joy in your day-to-day work, and toward new opportunities you would have passed right by.  

See, all good things. I promise.