A Clear Goal Isn’t Always Enough

Okay, bear with me because this might sound simplistic but it will make a difference in your ability to do the things you know you should do on some level, but maybe don’t always hold yourself accountable to.

I was talking with a friend this weekend who toying with idea of going to the gym on Sunday. This “mini goal,” as I’ll call it, fit into their larger goal of overall activity level and weight loss.

So far, pretty clear: the goal was to go to the gym on Sunday.

The problem was, they were dreading it. It didn’t seem enticing or fun.

The difference between a vision and a goal is the ability to see the end state.

Whether it’s the gym or something else, we all have things we need to do that fit into the larger goals we deeply care about. We get stuck when the '“mini goals” just aren’t that interesting or pleasant.

I shared with my friend the thing that works for me in this situation: to envision myself after having achieved the goal, not during the hard-work, uninteresting part of it.

You might have a clear goal, but it’s important to also be able to see — have a clear vision of — the end state after having achieved that goal. This is one of the differences between a vision and a goal.

I said to my friend, “Think of how you’ll feel at 3 o’clock when you get home. You’ll feel great in your body and be so glad you went. You’d never say, ‘I shouldn’t have used my time for that’.”

The next time you have something that feels a bit hard, or goal you’re resisting, try projecting forward in time, past your goal achievement, and imagine how you’ll feel. Use that vision to pull yourself forward through the uncomfortable part.

Peter Senge talks about how this gap between where you are now and your vision creates a natural tension, and it’s up to you as to whether that tension is mostly emotional (red: angst) or mostly creative (read: motivating). Creative tension, as he calls it, can propel you forward.