Not an official goal for the month, but I joined NaBloPoMo after reading it about it on TutuGirl's blog. Nice idea, and really fun to say. (In a related note, do you think anyone is basing their vote Tuesday on how fun it is to say the candidate's name? Say it: Obama. Obama. Obama. Regardless of how you lean politically, it's a fun name to say.)
ANYWAY: I'm not sure if I just don't have a lot of self motivation, but I have noticed that I tend to follow through more on goals when I either sign up for something, share my intentions publically, or pay some kind of entry fee. Even just the action of writing the goals down somehow makes me more accountable to them.
There are some who say that any of the above actions work because it's like putting your intentions into the universe so that serendipidous forces can sent their energies back your way to help you achieve your goals. Honestly, I'm not sure if I believe that. I mean, who am I to say that it DOESN'T happen; it could very well happen that way, regardless of whether I believe it or not.
(And yes, I AM the person who through somebody's copy of The Secret out the door into the parking lot. But that was just for dramatic effect. I haven't actually read it.)
However, I am more prone to say that these things work because they force you to call your attention to those things you wish to achieve. You have to think about it to write the goals, return to the list periodically to document your progress, and reassess at regular intervals.
The other day, I had a conversation with some friends about goal setting and life lists and bucket lists or whatever you want to call them. Funny how folks have such strong feelings about this concept in such polar opposite directions. I am very much a goal setting kind of gal. There are so many things I want to accomplish, so many things I want to experience, so many places I want to see. Some others in the conversation were of the mind that all the compulsive goal setting is a sign of not being happy with yourself and you should just strive to be more content with what you have. "You should just be happy with a simplier life" I was told.
Well, that certainly is one way of looking at it. But I guess everyone's idea of the simple life is different. And everyone's ides of a life worth living is different.
What do you all think?
3 comments:
Bah! The Secret. What a ruse. I laugh when I hear people talk about how it changed their lives or whatever. Fools.
That's funny that you threw it out. lol.
if one of my goals is "to be happier with a simpler life" what does that mean?
:)
I'm a huge goal setter. I think that everyone functions differently - and for me, it really works to set small goals & work towards them. of course, i'm also of the opinion that complacency with life's current situation means that you might as well just die now. if you don't have goals, regardless of how small, what's the point? even if you don't write them down, I think everyone has goals of some sort.
I can't imagine a life of not constantly striving for depth and richness. The alternative is to settle for status quo and not grow, but what will you wish you'd done 20 years from now? I know I'll wish I'd lived as much as possible.
Welcome to NaBloPoMo month, so glad you're on board!
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