When it comes to setting worthy goals — we’re talking achieving a healthy body-mass index and not setting a new high score on Fortnite — it’s important to think positive. Actually, it’s vital, crucial, essential, mandatory…you get the idea.
And so, on this journey towards improvement that is characterized by looking at half-full glasses, seeing lights at the end of tunnels, and appreciating silver linings around clouds, you may be alarmed at the title of this article that is, admittedly, on the dismal side of the spectrum.
But this doesn’t mean you should slam on your browser’s back arrow and find something more inspirational or funny. You can check those out later (and in fact, you should!). For now, it’s more important for you to take a few deep, conscious breaths, and prepare to learn something that will change your life in ways that you can imagine, and in more ways that you cannot.
It’s this: most people choose to organize their life improvement goals in a delayed way. For example, they may be dealing with a difficult situation — or a full-blown crisis — and they project themselves into the future by saying “once this problem eases up and I can get back on my feet, then I’ll start doing things that help me [fill in the worthy goal here].”
Now, it’s important to note that folks who make these pledges are usually sincere. They truly believe in their hearts that once they reach a certain milestone, they’ll devote themselves obsessively to making whatever improvement (or improvements) they have on their dream board.
The bad news is that this usually doesn’t work, and we all know this because we’ve all made New Year’s Resolutions that rarely survive beyond January. Some only live a few days, or even mere hours.
What’s the problem here? It’s not that we shouldn’t set goals. It’s that we can’t kick the can down the road by writing a kind of post-dated metaphysical check. If you want to change and improve your life, you need to start the process immediately — as in this second — by thinking and acting in accordance with that aim.
Frankly, the thinking part isn’t too difficult. But it’s the doing part that most people struggle with, because they don’t feel they can make any worthwhile change right now. But that’s the mistake: there is no need to make worthwhile changes right now. Even tiny changes are fine. In fact, tiny changes are perfect. You aren’t going to lose 100 pounds in a week, no matter how much visualizing you do, or how many manifestation books you read. But the next time you get thirsty — or perhaps you’re kind of parched right now — you can reach for a glass of water (which is jet fuel for your system) instead of a soda, a so-called “sports drink,” or what is basically a $4 liquified candy bar from Starbucks (don’t get me started).
You see, by taking small, conscious steps towards your goal(s) you send a clear signal to the Powers That Be — it’s as noticeable and unmistakable as those big neon blinking office lobby signs –– that you’re not just interested in changing your life, but that you are indeed changing it.
As Lao Tzu sagely advised, the journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step. He didn’t say a gigantic step or humungous step. Just a step. It’s not the distance that matters. It’s the direction.
So ask yourself: what’s your direction right now? If you’re not heading towards your goal, then you’ll never get there. Change your course immediately — not an hour from now, not tomorrow, and not New Year’s Day — and witness the miracles in your life unfold.
