Great Expectations

As I was finishing up my previous post about setting goals and achieving milestones, one thought came to me which I felt merits an entire post for the message to be delivered correctly.  How many times do we set goals that are too easily achieved, which by reaching those set milestones we aren't even motivated because it was simply too easy of a task?  This happens a lot because we have fear of not being able to accomplish greater things.

The real tragedy is that the only thing holding us back from doing greater tasks is the little tiny insignificant inner voice that says, "You're not good enough," or "You could never do that," or "What will everyone think of you," etc, etc.  It's that one nasty jerk that sits on one side of your shoulders that usually overpowers the awesome coach on the other side of your shoulders and moves you in the direction of playing it "safe" by staying small.

Now, goals should be realistic.  If you haven't been off your couch in years than it should be safe to say that you probably won't be running a marathon in less than 3 hours by the end of the week.  But don't set a small goal of being able to walk around the block once without stopping by the end of the year.  See the difference?

One of my mentors explained to me that goals should be stretchingly realistic.  They need to be believable enough for you that you can actually visualize yourself in the attainment of your goal, yet just far enough out of reach that you will truly have to grow and learn and put yourself just on the outside of your comfort zone to accomplish it.  Only with those kind of stretches will we be able to turn into the kind of people we want to be.  Only then can we truly begin to see the potential that really lies deep within us.

So dream, but dream big.  Make your goals important enough to you that you are willing to stretch and learn and grow.  Make them sit at a level of life that you have yet to touch and by moving in that direction you know you will become closer to the image of the self that is truly who you are.