![]() If you lose your perspective of your personal goal, eventually, you reach a point of confusion. Nothing makes sense. 'Who set this goal?' You lost track of your goal! Exhaustion and frustration may set in. You lose your momentum and start to doubt yourself. Stop right there! You are not alone, so don't give up! It is difficult to maintain your focus on your set personal goals due to seemingly helpful advice from others. You get distracted by their perspectives of what, how, why, when, or where your goal achievement should be obtained. You may have a momentary boost of motivation from their suggestions but your personal goal strategy, shifts with their new perspective. On my recent backpacking trip, I had my personal goals mapped out on how I would explore the island during my stay there. Upon arriving, I had found out that a normally restricted area was open for this weekend only! It was an irresistible attraction to explore an area that few are allowed to walk upon due to the endangered bird species egg-laying area. Immediately, my goal shifted to include this destination point! It was a long hike and I was extremely motivated to achieve my goal. I avoided the wooded trails and walked the surf of the coast, cooling my feet in the waves. I was proud that I was taking a shorter path. I was closing in on my target goal, just a few hundred feet ahead of me when the ground became rocky. I sat down to put my shoes on and realized I lost one of my hiking shoes! I was extremely frustrated. Yes, I was alone so I cursed out-loud to myself at my stupidity. I had not heard the shoe fall into the crashing surf of the waves as I was walking. I was so close to my goal, then I realized that it really wasn’t my original goal. My goal was to explore the island and enjoy myself. I had already achieved my goal and more! I gathered my pack and headed back up the shoreline, fearing the shoe was lost at sea. After 2-3 miles walking, I was fortunate to find the waves had apparently not liked my smelly sweaty shoe and spit it out upon the sand! My spirits were greatly lifted but so was my renewed focus on my original purposeful goals I had set for myself. I had allowed others to shift my perspective and if I didn’t recognize that…I may have grumbled the rest of the weekend believing that I had failed! Not only making myself more miserable, but those around me. That was my own personal revelation that inspired this blog article. I know this is not the first time or the last that I will have to stop and review my goal strategy. You will find that even the most innocent and helpful advice can shift your goal perspective without your being fully aware. Perhaps you are going on a road trip to a new destination. Friend A may have gone before and advises you to drive a certain route that will get you there quicker. Friend B advises you take it slow and enjoy the country roads. You decide to take the fastest route, and find the highway is undergoing road construction now. Traffic is congested and at a standstill. You tell yourself, it's no big deal, remembering Friend B's advice about the country roads. You decide to alter your route again. The country roads are not to your liking or the same as when your friend had last traveled down them. The roads are in disrepair, tree foliage has fallen, and the landscape looks barren. You become frustrated and wonder if you should turn around. You even consider giving up your road trip all together and returning home. Your friends' advice was given in good spirit, but obviously we need to remember that each individual has their own unique perspectives. We can find useful information from advice but trying to follow another's path to success with their blueprint or map is doom for failure. Listening to other’s experiences of successful strategies can be helpful, only if you use their information to jumpstart your own unique motivated goal setting strategy. The biggest clue that you may be distracted is if you begin to become frustrated with yourself. If you begin to lose your motivation or focus on your set goals, you need to take some time to ask yourself a few questions. Are you simply struggling to conform to others expectations of you? Does it seem like everybody has an opinion of what you should do? Ask yourself who you really are? What is important to you? What makes you happy? Are your goals set solely on others successful achievements? Accepting who you really are and going after what you want instead of what others want or expect for you is the most important aspect. Always remember that you are in control of setting your personal goal and will be the one acting upon achieving it successfully. To stay motivated, it needs to be an achievement that makes YOU feel good about yourself foremost. Believe me, the happiness and satisfaction in achieving your own set goal your own unique way is not selfish. You will be happier, less stressed, and those around you will benefit from that!
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Cynthia A NahinI live in Southwest Michigan and am excited at being able to create and share this blog with you. I hope you return often as I will provide you with many creative concepts that I have learned and put to practice successfully to achieve my end set goals! Believe me, you can do it, too! Blog Archives
March 2012
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