What have I done lately (that I wanted to)?
The end of 1Q 2018 is around the corner, and the question to ask right now is how has 2018 progressed in the direction of my dreams?
For most of my life, I moved through daily life as a series of Olympic events – I was speed skating, sprinting, or crossing hurdles. Merely getting through the day was the accomplishment. Now, I partake in a move active approach to life. I figure out where I want to go and do my best to guide myself there.
Navigating our own life has challenges. Instead of craving simplicity, being “busy” has become its own badge of honor. When we are constantly on the move, it may seem like we are making progress. But if we don’t take time to assess, that progress may be towards goals that are not even important to us. Too many of us have, at one time, pursued that big promotion, only to realize that the added workload did little for our personal satisfaction.
But even taking 5-10 minutes in a quarter (or more often) to re-assess where we are compared to where we want to go, can guide our energy exponentially. And thankfully, a quarter is sufficient time to set a target and actually do something about it.
Step 1: Stop the frenzy.
Try setting the navigation system of a car when you’re in an underground parking lot. You can’t. Likely because the system can’t see where you are. It cannot plan a route to your destination if it does not know where you are. Life is no different.
Getting to goals without knowing what they are or where we are relative to them is impossible. Running through life on “default busy mode” is akin to driving around aimlessly in an underground parking lot. We’re lost in the illusion of reaching our destination simply because the car is constantly moving, but then are shocked when we don’t make it to New York from California.
The first step to being able to guide your life is to stop and breathe. Take a break. Assess. Take stock. How do you feel about where you are? How do you feel about your work, your relationships, your future? Are things working?
Taking the time to take inventory your life is the starting point. Without knowing where you stand today, there is no way to set the navigation, and effectively little hope of reaching your destination. Quit driving around in circles underground; stop and figure out where you want to go.
Step 2: Decide what’s next.
Now that you’ve assessed your current location/status, you can move forward to determine where you want to go next. Envision what you want to accomplish.
What improvement do you want in your career, your relationships? How are you making progress towards your life goals? If your life stayed exactly the same one year from now, would you be happy or sad? What do you want to change?
This stage is the most fun because you get to play in the sandbox. Here, you have the flexibility of setting more concrete goals (get promoted by year end) or explore unknown directions (Shall I consider directing a movie?). This is where magic, fun, inspiration, and desire all come to fruition.
Try to avoid focusing on all that is wrong in your life, and instead fantasize on what goals inspire you and how you think life should be. Also, be wary of getting stuck here due to indecision. Talk yourself into making some choices instead of fearing that you are making the wrong choice. Some movement is usually better than no movement at all. You can always change your mind or your perspective to a situation. Use inspired action as your guidepost, and then move accordingly.
Step 3: Plan wisely.
Lastly, now that you know where you are and where you want to go, determine how quickly you want to get there. By setting that objective, you can take the appropriate steps. You can go 15 mph or 60 mph. Your personal dedication and willpower for the project will supercharge progress in that arena.
This is where taking a single step once an hour/day/week towards your goal pays off. Following a regimen of regular focus, repetition of a skill, and self-discipline will lay a path to your goal. Measure, measure, measure your progress in concrete, tangible terms.
Even failing faster is sometimes beneficial so that you can adjust and amend your goals. Life is fluid. We must be as well. When we take charge of navigating our lives, goal setting, perseverance, and exploration harmonize, and life becomes much more rewarding than just “being busy.”