It was bound to happen that as soon as I finish five years of school taking in messages that success depends on my ability to set goals, I realize on my own that goals can also make life less enjoyable.
What I was taught in business school was that setting and following goals was the critical path in establishing the direction needed to accomplish great things. One quote that was recited at events was something close to: “Set your eyes to the moon, because even if you miss you’ll be among the stars.” It sounds good and is a great visual, but it’s the sort of crap that confused undergrads fall for.
Before I start discussing what triggered my shift in perspective, I want to just talk a bit about some problems that a goal mentality can cause:
- People don’t know what goals to set, and waste years of their lives hunting after the wrong ones.
- People think they will be happy in the future after they achieve their goals.
- People pass up the opportunities they should be taking because they don’t align with the goals they’ve already set.
- People aren’t happy with what they are doing in the present.
- Goals negatively affect people’s behaviour.
Let me expand on last two points:
People aren’t happy with what they are doing
In some cases people are holding out being happy for what they are going to achieve. They set their goal, do all the work it takes to achieve the goal even if it makes them unhappy because they convince themselves “I’ll be happy when I’ve done it and it’s all over.” After they finally achieve the goal, they might be happy for a few minutes, hours, or days, but in the big picture happiness should be ever-present. Goals work against that.
Goals negatively affect people’s behaviour
I’ve seen people commit themselves to doing what they didn’t enjoy. A big bunch of students get the idea that they want to achieve some an accreditation after graduation, like an accounting or financial title. It’s big achievement, and takes a lot of hard work and dedication.
Yet two years down that path into taking the courses needed, and with all the burdens that those course cause, it’s common to see people give up or burnt out. Had they not gave themselves those goals they could have maybe enjoyed those university years so much more. To refer back to another point, they would have also been much more open to other opportunities that they came across.
Just something I’ve been thinking about. These ideas come from Leo Babauta and his mnmlist blog. The post speaks volumes.
Minimalism’s logical extension: Break free from goals
Instead of trying to provide a translation of this post, I’ll quote from the post some of my favourite passages.
“The problem is, when we achieve the goals, we don’t achieve happiness. We set new goals, strive for something new…
…I do what excites me. Each day. I wake up, and work on things that I’m passionate about, create things that I love creating.
I don’t worry about where I’ll be (professionally) in a year or even six months, but where I am right now…
…I don’t force things, but do what comes naturally.
And I focus on the present, on being happy now.” – Leo Babauta
I think the biggest challenge in convincing people to live a non-goal driven life, is getting them to understand, and relate to the “do what makes you happy everyday” idea.
Related articles by Zemanta
- The Little Guide to Inspiration (zenhabits.net)
Photo Credit: Kyle Kruchok on Flickr
