Must there be a goal in life? For this we must start with an idea of non-goals in life, for a goal to be achieved means that there is no goal to even begin with. This means that a goal is never really sustained and long-term, and is ever-changing, never long-lasting.
The biggest problem with a goal is that there is never really an end – unless you are walking over a cliff thinking you can defy gravity or thinking there is space to walk up to after climbing a mountain peak. Goals are never achieved, as the mind is continuously changing and adapting the way we achieve things. The mind can change things so easily.
The big thing to keep in mind is that we live in a world of abundance and infinite possibilities – so why would you limit this possibility by creating objectives that are specific, tangible, achievable, but subject to change upon achievement? If you worry about results, you will be bound to your actions so not meeting goals will have mental consequences upon on. However, if you put results to the side as a collective end result but look at mini-goals or sub-goals along the journey, you will actually live a more fulfilling life.
When we say that we have achieved a certain standard or bar there are only 4 directions that I see to really go from achievement of an objective: 1. Up to something bigger 2. Down to something smaller 3. Steady-stream sustainable status-quo 3. Transformative driven by changing your environments. For example, if you have a weight reduction goal you can go from a high weight to a low weight and get results and from that point you can go to a lower weight, back to a higher weight, keep the same weight for a long time, or transform your body by putting on muscle from fat.
For another example, look at your net worth. Net worth can remain the same over time, go up, go down or you can change living locations to drive further changes or diversify your portfolio.
What all this means is that once a bar is achieved, a new bar begins so goals rapidly change as soon as you get to the point of desire or as you are moving towards it. Many goal oriented pundits believe that everyone must have goals to show progress. I think family members and friends put on so much emphasis on success being going to a “good” school, getting straight “A’s”, becoming a doctor, getting married – and anything not achieved is seen as a failure. What must be understood is that goals are personal and ever changing – they are subjective and relative to each individual and what their personal value system contains.
My argument is not about precision with meeting goals but what I call tangential-accuracy – an idea of kinda-meeting a goal. I think putting so much pressure to hit targets by society, is putting too much pressure on people increasing competitiveness that is not necessary. If you look at the math, most goals are achieved, but difficult to sustain as the emotional tie to the result of goal achievement is never long lasting as the mind wants more and more and more.
I would like you to think not of goal achievement, but fulfillment and joy as a result of moving toward targets. The ultimate goal I see in life is living to the fullest of your ability without any regrets, not being pushed down but elevated by those around you, and keeping a minimalist mindset that looks at abundance in small things and small wins than the big wins that give feelings of scarcity from the fear of missing out in something, driving you towards wanting more when a feeling of fulfillment becomes unachievable.