It seems that modern culture labels every human thought and behavior as some psychological malady or condition, so I thought I would get on the band wagon. I am labeling the common fear of setting goals as goal-a-phobia!
Many people I talk to have a fear of setting goals, and the bigger the goal, the bigger the fear. I have come to understand that the reason people are afraid to set big goals is because they don’t want to lie to themselves and commit to something that they believe may not happen. They feel that it is foolish and lacks integrity to declare future outcomes that are out of their control. They also fear feelings of disappointment and failure if they don’t arrive at their declared destination. They envision people shaking their heads as they pity them as a loser with dashed hopes and dreams. The real fear is a fear of failure.
I have the cure for goal-a-phobia! Goal-a-phobia results from giving too much attention to the outcome. A clear outcome goal is a great planning tool, but no more. It has no inherent power to bring about the result. The results are created by the actions that people take.
With that distinction in mind, here’s how to do fearless goal setting. Choose a big, nearly impossible goal, but one that would be a dream come true. Then commit to the process of going for it. Because you have chosen a huge goal, the odds of achieving it are stacked against you, and that is ok! You are not committing to achieving the outcome, but rather to the personal change, action steps, mindset, and attitude that place you on the path to that outcome. The outcome goal only serves as a compass and clarifier to help you choose action steps. The power is in taking action. The action steps must be specific, achievable, and executed within stated timeframes. They must be steps that take you toward the outcome goal. Your attention and focus is on identifying and taking steps that will lead toward the stated outcome.
Do you understand the freedom, joy, and excitement that goes with setting a big dream goal, and then committing to the process? You accept that the outcome goal is huge and seems impossible to attain. You are not even sure how to get there. But you are committed to planning and taking steps that will lead you in that direction. You are also committed to staying on that path as long as that goal is important to you. There is no commitment to the outcome, but only to taking the steps that lead toward that outcome. You are not guaranteeing the attainment of the goal. Your commitment is to the process of planning and taking steps.
I encourage you to consider this fearless approach to goal setting, and then choosing a big, impossible, amazing, inspiring goal, and then going for it!
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