What is possible? What do I not already know? What am I doing (or not doing) that is preventing me from reaching my goals? Ask these questions if you want growth and development. Act on the answers you get.
If you make plans and everything comes out just as you intended without adjustment or mistake then hats off to you. Maybe it’s time for a more challenging goal? You could be doing more, growing and transforming into something greater.
If you make plans and things don’t work out, then there is something to learn; there is a gap in knowledge, or maybe your goal wrong or the plan to get there was ill-formed. Point is, you are dealing with unknowns here. If/when you fail, reality is telling you something is wrong. Stop yourself and figure it out, and work to right whatever is wrong. This is actually a great place to be because the opportunity for growth and learning are right in front of you, if you choose to see it that way. Let’s say I’m playing basketball, and the ball is not going in the hoop when I shoot, it’s not the hoop, it’s me! If the hoop is 100ft high, it’s not me it’s the hoop! Hello?
If you are tempted to blame others for failure then you are heading into dangerous territory where resentment and self-pity will send you sideways or downward away from your goal. I recommend not going there. Instead step back and re-evaluate. Don’t ignore error.
Is your goal off? Some goals are just unrealistic when real constraints are acknowledged. For example, I’m not going to bench press 500 lbs., and I’m not going to punch through a steal plate with my bare hands. I’m not trying to rain on anyone’s parade, I’m just saying be realistic about the constraints and limitations you face when setting a goal. If reality is rebuffing your attempts, then pay attention as to why. Re-vamp and re-size the goal if needed.
Is your plan off? Oh, you don’t have a well formed plan? You need a good plan. So, lay out how you are going to achieve your goal, addressing how you will overcome the actual constraints and attain the required resources to succeed.
Seek the truth, accept it, and act on it, don’t ignore when you are making errors. Conform to reality. This may require some sacrifice. Maybe there is a part of yourself that you need to let go of.
Maybe it’s just letting go of pretending you know it all and embracing enough humility so you can allow yourself to learn more and change. Maybe you need to get up earlier, and take better care of yourself, and put in time an effort required, and build mutually beneficial relationships, and focus on aligning with what is true. Most of all don’t give up! You can do it.
Ben Wagner (166)
Member The 365 Commitment
