Thanks for the way you framed this, Kevin. It is a new approach for me, and as I share it here as part of my deepening into the year, I appreciate comments that help me better understand its newness and its being more intentional than I have used in the past.
Agreed Jeffrey, the world changes way to fast to set annual goals. Better to set smaller, doable things to target that work for you.
I always laughed at the interview question after 9/11 of "where do you see yourself in 5 years." That moment showed me everything can change in a moment so no point thinking that far down the line anymore. Even a year can feel like a lot.
This is all so true, yet we all continue to be surrounded by an influx of productivity calls about goals, as if without goals nothing can advance. I like the notion of goals as a place to start, with an articulated, thoughtful direction for where we want to be. However, looking back at my corporate and extensive nonprofit work, we never achieved any of the goals we set, and our internal needs and external pressures continually evolve. Goals can help us organizationally begin to move forward, but our lives are so networked that anything as long-term as a year (or even 6 months when major shifts happen) may be more rigid and unrealistic than helpful.
Thank you for this! As I tried to do my yearly plans, personal inventory, “word of the year” - nothing felt right or flowy this year. In fact, when I sat with Spirit to contemplate all this and I asked for my word - they were like, “Nope - we’re not doing words this year.” Ok…what you shared resonates way better. Thank you❤️
I hope it helps, and agree with you on all the other "guidance." This is an example, to me, of something that seems good in theory, so now to try in a more wholesome practice
Applying oneself purposefully across domains resonates deeply—it mirrors life as a journey, and one that feels far more rewarding.
Thanks for the way you framed this, Kevin. It is a new approach for me, and as I share it here as part of my deepening into the year, I appreciate comments that help me better understand its newness and its being more intentional than I have used in the past.
Agreed Jeffrey, the world changes way to fast to set annual goals. Better to set smaller, doable things to target that work for you.
I always laughed at the interview question after 9/11 of "where do you see yourself in 5 years." That moment showed me everything can change in a moment so no point thinking that far down the line anymore. Even a year can feel like a lot.
This is all so true, yet we all continue to be surrounded by an influx of productivity calls about goals, as if without goals nothing can advance. I like the notion of goals as a place to start, with an articulated, thoughtful direction for where we want to be. However, looking back at my corporate and extensive nonprofit work, we never achieved any of the goals we set, and our internal needs and external pressures continually evolve. Goals can help us organizationally begin to move forward, but our lives are so networked that anything as long-term as a year (or even 6 months when major shifts happen) may be more rigid and unrealistic than helpful.
Thank you for this! As I tried to do my yearly plans, personal inventory, “word of the year” - nothing felt right or flowy this year. In fact, when I sat with Spirit to contemplate all this and I asked for my word - they were like, “Nope - we’re not doing words this year.” Ok…what you shared resonates way better. Thank you❤️
I hope it helps, and agree with you on all the other "guidance." This is an example, to me, of something that seems good in theory, so now to try in a more wholesome practice