The 3rd question of goal-setting
Think about setting a New Year’s Resolution.
Whether you’re into them or not, you’ve probably heard someone beaming on December 31st about how excited they are to take on this new project. Then most people get drunk, sleep in, try out this new habit on January 3rd, and then give it up…but some — some of us plan! We write down what we want to accomplish. plan out some next steps, put a reminder in our calendars, get accountability buddies…
And that’s awesome. Those are great steps. But today, let’s talk about a less intuitive piece of the puzzle:
Question 3: “why not?”
As in, why might you NOT accomplish this goal?
This is where we take off the rose-colored glasses. We stop imagining our best selves strolling towards victory, and start considering real life — obstacles, distractions, and new priorities.
Some challenges are totally out of our control. Life happens. But some aren’t! And smply asking the question can help us prepare better. Here are a few examples of common “why not”s and how they can help:
Forgetting
Want to go for a walk every day, learn a new recipe every week,: or work with a trainer once a month? One of the most common reasons we fall short of these process-oriented goals is as simple as forgetting. If the idea never enters our consciousness, it’s hard to expect ourselves to take action! One reason asking “why not?” is helpful is because it encourages us to set up reminders for our future selves.
Can’t Do It Alone
Ever go to a buffet and end up with more on your plate than you could handle? We often do the same thing with your training goals. “This year, I’m gonna run 8 marathons, life 14,000 pounds, and learn to do a double backflip!” Considering why we might NOT be able to achieve our goal helps us consider how we can enlist other people to support us.
Changing Our Minds
It is okay to change your mind. Again, it is okay to change your mind. When we set an ambitious goal, we’re making a prediction about what we will value in the future. But sometimes that changes, and we’re still tempted to hold onto the idea that we need to check off the box. When we consider in advance what might make us change our minds, it can help give us the grace to choose a different direction.
The Brilliant Conclusion?
How do you end a blog post? So much pressure! If you’ve read this far, you probably care about some sort of goal. I hope you’ll take the time to consider why you might not accomplish it. Ultimately, I’d argue that the biggest reason we don’t accomplish goals is because we don’t set ourselves up for success. With more thought upfront, we can craft goals to be more achievable and aligned with what we actually value.
Was this helpful? Please feel free to share with a friend or on social media.
Want more on goal-setting? Here you go!
Video by Jeremy Finch of The Fire Jar