A New and Balanced Way of Setting Goals
New jobs, a new country. I am telling myself: " I go as far as I can "— this kind of thinking takes the pressure off, yet it will continuously stretch my ability, endurance, and confidence. Life is now full of surprises.
I always set goals for myself and was able to reach them. But without me being aware, I put too much emphasis on achieving my goals, which caused a lot of stress for my family and me.
Now I am retired — I find myself with too much time on my hands and a lack of purpose. What to do? At first, I got involved in various activities; then, I got a job that I enjoyed — BUT again, I was under too much pressure. It made me think and search for an answer. How could I learn to live the kind of life that I enjoy? — The thought — “I go as far as I can go…” kept coming up, and gradually I changed my mindset accordingly.- I still set goals, but the process of reaching these goals has changed. This change made a significant difference — so much so that I feel prompted to share this discovery with others.
I have been able to overcome obstacles I thought were impossible to overcome. I finally relaxed and let go, yet I still kept my focus on the goal. I let life unfold and open my mind to possibilities without losing sight of the plan. I gave myself permission to change or adjust my goals as long as they served my purpose.
This new process has become almost magical. No longer do I have to force myself to accomplish tasks — I can enjoy what I am doing. Isn’t this the kind of life we all want?
I am still a very goal-oriented person, but now I have found a way to enjoy the journey. I have better results than before. I am more in harmony with my surroundings; I feel more connected with the people I am dealing with. Problems and obstacles are still a part of my life, but I have a better way of dealing with them. A sense of adventure and curiosity replaced anxiety.
I have been able to overcome obstacles I thought were impossible to overcome. I finally relaxed and let go, yet I still kept my focus on the goal. I let life unfold and open my mind to possibilities without losing sight of the plan. I gave myself permission to change or adjust my goals as long as that served my purpose.
This new process has become almost magical. No longer do I have to force myself to accomplish tasks — I can enjoy what I am doing. Isn’t this the kind of life we all want?
My mantra, “I go as far I can go,” — allows me to adjust my pace to how I feel. Some days, I am more energetic than others. Other days might be more challenging and strenuous. I will slow my pace, but I will keep going. It is that velocity that allows me to be myself. I read about successful people — who talk about the importance of authenticity and creating their own path. However, this is not always easy to do. In fact, it can be challenging. But it has to be our most important thing in life to figure out who we are and what we want to be.
I have now reached the age of seventy. Once we reach that age, like other phases in our life — our viewpoint changes; I believe all people should write their story when they reach that age: discoveries they’ve made, mountains they’ve climbed, and so on. When I was young, I would ask older people about their life experiences. Many were not aware of what their life was about, and after I asked more questions, they would remember some significant events;— and also realize that they had quite an amazing life.
I can live with regrets and get stuck there or go back and unearth all the great memories. One time I organized our Fotos, suddenly it hit me — what an amazing life I’ve had so far. I felt I was a wealthy woman indeed! Yet, due to my ingrained mental habits, I spend too much time worrying. It’s like I have a choice — look at my treasure chest of great memories or a pile of unresolved issues.
They are real; however, I can put them in storage. Maybe some can still be resolved. Great! But otherwise, we can enjoy the accumulated treasures. We may have to dust them off from all the frustrations and disappointments that accumulated to be able to enjoy the fruit of our lives. It saddens me to see that too many people have forgotten about their valuable treasures.
Maybe now, during this pandemic, we can take the opportunity and recover all the memorable moments of our lives. Trust me — we all have them--rather than be anxious and worried about the future. We will hit the mental refresh button in the process and look forward to a great future full of excitement and adventure.
Maria De La Rosa
Enjoying Life