A Real Goal Getter: Part II

Continued from here:

So was being a reporter a worthwhile goal for me back in college? Probably, but it wasn’t one I was attached to strongly enough to tackle the obstacles.

People who know me say I am my own harshest critic, but as I evaluate the past, I think I’ve done this more than once, too easily letting obstacles determine my path, better known as the path of least resistance. It’s easy to do. Why not take the path where you can see further out, where the future is clearer? And then after doing it once, why not do it again? And so on and so forth, and in so doing, a life is shaped.

But here’s something to consider. Goals are a refection of your values and principles. People don’t set goals to be losers, they set them to achieve something they want. So if you stay focused on your goals, what you’re saying is that you see yourself. You see where you want to be, and you’re willing to invest in decisions that will get you there.

On the other hand, obstacles are the things getting in your way. They don’t reflect anything about you, they obscure goals. Does it make sense then that if you take the path of least resistance, guided by whichever way the obstacles guide you, that sooner or later, you lose all sight of yourself?

I think about it like this. Obstacles are challenges. When you overcome them, you grow and become stronger. If you avoid the obstacles, you skip lessons you need to learn. Goals remind you that there’s something out there larger than the immediate obstacle you’re facing. Goals help us get things done.

Here’s how it works. When you set a goal, let’s say you want to drop 30 pounds, the obstacles become navigable. What’s your obstacle? Maybe it’s your diet. So you do some reading, you educate yourself and make lifestyle changes to eliminate the obstacles.

Try approaching someone with, “I’m so unhappy I can barely breathe.” How would you respond if someone said that to you? Now try this. “I am unhappy with my weight and I would like to lose 30 pounds.” Well! Eureka, the advice starts to roll then, doesn’t it? I’ll bet you could list five things to change without even thinking about it.

So a goal gets things done because it creates a purpose. When you have purpose, often the resources needed to fulfill that purpose magically spring from nowhere. Only they aren’t coming from nowhere at all. They’re simply more obvious because you were looking at things a new way.

When I realized I’d need an advisor in the University of Colorado’s School of Journalism, I dodged that obstacle, thinking I was pretty clever. And today I read that the Atlanta Journal Constitution is cutting jobs by 8% because of the economy, so maybe I could content myself with the fact that I chose a profession doomed by the internet, and think myself clever still.

But the story made me consider this: had I graduated with a degree in Journalism, would I be in Atlanta, waiting to see if my job is affected? I don’t think so. The reason I don’t is because I know I didn’t thoughtfully evaluate my move to Atlanta based on its commute, its quality of life and whether or not I liked the climate. Simply put, I moved where my job transferred me. So after years of living here, is it any wonder that despite the friends I’ve made and the activities I participate in, I feel no particular affinity for this location?

So did I lose myself by allowing my obstacles to determine my path? I’m not sure I know the answer yet, but I’m working on it.

More on this later.

-Laura