Think of Your Goal As a Compass, Not an Endpoint
It’s hard not to think of a goal as a destination, but thinking like that can be demotivating. You either succeeded or you didn’t. By thinking of your goals as a compass, you can focus on the direction you need to go.
You may know what you want to achieve, but the trick is to learn how to do it and make it the focus. On his blog, James Clear invites you to completely get rid of the desire to achieve your goal and only worry about which direction you are heading:
The problem with finding treasure is that most people think of treasure all the time. However, the fastest way to get to a certain place is to set the compass and start walking … Develop a clear, single-minded focus on where you are going … your target becomes your compass, not your treasure. The goal is your direction, not your destination. The goal is the mission you are walking on, the path you are following.
When you approach your goals in this way, you are already achieving them by taking the smallest steps forward. For example, your goal would not be to “learn to program,” but to spend one hour a day learning and practicing. Or instead of “I want to lose weight,” it could be a substitute for something healthy for every meal. When your goal is a process , you manage to stay motivated for longer because you achieve your goal every day. In the end, you may find the treasure in the end, but the road will continue because you have developed habits that keep you going forward.
The Goal Is Not: Pick a Path, Then Follow It | James Clear