At this current time in the world when the Covid-19 virus has stalled all sports events, life seems so drab without live sports, doesn’t it? The excitement, the adrenaline, the thrill…sport is such an enriching component of life. The exhilaration of scoring a goal, the crowd in the stadium erupting in celebration of the achievement, the home audience jumping around in front of their TV screens as if they are physically in the stadium…dopamine overload all round!!
Now imagine sport without any goal – no goalposts in soccer, no stumps in cricket, no hoops in basketball…how would that feel? That would seem like a pointless exercise, right? I mean, what would the players be aiming for? I’m sure we all agree that there cannot be a sport without having some form of goal, some objective for the players to achieve and celebrate. Why then do many of us go through life without having any goals? Why are we content with just going through the motions and existing instead of living? As a species aren’t we meant to have more zest in our everyday life? After all, we are all familiar with the expression “life is a blessing”. Can you honestly say that you feel you’re living a blessed life right now? If you do, you are doing a phenomenal job of living life the way it is meant to be lived. Well done! But for those who don’t feel inspired and motivated every day of their lives, what could be the missing element?
How about applying our sports analogy to our lives and looking at what is it that we are aiming for? What are our goals? Why can’t we introduce into our lives a healthy dose of excitement and a feeling of striving and achievement? Isn't it time to regularly experience the dopamine hit and make the feel-good factor a regular part of our lives?
Famous American civil rights leader Benjamin E. Mays said “It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goals to reach”. Think of it – if we are able to set the right goals, we will always have a mission to accomplish. A mission that will light a fire within us that gives us the momentum to keep moving forward with a purpose, rather than simply existing. Living without goals is effectively just counting down the days to our final exit. This world is like a stage where we are all actors, who make entries, say our lines, do our roles, and make exits. What we do while we are on this mega stage is what determines the kind of life we will lead and the legacy we will leave behind.
Goal setting is often ignored because some people find the task too overwhelming or time-consuming. It doesn’t have to be either. There are simple guidelines for how to set goals that are suited to your specific situation. By following a good and proven process, you can set goals that are not only relevant to you but are also capable of introducing excitement into your life. Your life could turn into your favorite sport – imagine that!! Challenges to conquer, achievements to celebrate and a life to live fully.
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