A life without goals is like a ship without a destination, aimlessly floating in the vast oceans of the world. It might end up in a tropical island paradise or it could be 20,000 fathoms below the waves, but wherever it lands will be by chance. Goals give us a sense of direction in life and a path that we can work on and the best kind you can choose are the difficult ones. I’ve helped people reach their goals for years and have learned that the people with the hardest ones to reach are the individuals that achieve the most. Nothing can improve you in so many ways like facing a real challenge. I’ve done some thinking and have come up with some great reasons why you shouldn’t just aspire to reach simple goals, but go for one that’s a real challenge.
Challenges make champions
Off the top of your head can you name one person who is described as “the greatest of all time” that has had no challenges on their way to the top? I can already tell that the answer is going to be no. No one ever makes it to the top or reaches what they really want without some difficulties and struggles along the way. Muhammad Ali, the greatest boxer of all time, had the United States government stand in the way of his goal. On top of that, he had to face the best boxers in the world and train until he felt like his bones were going to turn to dust. Through it all, he kept pushing and eventually achieved his goal of becoming the heavyweight champion of the world. If you want to be the best, you have to face challenges. Difficult goals breed exceptional people.
Difficulty = Growth
If you are comfortable and content with life right now, you are not growing. Pres. John F Kennedy stated in a speech to the United Nations, “Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.” I know it can be hard to motivate yourself to take a risk when chasing a goal, but it is always worth it. If you aren’t struggling, you aren’t going to advance in any way. Life is about growth and when you have a difficult goal you are going to grow from it. Whether it’s becoming the top real estate agent in New York City or perfecting your workmanship as a woodworker, the struggle to reach the top is going to be what gives you the biggest change in your life. Change doesn’t happen unless you make it happen and the best kind of change only comes with a difficult goal.
It’s about the journey
Sometimes a goal, no matter how important it is to you, is not meant to be reached. It might leave you feeling crushed and heartbroken, but it will have still been worth it. One of the greatest martial artists of all time, Bruce Lee, said, “A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at.” Just by pursuing a difficult goal, your life will change for the better. You’ll meet new people, expand your horizons, and build yourself up with more self-confidence. On top of all that who knows where you can end up, you might even find something better than what you originally had your eyes on. Aim for the moon, if you miss you just end up in the stars.
Regret will destroy you
Regret is something we all have to deal with, it’s just a part of life. It could be a missed chance at love or losing out on your dream job, but you will experience it in some form. While the sting of failure is painful, I can promise you that it is a thousand times better than how regret will make you feel. Don’t believe me? Regret has been shown to have major impacts on a person’s mental health leading to depression, anxiety, and an overall complete dissatisfaction with their life. Missing your goal is something that may leave you feeling terrible, but nowhere near as bad as regret will. You want to be saying “at least I tried” rather than “I wish I did” at the end of the day.
Setting difficult goals for yourself is not always going to lead to the easiest path, but it is the most rewarding thing one. No matter how hard it is, it will give you plenty of personal growth something that is totally invaluable. Even if you aim for a goal you don’t need to reach it, it just gives you something to aim it. If you fail, at least you can say that you tried it with honor instead of whimpering in regret later. Don’t forget that only champions come from adversity. Setting difficult goals isn’t something to shy away from, it’s something that everyone should rise to do.
If you need some help reaching any of your goals, give me a call. I have years of experience coaching people to meet their goals and potential, no matter how big or small it is. I promise that together we will be able to reach your dreams, no matter how far away they seem. For more great tips on success check out my blogs.