Have you ever noticed that sometimes you catch yourself focused on the problem instead of looking ahead to your goal or destination and figuring out how to get there? Goal setting and focus are intertwined.
Henry Ford said, “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” So true, so true.
I witnessed an experience like this on the golf course recently. Let’s see if you can relate!
I was playing golf with two men friends of mine. On one hole Joe hit a ball smack into a large electrical utility box situated on the fairway alongside a pond. His ball went into the pond.
He dropped another ball on the grass and once again hit it into the box and it ricocheted into the pond.
I kid you not, he did this a third time as well!
I was on the other side of the fairway watching and waiting, and I must admit I started
to laugh. What were the odds of this happening three times in a row?
After all, he only had to get the ball into the air and over the electrical box. He’d gotten golf balls airborne millions of times before, right?
So what went wrong?
I’m guessing he was focusing on the obstacle and taking his eyes off the goal.
So how does this goofy golf example relate to creating a healthy lifestyle?
Goal setting and focus go together! If you focus on the fact that you don’t have any willpower to stick to your eating plan, or you have bad habits, or you don’t think you can find exercise that you enjoy, you will hit those barriers and probably not get through them.
You must be aware of the challenges you face in order to navigate past them. However, you can not make your obstacle the focus!
Your focus should be on where you’re going next and how you’re going to get there.
And you don’t have to go this alone. Sure, Joe couldn’t ask me to hit his golf ball for him because that’s not allowed. But in the game of healthy living, there are tons of creative solutions.
For instance, if you don’t have willpower, find a group of friends with similar goals and challenges and put together a support group.
If you have bad habits, tackle them one at a time and take steps to change.
If you think you can’t find a workout program that you’ll enjoy, talk to other people who do seem to be enjoying an active lifestyle and learn how and what they do.
After talking with Joe, the next time he’s got a challenging shot to make on the golf course, he’s going to focus on the options he has for getting his ball to the green and not on the obstacle in his way. I hope I’m there to witness his success!
Keep this in mind when you pursue your own goals. Focus on the destination, not on the obstacle. Goal setting and focus go hand-in-hand!
If you feel stuck and need additional support to adopt a new healthy habit or routine, consider working with me. We can partner up in setting goals, drawing on your skills and strengths, and implementing strategies to help you find your way to lasting healthy success.
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For over 15 years, Shelli has been a freelance writer and wellness habit coach on Joyinmovement. She writes about brain fitness, creating a healthy lifestyle, traveling the world, and making positive habits stick. Stop procrastinating! Take action, join her free newsletter.
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