Many people are very goal oriented and know how to make the things they want happen. They use goal setting throughout all phases of their life, continually define where it is they desire to go, create action plans and then move in the right direction. They will focus on setting and reaching one goal after another and thorough out their lifetime they will have achieved many of them. When you are so goal oriented, it can seem natural to only focus on the future and not feel successful until your goal has been reached.
The alternaview:
The alternaview is that what you go through in order to reach your goal is just as important as reaching the goal. If we are only focused on the goal, we can miss the opportunities that are currently in front of us that actually will lead us to accomplishing our ultimate goal. While it is important to set goals and focus on reaching them, we need to appreciate and take advantage of the current moment in order to successfully reach them. We need to appreciate everything that is happening around us, especially any obstacles or challenges that you may encounter and focus on what we should be learning that will better prepare us to successfully accomplish our goal.
It is easy to believe you haven’t accomplished what you needed to until you are successful at accomplishing your goal. However, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Some of the best growth happens along the way and is a success in and of itself. It makes you the person you are and prepares you to not only accomplish your next goal, but also those that will come after. Everything is a part of an overall process that will extend throughout your entire lifetime and when you recognize this, you understand why every single moment matters.
Appreciating and taking advantage of every moment while it is happening is what we should be focused on. Although it is important to know where we want to go and what our goals are, our focus should be on what is currently in front of us and doing all we can to take advantage of that moment.
Everything we go through happens for a very important reason, and if we are aware and focused on this while it is happening, we are better able to appreciate and take advantage of each moment and each opportunity. As a result, we are in a better position to actually realize our goals.
When we genuinely want to integrate this alternaview into life:
1. Don’t obsess about reaching your goal. Realize there are many opportunities and lessons that you need that will arise before you reach your goal. Appreciate working toward your ultimate goal, but focus your energy and thoughts on what is currently in front of you. Live in the moment. Enjoy yourself. Be patient about reaching your goal.
2. Know that in time you will reach your goal. Many people become anxious and feel their desires will never be a reality. They will become frustrated along the way as challenges arise. Let any of these types of thoughts go and recognize that everything that happens is important. Be confident in your ability to reach your goal, but not distracted by the fact that you haven’t successfully reached it yet. Realize any concerns that you will not be successful or any doubts that you focus on, will work against you achieving your goal.
3. Be flexible and open minded. Be open to the twists and curves and don’t think things have to happen a certain way in order for them to be beneficial or help you reach your goal. Be willing to look at things differently and push yourself to always recognize their importance as a part of the process.
Being goal oriented is a good thing and the vast majority of successful people are continually setting goals. The key is to understand how to set goals and effectively create the landscape so they can be accomplished. When we become too focused on the goal and don’t understand and appreciate the value of what is currently happening as we move toward our goal, we actually work against ourselves. In order to reach our ultimate goals, we must have the right thoughts and do the right things in the current moment we are experiencing. Although we have a part of our attention on our goals and the future, we are mostly focused on and appreciate what is currently in front of us…this is the alternaview.
Sign up for the Living Better Bonus Kit
Sign up for FREE and receive all the new articles and FREE Instant Access to the Bonus Kit updated regularly with tools to really help you live TODAY in an Amazing way.
Sign up for FREE and receive a FREE copy of "Stop Complaining & Start Living" along with all the new articles and instant access to the Bonus Kit.