Sometimes, you just have to ignore the voices in the backseat of your mind droning, “are we there yet? are we there yet? are we there yet?” on endless repeat.
It’s those voices that get us to do stupid things like buy lottery tickets and take diet pills. Yes, lots of people have gotten to their goals very quickly. However, if you haven’t gotten there by now and the last 4 attempts at rapid changes didn’t work then it’s probably time to do something different in order to get a different result.
I look at it this way. It’s only been 9 days. I’m not going become a millionaire overnight.
One of my favorite quotes by Tony Robbins is: “People overestimate what they can do in a year, but underestimate what they can do in five.”
For me, it’s about balancing short term successes while focusing on long term goals. Also as a INFP, attainment of the goal never makes me that happy for long. It’s a short burst of intense feeling, but I come down from it pretty quickly. I’ve known this for years the having the actual goal in my hand is nice, but that feeling never really lasts.
It’s the process. It’s the discovery. It’s getting there where I find happiness. This blog and trying to get somewhere I haven’t been before is fun. I’m having fun. If I wasn’t enjoying the process, I wouldn’t be updating everyday. It would be a chore. If something becomes I chore, I stop everything and evaluate if doing that thing is the best use of my time.
Today’s Summary – final
Some days things don’t get done. They just get started. I started writing my new blog entry for INFP blog. I started figuring out why WordPress isn’t installing on Lunarpages for a client even though it’s worked for me a dozen times before. Sometimes starting is the best you can do with the time you have.
One Small Thing
The goal is to do 3 small things each week. It’s stuff that I put off. It’s one time things not daily routine stuff like laundry and dishes. In doing the one small thing, it simplifies my life in some way.
Put my baby carrier on Craigslist. (April 5)
April Status
Weight loss: 2lbs and currently maintaining.
Earned Income: $0 (this is $ outside my dayjob)
Monthly Cash – (I give myself $120 in cash each month)
$57.22 left
Set aside – $10 for a movie (set aside for plans on 4/16)
Spent So Far
$9 – lunch with old high school friend
$8.41 – eating out
$18 – night out with friends
$5 – bike carrier (sold papasan for $30, bought carrier for $35)
$1.97 – Took daughter for ice cream
$9.55 – Snacks for work (because the stuff in the vending machines wasn’t improving my health)
$.85 – Skittles (I just wanted some and I deserved the treat).
April Successes
forthcoming
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m a fellow INFP also struggling with goal setting. I recently found your blog, and I appreciate it, not just because of the suggestions, but also because it helps me feel understood. I certainly can relate to the short-lived joy of achieving a goal. It just isn’t as satisfying for me as it seems to be for most people. I am more of a wanderer, and I like the journey much more. Reading what you are doing, though, actually helps me do what I need to do. It helps when I feel like there are other people that may understand, that I’m not completely weird! This is probably a common feeling for an INFP–so thanks!
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Corin Reply:
April 28th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
I’m happy you like the blog and that you can find something useful from it. I’ve accomplish things I’ve been very proud of like getting published or changing careers. However, every time I reached a goal, the feeling wasn’t as good as the feeling I got every day knowing that I was becoming a better me. I think basing your happiness on one goal is laying all your eggs in one basket. Whereas if you base happiness on what you do each day, then life is about being happy instead of becoming happy.
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I very much agree on what you say here. I don’t find happiness in trying to achieve a goal or even reaching it. When I have to focus myself on my goal day after day, it becomes a task a burden. I get more happiness when I focus on each day and try to find fullfillment that day. It is not easy to do because my mind seem to be set on “having to work on a goal”.
When I set the goal “I need to find more happiness”, the happiness will remain in the future, it will never be reached because every day my mindset will be “have to find more happiness IN THE FUTURE” and so I will never find it in the present.
it is hard to just find fullfillment with what I got right now, like watching the sunset tonight, but it is so much more rewarding!
I love your blog, you struggle with things I struggle with
just one question: why are you so focussed on setting your goals and reaching them? In my experience it never works out. I will never be able to remain disciplined and I think I should just accept that…
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