Goals?
So this is the time of year that I drive my family crazy talking about goals for next year and accomplishments from the last year etc… anyway today I was talking today with Alex about goals in reference to a person we know and how they say they are scared to make goals for fear of not accomplishing them…and maybe fear of saying you want something that seems unattainable.
I’ve read some contradicting articles: don’t tell people your goals because then its out there to haunt you. Also things like don’t tell people your goals because they might be jealous or insecure with your dreaming and then hold it against you…I had never thought of that one before or do tell everyone that will listen you goals because that will hold you accountable (maybe this is for things like going to the gym, quitting a bad habit or things that you need a push on?) I also took a short seminar from Dirk Stroda www.dirkstroda.com and he says ‘Don’t set goals…goals come from the ego, instead be happy and the rest will come’ Interesting since he has worked with many very successful Canadian Dressage teams and travels the world with them currently.
I subscribe to the theory of telling very few people your deepest darkest goals, I have only two people I hold in this category because they are lofty goals and I don’t need anymore people out there thinking I’m a lunatic! Only a close circle of people do I tell the more immediate goals. I definitely understand how exposing it can feel to tell people your goals even the shorter term ones.
Gail Greenough wrote an article for ABSJ once that in short said: make short term, medium term and long term goals. Ie Long term: riding on the Canadian team, medium term have won 2 grand prix by end of year, and short term have horse fit enough to start the year with a bang! Full article here: https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/03a22b_e0b0844fa51c4475aab41b0391fb821c.pdf
On the flip side I also make a fuss over making a note of our accomplishments for the year! For instance last year I jumped not only my first 1.30m but also some 1.35m classes and in the hustle and bustle of the year I completely glossed over the fact that I had accomplished a goal that had sat on my list for nearly a decade! Among other things such as getting ribbons in these classes, feeling confident in those same classes! It’s important to stop and honour your hard work paying off.
An article on reflection and learning that’s also interesting: https://horsenetwork.com/2017/12/reflect-learn-making-2018-best-riding-year-ever/
I keep lists more than most people I know, but one that is in my phone all the time is a check list of goals for the year, and a running tally of achievements and things to take note of for the year. It’s easy try for yourself and then you can look at it all the time and feel like your getting there. Even things that are non sport related are on my list and it feels amazing to click the check box when I’ve done something on it.
It’s a grayt time of year to make goals even if you aren’t ready to share them just yet you can let your dreams run free in the privacy of your notes appJ
A few quotes to get you through:
‘Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do.’ - Mark Twain
‘Once you make a decision the universe conspires to make it happen’ - Unknown
‘Unless you try something beyond what you have already mastered you will never grow’ - Unknown
‘Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world’ - Unknown
‘Falling down is part of life getting up is living’ – Unknown
‘If you always do what you always did you will always get what you have always got’ - Kyra Kyrklund
Happy Holidays!
