A Natural Way to Think About Goal Setting
Earlier this month, I was diving deep into goals for the first time this year (I tend to give myself plenty of time to to ease into a new year! 😊)
And then I realized how daunting goal setting can be sometimes.
Especially when we create goals like:
- SMART Goals
- Short vs. Long goals
- Relationship goals
- Fitness goals
- Creative goals
- Financial goals
- Personal goals
Because when we categorize or think about our goals like this, it can feel… overwhelming, impersonal or complicated. We might even get stuck in the “how” part of achieving our goals and wait another year before making new ones.
So here’s a different, more natural way to think about goal setting:
1. Puddles
The puddles are the small steps, the messy middle stuff, the daily and weekly to-do lists.
It’s also the daily tasks that might seem unrelated to your goals, but they’re vital for keeping you organized, nourished or rested.
For example: tracking your invoices, scheduling calls, meal prep for the week, or pressing pause on projects that aren’t enjoyable.
2. Rivers
The rivers are the bold, action steps that stack up and propel you forwards.
This might look like: sending follow-up messages to potential clients, asking for testimonials, creating content for your marketing ecosystem, or setting time boundaries for a certain task/project.
Think of the river as your energy behind the goals too—where things are constantly flowing, and gaining momentum, towards your intended direction.
3. Lakes
The lakes are your bigger goals that you might create either monthly or quarterly.
They’re the juicy “wins” you can look at to see how you’re progressing. These are the goals that guide how you navigate your rivers and puddles.
And it might look like: the offer or service you want to focus on promoting this season, new collaborations you want to explore, completing a creative project, etc.
4. The Ocean
And finally, the ocean is your expansive dream and vision.
Your purpose.
What all the other bodies of water are leading towards. It’s the endless amount of possibilities of how your life and business unfolds. It’s the reflection of your journey, your impact on the world and those around you.
Think of it as your legacy rather than a giant goal. The legacy of the life you’ve lived and built for yourself.
Since nature is always evolving alongside our own lives, let’s think about goals this way too (instead of a yearly, one-track path to success).
Let’s give our goals the time, energy, and belief they need to support us in our wider purpose and vision (and not treat ourselves as failures or imposters, if a goal isn’t achieved in the exact way or timeframe we desire).
Let’s see what’s possible when we allow our goals to become a natural, fluid guide to our ocean.
Until next time,
Portia ❤️️
P.S. Has 1-on-1 business coaching been on your mind for awhile? Book a pressure-free chat with me here and let’s see if we’re meant to make some magic together!
A quick note: This was originally shared with my Intentional Letters community in February 2021. I’m sharing it here on the blog too in case it inspires, encourages, and empowers you in your own creative journey. And if you’d like to receive more monthly intentional letters like these, sign up below! You’ll also get access to my “Reframe Your Mindset” workbook.