Measuring Goals with Joy

Setting goals is tricky, but knowing when you’ve actually achieved them and can “tick” them off can be even trickier. One would think that the more specific the goal, the easier it becomes to recognise when it’s been achieved. However, detailed goals can be a bit daunting, especially with the knowledge that life tends to not go to plan. Personally, I find that if a goal is too structured, it makes it feel unachievable and I tend to put it off. However, in some areas of my life I find that specific goals with some sort of timeline attached work well. The reality is, you just have to find what works for you and feels right. In the past few weeks, I’ve learnt very quickly that the easiest way to tackle things that feel scary and unachievable, is to start. Often, that is the most difficult part.

“Sometimes, almost there is good enough.”

Something I’ve been learning to do is break down big, long term goals into smaller, “micro” goals that can be worked on in the short term and feed into the main goal. I struggle with feelings of anxiety and overwhelm, and I find that list-making and being super organised helps me feel in control. So naturally the way I set goals is no different. I write things down because I feel like it keeps me accountable and gives me something to reference when I want to look back and see where my head was at at the time I set a goal.

For me, the benchmark I’ve started to use for whether or not a goal has been achieved, is how I feel. It may sound silly, but it has proved to be such a powerful thing. Being guided purely by the feelings of joy (or lack thereof) has been an interesting way to measure my achievements. It has also taught me to be more gentle with myself and not feel so down when I don’t achieve something. Sometimes, almost there is good enough. And whilst we cannot always be guided by how we feel, there are times when we can. I’ve come to realise that beating myself up for missing the mark on a goal by only a little is not worth the emotional energy and headspace it consumes. There is so much learning in failure. Often I’ve realised later on how much I’ve learnt (both in an academic sense and a life sense) because of mistakes and little slip-ups I’ve made along the way. Thinking about things in a different way and opening yourself up to new mindsets and perspectives can lead to so much growth. I would encourage you to challenge yourself to rethink the way you see goals and how you measure your benchmarks.

Nabeela Parkar is one of our monthly Comeback writers. She has a keen interest in writing and would be more than happy to read her way through an entire library. She enjoys being challenged and facing tasks that require her to think for a little longer. She is fascinated by maths and science and also have a deep appreciation for the ocean, mountains and the natural world at large. She is currently in her last year of school and is on the path of deciding what to do with her life as of next year. She’s an avid believer that whilst everything happens for a reason, taking action towards achieving your goals and dreams is key.