GOAL SETTING WITH PURPOSE

EPISODE #139

In this week of Confidence on the Go, we’re chatting about:

• How to set goals with a purpose – that is, ones that really matter and that mean something
• Some game-changing revelations I’ve recently had about my own goal setting and what I’m changing about my approach to goals (and to life) from here on forward.
• The difference between measurable and meaningful goals

GOAL SETTING WITH PURPOSE – WHAT GOALS ACTUALLY MATTER?

We have within our minds a toggle switch – we can choose which direction to toggle that switch, whether we want our focus to be on measurable and achievable goals to give us purpose or whether we want our goals to be something different…goals of quality instead of something quantitative.

The direction of our toggle determines our experience of reality, and in many ways our ability to contribute with significance to the reality around us.

WHY AM I THINKING ABOUT GOALS DIFFERENTLY NOW?

• Richmond Half Marathon – raced with the goal and purpose of joy.
• Doubted my capability, haven’t run that distance well in over three years and didn’t train appropriately, had injured hip and just came off of recovering from the flu. Brandon and I had recently chatted about the value of goals that really matter – that the goals in life worth pursuing are not the ones that come and appear so obviously to us, but are rather the goals that are intangibilities. Brandon’s prayer for joy and how, when during the race any thoughts of self-doubt or any anxious ambition to really perform surfaced, I directed my mind to joy, joy, joy. My watch was broken so I had no idea of my pace. The finish line appeared and to my great shock, I was not only under my dream goal, but I was significantly under it. The joy I experienced surprised me.

WHAT HAPPENED TO BE WHEN I RACED FOR “JOY” INSTEAD OF FOR A GOAL TIME:

I experienced…

• Joy of being watch-less and having no pressure
• Joy of not having my hip hurt
• Joy of seeing a friend at the starting line unexpectedly (among 20,000 people)
• Joy of beautiful and crisp Fall weather
• Joy of fun music
• Joy of spectators cheering me on
• Joy of being physically challenged during the miles I struggled
• Joy of knowing I was pushing my mental strength limits as I ran
• Joy of seeing Brandon and Ellie and them running along with me for a quarter-mile
• Joy of surprising myself by my ability to hang onto a pace
• Joy of finding someone to pace with
• Joy of seeing the finish line … and it being on a downhill

SO, WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEASURABLE AND MEANINGFUL?

And perhaps the more important question is, how do we measure that which is meaningful it it’s not necessarily measurable?

Well, I can’t necessarily define meaningful versus measurable goals for you, but I can share with you the definitions for myself that I have been wrestling around with in my heart:

Meaningful goals for Trish Blackwell:

1. Life as a practice of beauty in action
2. The daily practice of gratitude
3. Intentional joy or joie de vivre that I share with others
4. A daily commitment and dependence upon God through prayer to remind myself that He is who gives me meaning, purpose, hope and love
5. Investment in the legacy I hope to leave (my dash – to inspire millions to love more)
6. Kindness as my calling card
7. Deeper and more connected relationships with people I love
8. Confidence in my congruency
9. An ability to celebrate every day that I have breath
10. Personal refinement of becoming more of who God created me to be – that is, sanctification mentally, physically and spiritually.

LISTENER OF THE EPISODE:

Julia Buckingham

Hi Trish!

I’ve been listening to your show for over two years now, and I wanted to write to you to express what a blessing you have been in my life. Your words have got me through the bad times and helped me to fully enjoy the good ones. You have encouraged me to follow my dreams and to believe in myself. After months of planning and years of dreaming, I decided to launch my own catering business last month, and I have my first big event coming up this weekend! I thought this would be a good time to write to you to let you know that you played a big part in me deciding to finally take the plunge! You are such an encouragement and I can’t express how much of an impact your words have had on my life. Whenever doubts creep into my mind, I hear your voice speaking words of inspiration and reminding me that I am enough. Thank you for being you and doing what you do! I’m in the Vancouver area of British Columbia, Canada, and my business is called Gatherings Catering + Events 🙂

Blessings,

Julia

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

I am able to take on only 2 new one-on-one coaching clients for 2016. If you are looking for accountability coaching, confidence coaching, or entrepreneurial consulting, reserve your position as a client with me as soon as possible before these in-demand spots fill up. To find out more info or claim one of these two coveted slots, email me directly at trish@trishblackwell.com