1331: An Intentional System For Working With Goals by Leo Babauta of Zen Habits on Productivity

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[00:01:00] This is Optimal Work Daily, Episode 1331.

[00:01:04] An intentional system for working with goals by Leo Babauta of ZenHabits.net.

[00:01:10] And I'm Dan, I'm your host and we're going to get right to it on this Thursday as we optimize your life.

[00:01:19] An intentional system for working with goals by Leo Babauta of ZenHabits.net.

[00:01:26] Goals, like any tool, can be used to bludgeon ourselves over the head with shame and guilt.

[00:01:32] Or can be used with intention as a way to consciously deep our practice in life.

[00:01:37] I've been known to rail against having goals from time to time.

[00:01:40] To espouse goal-less living. But the truth is, goals can be used to guide us if they're used intentionally.

[00:01:46] Goals are not the answer to everything. But neither are they evil. They're simply tools.

[00:01:52] Imagine that you wanted to sail to a certain port. Your career goal.

[00:01:56] There are two ways that could go, depending on how you work with that goal.

[00:02:00] The usual way of working with goals.

[00:02:03] The first way to work with sailing to a certain port is the traditional goal-setting way.

[00:02:08] You fix your sights on that port, the goal, and map a route to get there.

[00:02:13] But things don't go as planned. Maybe you didn't work hard enough, got distracted, or other things came up.

[00:02:19] And now you feel discouraged.

[00:02:21] You can either give it up entirely because the goal is making you feel pretty bad about yourself.

[00:02:25] Or you can hold firm to the goal and resolve to do better.

[00:02:29] A storm hits you. Then your boat starts falling apart and you get sick during the journey.

[00:02:34] You start using your lack of progress towards your goal to beat yourself up more, feel shame,

[00:02:39] think of yourself as a failure, and get frustrated with the world.

[00:02:43] Maybe you give up. Or maybe you firmly stick with the destination and get some new resolve.

[00:02:48] But maybe you learn more about this destination as you travel toward it and learn that it's not really what you want.

[00:02:54] Maybe you find other ports that would actually be better to sail toward that you didn't know about before.

[00:02:59] Nope, you have to stick to the port you originally chose.

[00:03:03] No flexibility. The goal is the most important thing.

[00:03:06] Maybe if you're tenacious and also lucky, you get to your port.

[00:03:10] You feel a momentary happiness at your accomplishment.

[00:03:13] But this destination isn't what you envisioned it to be.

[00:03:16] It's not the solution to all your problems, not the joy you hoped it would be.

[00:03:20] And you feel let down. You immediately start thinking about your next destination and barely notice the one you made it to.

[00:03:27] As you can see, there are a lot of elements here that aren't helpful.

[00:03:31] One, using the goal to beat yourself up and create shame, guilt, disappointment.

[00:03:36] Two, sticking firmly to the goal even when you learn about better opportunities along the way with no flexibility.

[00:03:43] Three, thinking that there's something magical about reaching the goal that will change your life in some way.

[00:03:48] Rarely true.

[00:03:50] And four, the forward-looking mindset instead of looking at the present will not end when you reach the goal,

[00:03:57] but will cause you to look toward the next goal immediately, maybe even while you're heading toward the first goal.

[00:04:02] So what's a more helpful way?

[00:04:04] An intentional, conscious way of working with goals.

[00:04:08] An intentional way of working with goals.

[00:04:11] Imagine instead that you aimed for sailing for that port, but worked with that aim in a more intentional, conscious way.

[00:04:19] One, you think of this goal as an intention that you're setting as you start out.

[00:04:24] A way to guide your direction in the current moment, not a fixed path.

[00:04:28] Two, you don't think of the port or the goal as a fixed outcome that you need to hold on to tightly,

[00:04:35] but rather just a way to guide yourself right now.

[00:04:38] Three, when you do notice yourself attached to the fantasy of your goal,

[00:04:42] you practice loosening your grip on it and focus instead on the present moment.

[00:04:47] What action can you take right now that's aligned with your intention?

[00:04:51] Four, regularly check in with yourself.

[00:04:54] What's the most loving act I can take right now?

[00:04:57] What action right now would be aligned with my intention?

[00:05:00] What can I appreciate about this moment?

[00:05:03] Five, allow yourself to be flexible.

[00:05:06] If you're not tightly attached to the goal, you can shift as you learn more,

[00:05:09] as you sail on your journey and understand the journey more,

[00:05:12] as you find new opportunities that might be more aligned with your deeper purpose.

[00:05:17] And six, if and when you do arrive at your destination, stop and be present with it,

[00:05:23] appreciating your journey, appreciating where you are,

[00:05:26] without immediately turning to the next thing.

[00:05:29] This is a more flexible way of working with goals

[00:05:31] and a more present-focused way of working, more intentional.

[00:05:35] This goal doesn't become the most important thing, though it is helpful.

[00:05:39] The present moment and your actions and appreciation in the moment

[00:05:42] become the most important things.

[00:05:44] I encourage you to try this flexible, intentional method out

[00:05:48] as you think about what your goals might be for the next month,

[00:05:51] for next year, for your career, and future.

[00:05:54] How do you translate that intention into right now?

[00:06:01] You just listened to the post titled

[00:06:03] An Intentional System for Working with Goals

[00:06:05] by Leo Babouta of ZenHabits.net.

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[00:07:33] And thank you to Leo for sharing his work regularly

[00:07:35] both here and across our network of podcasts.

[00:07:38] Zen Habits is all about finding simplicity and mindfulness

[00:07:42] in the daily chaos of our lives.

[00:07:44] It's about clearing away the clutter so we can focus on what's important,

[00:07:47] create something amazing, and find happiness.

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[00:07:56] you can come check out our other shows where as I mentioned,

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[00:08:22] But that is going to do it for today.

[00:08:24] Hope you enjoyed the post from Leo

[00:08:25] and then you'll join me again tomorrow where your optimal life awaits.