Day Momo (Des Moments) August 1st-15th
Screw Goals. I just said it.
Ok, that’s a little harsh. I should have said ease off on goals, or put less weight and attention on your goals. But “Screw Goals” was a better title.
Forgive me.
The post is about removing gap insanity. What is gap insanity?
Gap Insanity: Point A is where you’re at in your life. Point B is where you would like to be. Between A and B is the “gap.” When you are unhappy because you are not at point B, you are in a state of “gap insanity.”
It’s when everything in your life becomes a means to an end, end being point B.
And when everything in your life becomes a means to point B. This is where frustration, and unhappiness can crawl in like creepy critters.
Why do they creep in? They creep in because sometimes we become unsatisfied by not being at Point B.
All you devil’s advocates may be huffing and puffing right now. Your huffs and puffs sound like this: “All the most successful people, innovators, and difference maker’s in the World had a goal in mind, a vision. And lived that vision, and they made an incredible impact in the World.” True fact. I’m so glad you huffed and puffed.
Honor your goals.
But don’t honor goals too much.
Goals and vision give us direction, but goals should not be the end all. Goals should be the beginning.
The means are what’s it important. The progress is what’s important. The present moment is what’s important. The progress, and the means we encounter, in the present moment, will get us to Point B.
Focus on what you can control, and only what you can control. Accept everything else.
If you don’t accept everything else, you may become irritable, disappointed, and frustrated – gap insanity has cast its dark spell on you.
Devil advocates (huffers and puffers): Guess what? All of those incredibly successful people and difference makers you were referring with goals, also didn’t have gap insanity.
They worked on progress, and the building blocks on a daily basis. They had the wisdom to know the difference between their visionary goal, and the daily task. They didn’t let the visionary goal (or having yet achieved that vision) get in the way of their work they enjoy. They didn’t let gap insanity hold them back.
Counter-intuitively, their quality of work was optimal. They became successful faster. They reached their “Point B” faster, and moved on to points C, D, and E, while never letting the “reaching” affect their progress.
Their work, as Eckhart Tolle describes it, was a “spiritual practice.”
Next time your goal has gotten you frustrated because you haven’t hit it yet, laugh at yourself. Truly laugh at yourself, whole-heartedly and say, “screw goals,” and remember what “gap insanity” is.
Progress. Presence. Peace.
And…
After you say “screw goals,” identify “gap insanity,” and focus on progress….
Well, you’ll find your goal screwed, as in nailed down and achieved. 😉
Joseph Metcalfe
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