Reaching for the stars or is your head up in space?

Let’s be real, yes you can accomplish anything… if you have extensive connections and a whole bank of money. Cherish Lee gets real about setting goals in life.

Story and Illustration by: Cherish Lee

A horse caretaker. I was six and that was my dream job for a good seven years. Then, I went into a phase where I wanted so many things at once—money, a nice figure, food, makeup, clothes, and friends. I started losing sight of what mattered. It’s too easy to get lost in today’s abundance of goal options and this is why I think goal setting is important. It helps you refocus when you lose track of what you’re working towards.

There are short-term goals and long-term goals. Short-term goals are those that you should be able to accomplish within a day or weeks, while long term-goals are given a longer period of 12 months. For those of us starting from just our wits - which aren’t even that great in the first place - we need to take proper measures.

As someone who is horrible at keeping track and staying focused (thank you ADHD), the goals I set sometimes can be ridiculous. Safe to say, it has not fared well. I have always thought that there was something wrong with my methodology, but in truth, my goals just weren’t realistic from the start. So... what is it I should do then? 

I began by narrowing down my priorities by identifying which of these goals are the most important and time-relevant, and which goals aren’t as important. With any goal, time is of the essence. What you do in your spare time will dictate the tiniest progress you make towards your goal. Then, dictate the feasibility of your goals. Are they realistic? Do you have time to put aside and achieve your goals? Did you give yourself a reasonable time frame? Do you have a plan and the resources to attain it? What are some of the other ways you can alleviate the obstacles? 

The environment you surround yourself in will also influence your outcome. For example, if an individual is trying to quit smoking, hanging out with smokers would merely entice and set one up for failure. 

Here’s another factor that plays a huge part when it comes to achieving goals - resolve.  Personally, I find that having a strong resolve for why you want to achieve your goal is the most important factor. Dig deep and find out why you want to work towards the goals you have chosen. I believe this is an innate strength that only comes when you know your exact reason and purpose for making something your goal. Reaching for your goals is definitely not going to be smooth-sailing, and what you will need is a firm anchor to ground you when the storms hit. 

That said, do not go around setting goals you know are ridiculous, such as: “I want to be a millionaire.” I mean, yes, it could be a valid goal if you have the means to reach it, but it is too vague and insubstantial. Perhaps, “I want to save $100,000 by the time I reach 30,” and showcasing your methodology of achieving, would be more practical. You will also need to measure your progress, if not, have a list of steps you will need to reach your goals. These are some tips to set your goals against, thus, try not to make the fatal mistake of setting goals that you can’t reach. While it is important to rest during the journey, do not forget about your goals and look at the bigger picture.

I promise you, your sacrifices will be rewarded.