SHIFTING FROM A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING
Sharing your goals is a key part of achieving them. If you’re the kind of person who makes plans or creates goals, you know life and circumstances often require a shift of focus. As I write this blog, we’re two months into the COVID-19 pandemic. When 2019 came to a close, we were looking forward to putting the year behind us and pressing on towards making 2020 our best year ever. We were well on our way to working towards our goals when everything came to a screeching halt (even though I have a feeling we will look back on this time and be so thankful for how it changed us). On top of the chance that life will change your focus for you, you may also decide on your own that your plans need to change. What is the best way to make sense of sharing your goals when life so often requires you to shift your focus? Should you continue to be open about your intentions?
When it comes to blogging, people have asked me: Aren’t you afraid that your opinions will change? That you’ll regret a post? That you will look back and see how poor of a writer you once were? Of course! But if I didn’t try and put out there who I am now, would I ever?
When I started this blog four years ago, I wanted the blog to be about...well...everything. My tag line was “A Little Bit of Everything.” I was so interested in everything, and I wanted to keep all of my options open in case there was a subject I wanted to write or post about. The more that I wrote and posted, the more I began to uncover the central theme that ran throughout all of my posts - making every moment unique and memorable. As I wrote, I began to understand that our lives are made of short little moments. But life gets busy. And when we aren’t purposeful with our time, it quickly slips away. I knew I wanted my website to provide resources to help readers assign purpose to their time, avoid regret, and make every moment count. The process of consistently writing, posting, and blogging helped me uncover my central message.
I believe it’s important to share my thoughts and goals with others - knowing there is a good chance my focus may shift over time. Here are three reasons I share my process along the way:
It Allows Me to Be a Listener - As I share my thoughts, ideas, and goals with others, I’m inviting others to speak into my plans. While feedback from others can be incredibly helpful, it can also be extremely unhelpful to listen to every voice that tries to speak into the things I’m trying to accomplish. The way to leverage this best is to find trusted voices to speak into the things I’m working towards. Trusted voices are the ones who have similar aspirations in life, but also give a balanced perspective to my own. Listening allows me to see my plans and thoughts from a different angle.
It Allows Me to Be a Learner - The more I write out my thoughts and ideas, the more I’m able to formulate my own opinions. I uncover things about myself that would usually stay cloudy inside of my own head. Writing is one of the most rewarding experiences. Whenever I begin writing, I not only learn my own thoughts, but I also understand additional ideas I would like to explore.
It Allows Me to Grow - As I listen and learn, I begin to become a better, more refined version of myself. Growth can be hard and, at times, painful. But growth is essential to reaching my goals and getting a little bit better every day.
As I listened, learned, and grew over these past four years, I understood my own perspective better and realized that a shift in my focus was necessary. I want to make every moment count and look back on my life, knowing I soaked in the beauty and meaning available in the smallest of moments.
I want this website to help you assign purpose to your time, avoid regret, and make every moment count. Whether you’re at home, in the office, or investing in relationships, it’s my desire for this to be a resource for inspiration and motivation and a place to collaborate with others.
As you consider thinking about sharing your thoughts and goals - just do it! Start now. Write, share, and grow with others.
| Credits: Author - Jacintha Payne; Photography - Top two: Jacintha Payne & Bottom two: Ali Henderson |