Heartfelt – How Bad Do You Want It?
Have you ever tried to lose weight because someone you cared about wanted you slimmer or healthier? Or, how about good grades; remember the incentives your parents would offer to encourage you to love the hard sciences? (“This is the path to a successful, financially stable future son!”) To be successful, purposeful, satisfied, and fully yourself, (assuming this is your definition of personal success), your road markers (goals) need to be heartfelt. Heartfelt goals direct you to where you want to be. Designing your life around goals someone else has for you will leave you, them, or both of you disappointed. We must start with honesty and authenticity.
Can We “Follow our Heart” and Get Anywhere Significant?
When we speak of the heart, I am not referring to your emotional state, at least not primarily.
Heartfelt goals are dreams you want to materialize that have personal significance to YOU.
If you have a personal passion for justice – goals that lead you from activism to peacekeeping, legal professions to enforcement, or teaching to social work, steer you towards what matters to you. If you long to write – you write about the path to justice or the price if we don’t protect it. You study law perhaps and then write poetry that invites the psyche to hear challenging thoughts about the lack of fairness and the cost of inequality.
How do you know you are drawn to a topic? Anything that brings the mind or body in the direction of your topic, interests you for some reason. Whether it’s movies, books, legends, neighborhood organizations, school electives, music, biographies, etc. For you, and perhaps no one else you know, that idea – sports, wellness, healing, numbers, words, logistics – whatever it may be – is magnetic!
No Matter What Happens I am Going to Do This!
That is heartfelt. You are highly motivated to do what it takes, as often as it takes, and even if you fail along the way. This goal feels like you. To accomplish it is to more fully embrace yourself!
Less energy is invested in moving towards your goals because you are not fighting yourself. With this alignment of personal values and goals, it’s “easier” (I am not suggesting easy) to stay on track – even if you get interrupted, experience setbacks, or fall flat on your face. After a time, you will be back at it again. Maybe from a different direction or using a contrasting strategy, but the overall outcome will be the same: To fulfill your heartfelt goal!
Be brave! Take time and listen more. Discover your own inner compass and then ease your sails into the wind – the journey continues.
