Developing Usable Experiences

The Subject of Goals

October 12th, 2007 7:30 am —  111 views

stainedglass.jpg

At work, at school, even at home, the subject of setting goals always comes up. It’s like a person can’t get out of bed in the morning without a goal. This is something I often struggle with. I don’t always have a clear goal in mind for things I do.

Sometimes I just do things for fun, for no reason other than I was there, it seemed interesting, and I acted on a thought. But sometimes my actions hint at or suggest that I’m pursuing a certain goal. Maybe I am? When asked about my goals sometimes I have to think real hard to find them (or make one up right then). Which of course makes me wonder, “do I have goals?”

The definition of goal is thus: “the result or achievement toward which effort is directed”. Simple, concise, direct.

And some things are like that. Linear things are like that. Like setting a goal of getting to a particular place at a particular time. Then there are those things that are more organic. Things that happen with less intention, less goal driven focus. Does that mean you don’t have goals for those things? Its sort of the “build it and they will come” approach. You don’t know exactly what will happen or what you want, but you work on it anyway. Cultivating opportunity perhaps. I liken this to working manure into a field. You know there will come a time when you plant, and the field will be ready. Even if you don’t plant, the field will still be ready. Makes me think of Trungpa’s “manure of experience” writings.

The field analogy doesn’t work perfectly as it kind of implies inaction or waiting. But then, waiting for the right time isn’t such a bad way to say it. I can work with that.

So there it is, I have a goal of “waiting for the right time”. Maybe the right time will come to pass, maybe it won’t, maybe it already has. Then again, knowing what the right time is for something is a subject for another post. Now is not the right time.

Image: This is a shot of the stained glass windows at the church in Charlevoix taken while we were waiting for our friends to get hitched. Stained glass is cool. Stained clothes are not.

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