The Art of Setting Goals

It’s that time of year when we look ahead with optimism and hope, and state our creative goals for the New Year.  We have the entire year ahead of us and this is our opportunity to achieve great things. Goals can be a double-edged sword, however. On one hand, goals can help you achieve amazing things and propel you further than if you hadn’t set any goal at all. On the other hand, if you set your goals too high or if they are unrealistic, they can fuel feelings of discouragement, self-loathing, and hopelessness.

Setting goals that fit you and your abilities is an art in itself. It requires really knowing yourself, your skills, resources, and limitations. It also requires acceptance, humility, flexibility, and resourcefulness.

There are two parts to setting a goal: 1) stating what you want to achieve and 2) what timeframe it will be completed in. It’s the second part of this equation that gets artists into trouble because we have stars in our eyes and high hopes. We live in a society of instant gratification. We want what we want now! There is no factoring in the twists and turns that can takes place or estimating the actual time it will take to reach our goals. We can easily visualize reaching the finish line but rarely can we foresee all the setbacks and delays along the way to getting there. So if you can, add extra time to your goal’s timeline. If you meet the goal sooner, then that’s a bonus.

Goals can apply the right pressure for you to keep working on your project or staying consistent with your creative practice. However, goals are not the absolute law or decree that must be followed at all costs. Sometimes you learn new information that impacts your goals or timeline and you need to adjust your expectations and approach. You see, goals are a work-in-progress. When you get new data then you may need to revisit your goals and see if they still apply to what you now know.

There are times when we lose track of our goals and get discouraged. If you lose momentum on your creative goals or practice, don’t beat yourself up or brand yourself as a failure for choices made at one point in time. Don’t view a single transgression from your goals as a forgone conclusion that you are not up to the task.  Artists are human. We are dynamic. Our commitment and discipline rise and fall, ebb and flow. Accept that you cannot be dedicated 24/7. Yes, it’s okay to feel disappointed when you do not live up to your expectations but don’t spend too much time focusing on it. Dust off your bruised ego, get back up and start again. Look to what you can do right now in support of your creative goals. See each new moment, each new day is an opportunity to get back on track with your creative goals.

“Keep on starting, and finishing will take care of itself.” – Neil Fiore

When setting creative goals, it is helpful to view them as your guideposts towards your growth. They are your compass. Life and experiences are the landscape that you navigate through using your goals. Sometimes reaching our goals is not a straight shot. Sometimes you encounter steep mountains or a fast moving river that seem impassable. Goals tell you what direction you ultimately need to head but you may need to wander a bit in search of a way around the obstacles. It is important to set concrete goals but be fluid in how you reach them.

Lately I have learned to cut myself some slack when I do not reach a goal in the timeframe I had set. I recognize that maybe I wasn’t realistic about how much time it would take or that I hadn’t anticipated unexpected events or conditions that delayed me. I then move the goal post back a few yards and take that simple step forward towards my goal. I start again.