creative goals

I'm very cycle based - at least more so than some other people. So, I make progress and think about my goals in a different way. It's not so much about increments for me - although of course to the external observer, I will be making progress in increments - but it's more like: I push really hard, then fall back a bit, then push really hard, fall back a bit, and so on. 

I remember watching a YouTube video where the presenter was talking about a very well-known and lauded self-help book, and she said, it may be a good book, but that's not how I work. And this is a book that everyone was raving about. 

I feel that way about SMART goals - the idea that, to be valid and effective, every goal has to have each of the five elements: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timely. Goals have been an important part of my life for at least 30 years, but I have different types of goals for different purposes. Like for example, I have 'next level goals' and at the other extreme I have 'progress goals'. Both serve an important purpose and both are very different. Next level goals are things that are basically unrealistic. Something like - being a professional artist who exhibits work in galleries. It's encouraging to have goals like that because, everyone and everything may tell you it's impossible, but it's not impossible so why not dream it and pursue it. Then, at the other end of the scale, there are progress goals, which are eminently achievable. The challenge with these is to think of very easy ways to move in the direction you want to move in. The beauty of these goals is how easy they are, but, at the same time, how worthwhile and positive they are. So, it could be something like, I'm going to eat this different kind of food that I don't normally eat, or I'm going to go for a walk or I'm going to have a conversation. 

One type of goal that I never formulate though, is SMART goals.