Goal Setting

     When we wake up in the morning, there is a reason why it feels so difficult even just to stand to our feet. Our bodies are stiff from being in the same position for hours on end, and gravity has had its way through the night. Through the process of sleep, our muscles are repaired, our memories are solidified, and many of our bodily functions are regulated (1). With all of that going on, it is no wonder our bodies want to continue the process, even when we know it is time to start the day. 

     Accordingly, we must first fight against gravity in order to reach that simple, yet challenging feat of standing to our feet. Every day starts with this goal, and this principle should serve as the foundation for the rest of our day as well as our long-term ambitions. Make a goal, no matter how insignificant it may seem. Achieve that goal, no matter how minor it may feel. Just as you can do nothing else with your day without first getting up, you cannot accomplish the main goals without fulfilling the secondary goals along the way (Luke 16:10). 

“ONE STEP AT A TIME, ONE DAY AT A TIME; ALWAYS REMEMBERING WHO DIRECTS YOUR STEPS AND WHO HAS APPOINTED YOUR DAYS.”

     You cannot reach your destination without any gas in the car. In the same way, you cannot reach your fitness objectives without fueling your body and training the right way. A long-distance runner does not eat or train the same way as a powerlifter. A 50-year-old does not eat and train the same way as a 20-year-old. Even so, they all have to optimize training and recovery if they are to reach their goals. None of them can mindlessly go through the motions without setting goals if they are to become the best kind of athlete that they strive to be. 

     Nonetheless, a goal is only important so long as it is properly applied. It does not do much good for someone who wants to become a world-class long-distance runner to set a goal of deadlifting 500 pounds, impressive as that may be. That feat would not contribute to their achievements as a runner. Furthermore, it does not do much good for them to set an impossible goal of completing a marathon in 30 minutes. Therefore, our targets must be focused in order for our goal-setting to be useful in our pursuit of success. With these narrowed-in targets, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that what you do today doesn’t matter. On the opposite side of the spectrum, don’t expect important goals to be achieved overnight. Books are not written in a day, and neither is your story. 

     One essential part of the process of setting a goal is forming habits that will lead to its achievement. Habit formation is essential because our repeated patterns reflect the ways in which our neural pathways are solidifed (2). By implementing habits, you will provide yourself with the necessary ingredients to cook up a flavorful dish. Do you need to add non-stick spray to the pan? Do you need to add spices? Well, maybe not with every meal. However, there are still foundational ingredients with every meal that must be a part of the recipe. You cannot make potato soup without the potatoes. My point is this: don’t obsess over the small-scale habits, but don’t neglect them either. Furthermore, without the foundational ingredients, there is no way the end product will become the savory reality that you hope it to be. 

     So, set a goal. It doesn’t matter if you are a competitive athlete or even a couch potato. If you are strength-training, maybe you want to aim to increase your max by 10 pounds. If you never even go to the gym, maybe you want to aim to go 3 times a week. However, and this is very important: don’t just stop there. Take steps today, tomorrow, and so on, that are going to contribute to that goal. Even more importantly, don’t just reach the goal, but make it a step from which you can travel far beyond what you thought you could. One step at a time, one day at a time; always remembering who directs your steps and who has appointed your days (Proverbs 16:9, and Psalm 139:16, and Acts 17:26-28).