I have a confession…
Do you remember last month’s goals? How I was all geared up to take an inventory of my time and money, and to embark on a generosity challenge?
Remember how I set up my March journal spread with spaces for these things, and plans to diligently follow through with notes and actions?
Um yeah…I did none of those things.
None.
Even more, I was averse to the very thought of them. Whenever I turned the page to my goals spread, I felt heavy and lethargic. It was a real downer.
So, what happens when your goals are all wrong?
This, friends, is what I call a goal backfire. It happens to me when my ideals are out of sync with my reality. I had the resources to follow through, just not the desire.
Upon reflection, I realized that part of the reason my March goals were a flop was that I was trying to be overly earnest. (This is a perennial shortcoming of mine, so I recognized it immediately.) I started these journals to introduce more creativity and FUN into my life, not more ardent character development. I get enough of that through everyday circumstances already. 😂
So what was my response to my March backfire? Well, I glued my peek-a-boo windows down to the page, permanently covering up the goals I couldn’t make myself do. And then I looked forward to a new month with zero regrets.
April’s goals are a welcome correction.
If you watch the video above, you’ll notice that “Fresh and Fun” is prominently hand-lettered at the top of April’s feature page. This is purposeful—I needed the reminder of why I journal in the first place.
Also, the focus of my goals—healthy foods, creative projects, spring cleaning—is considerably lighter and much more accessible.
And as I mentioned in the video, I may not even get to all of them (I’m talking to you, spring cleaning).
A closing thought on goals in general
This whole experience has me thinking about “stretch goals,” and how we’re often told that a goal that doesn’t stretch you isn’t worth setting.
Respectfully, I disagree.
I like stretch goals, sure. But also, I like goals that are easy and fun. I like quick wins and finish lines crossed at one’s leisure. I like to make lists of things I’ve already done, not just the things I have to do.
And I think FUN should be a goal. Art is a goal. Play is a goal. Taking a stroll after a spring rain shower and stopping to notice all the new green buds is a goal.
These are the kind of goals I’m setting for April. And probably May and June, too. After March’s flop, I’m accepting the fact that I don’t want earnestness right now, unless it’s an earnestness for fun.
What are your thoughts on this? What do you do when your goals aren’t working?
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