A commonly used analogy compares goals to stones in a jar: put the biggest stones (your most valuable goals) in the jar first; otherwise the smaller stones (less important) will take up all the space. But goals aren’t stones; they’re actually like soft balls of clay that need shaping as much as prioritizing. To better align your goals with your stage in life and what’s important to you, go through a four-step process of breaking down your goals into values and definitions of success. This shaping not only gives you flexibility, helping you understand what’s really important to you, but also allowing you to change and adjust your goals over time.
Take a moment and think about your goals. If you’re like us, they probably include performing to a high standard at work, spending time with your partner, friends, and kids, exercising, finding time for mindfulness, eating healthy, and many other big and small goals. It’s also common to have multiple goals, some of which conflict with each other. All of the things on that list are competing for our time and resources.
