Key Takeaways
- When we set goals, we usually attach a time frame to them.
- Sometimes life gets in the way, and we don’t achieve our goals within those time frames.
- When this happens, we may view it as a failure, but is it really?
We’ve all been in a car when we just miss the light and have to stop on red for a few minutes. If we’re trying to get somewhere by a certain time, this can be annoying. But eventually, we get going again and arrive at the destination, forgetting all about that minor delay.
Similarly, when we set goals, we may do so following the SMART acronym (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely/time-bound). We want to get somewhere, and we set parameters around that goal. Sometimes, though, that last part – the timeliness factor – can trip us up.
For instance, if you set a goal of losing 10 pounds within four weeks but arrive at the end of four weeks just shy of your goal, losing nine pounds instead, you may feel disappointed. Your focus was on achieving that goal within four weeks and you feel like you blew it! But maybe you got to that goal a week later. There was nothing wrong with your goal – you just got the time frame wrong.
It’s the same with money. You may have a goal to save a certain amount by a specific date or age. However, things happen in life that cause delays, and oftentimes they’re out of our control – world events, COVID, an expensive home repair, or an accident – all things that no one could have predicted. You may have setbacks, but that doesn’t mean you won’t achieve your goal.
So, the next time you don’t achieve a goal within the time frame you set, remember that it’s just like hitting a red light. You’ll still get there. Give yourself credit for continuing on and then move on to your next goal. Until next time, enjoy.
Gary
If you’d like to read more on this topic, here are a few of Gary’s previous posts that you might enjoy:
