Thank you, Rick! I just needed a bit of permission to ditch the need to track everything and check off yet another box.
Over the last two decades, as I was busy checking off boxes and feeling more accomplished, all of the joy and color slowly, almost imperceptibly, drained from my life. There was no serendipity. No Fun.
I've slowly transitioned to part-time anesthesia work over the last year. What I've found is that there is "space" in my life that I haven't felt in decades. And perhaps more crucial, slowly, but surely, the color is returning to my life. It's beautiful!
Nailed it on the book example. That's the paradox nobody wants to admit: the best stuff in life often shows up when we're not forcing it. I tried a rigid goals system a couple years ago, ended up optimzing for checking boxes instead of doing meaningful work. The "accidental" projects were always more satisfying anyway. Sometimes those arbitrary time brackets just add pressure withou adding clarity.
"Sometimes those arbitrary time brackets just add pressure without adding clarity."
Very well said. Not having goals is counterintuitive and unlike anything anyone is selling. There's places for them... and there's places not for them.
The key part of your article for me is your mention of allowing serendipity to happen. If you have specific goals, you have blinkers on. You only have eyes for the goal you've made and are trying to achieve. (There is a time and a place for that for sure...). Rather I have big picture goals or general ideas of where i want to go or do but I allow space for the magic of life to happen. Also, importantly, your article allows more room for your intuition and gut to speak/be heard by you. Thank you for writing this and the reminder.
Very well said, Peter. It's the same time-boxing your schedule in advance. Sure, in some ways, you'll "squeeze more out of the day," but you'll inhibit your ability to flex when unexpected opportunities arise (or crises occur).
(maybe stretching the analogy too far, but spit-balling... it's almost like how we need deep work time in a busy schedule, we similarly need to reserve free space for non-predetermined goals to arise)
I am definitely with you. No resolutions (anything you need to make a “resolution” for, is most likely something you don’t enjoy doing), no goals (I know how to be an “accomplisher”, I want to be an “idler”), and no “year in review” (not that reviews are not good, but they can be done anytime, for any time period).
Step 3, hehehehe. "Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care and direction of God as we understood Him." That's what I generally use, with a somewhat unusual definition of "God".
Thank you, Rick! I just needed a bit of permission to ditch the need to track everything and check off yet another box.
Over the last two decades, as I was busy checking off boxes and feeling more accomplished, all of the joy and color slowly, almost imperceptibly, drained from my life. There was no serendipity. No Fun.
I've slowly transitioned to part-time anesthesia work over the last year. What I've found is that there is "space" in my life that I haven't felt in decades. And perhaps more crucial, slowly, but surely, the color is returning to my life. It's beautiful!
Awesome Cobin. I've also found it quite easy to beat the fun out of life. I'm quite good at it, actually.
Nailed it on the book example. That's the paradox nobody wants to admit: the best stuff in life often shows up when we're not forcing it. I tried a rigid goals system a couple years ago, ended up optimzing for checking boxes instead of doing meaningful work. The "accidental" projects were always more satisfying anyway. Sometimes those arbitrary time brackets just add pressure withou adding clarity.
"Sometimes those arbitrary time brackets just add pressure without adding clarity."
Very well said. Not having goals is counterintuitive and unlike anything anyone is selling. There's places for them... and there's places not for them.
The key part of your article for me is your mention of allowing serendipity to happen. If you have specific goals, you have blinkers on. You only have eyes for the goal you've made and are trying to achieve. (There is a time and a place for that for sure...). Rather I have big picture goals or general ideas of where i want to go or do but I allow space for the magic of life to happen. Also, importantly, your article allows more room for your intuition and gut to speak/be heard by you. Thank you for writing this and the reminder.
Very well said, Peter. It's the same time-boxing your schedule in advance. Sure, in some ways, you'll "squeeze more out of the day," but you'll inhibit your ability to flex when unexpected opportunities arise (or crises occur).
(maybe stretching the analogy too far, but spit-balling... it's almost like how we need deep work time in a busy schedule, we similarly need to reserve free space for non-predetermined goals to arise)
I am definitely with you. No resolutions (anything you need to make a “resolution” for, is most likely something you don’t enjoy doing), no goals (I know how to be an “accomplisher”, I want to be an “idler”), and no “year in review” (not that reviews are not good, but they can be done anytime, for any time period).
Happy Holidays, and Happy Life!
This is the way.
Step 3, hehehehe. "Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care and direction of God as we understood Him." That's what I generally use, with a somewhat unusual definition of "God".