Never Mind Your Goals - What are you doing right now?

People love goals, especially in professional and academic circles. Everyone is setting goals or being questioned about them. What are doing with your life? What’s your purpose? What’s your passion? Some have answers, others don’t. I’m beginning to think having the answer isn’t that important. 

As much as we talk about the future, we can never live in it. The present is the only aspect of time we can access and impact. So, why is the bulk of our energy devoted to rehashing the past or planning out the future? It seems like it would make the most sense to focus our energy on the present moment. Get the most bang for our buck, as they say. 

“…Tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today” -Malcolm X

Let’s say I have an amazingly formatted plan for success and my friend does not. If we do the same work everyday we’ll more than likely reap the same results. Now, let’s say my plan-less friend chooses to maximize each moment. She constantly asks herself what she can do now to make her life better, more like the life she wants to live. My guess is that she’ll get a lot further than me, with my planned out future and neglected present.

The lesson: a goal that is worth anything doesn’t go beyond the present moment. It’s nice to do a timeline of your life if you want something cute to put up on your refrigerator. But, when you look at that plan, remember the universe is looking over your shoulder laughing hysterically at it.