A Perspective of Grace

Goals

We set them, sometimes we hit them, often we forget them, and regularly, despite our best efforts, they don’t eventuate.  

And like other things that are ‘hard’ like exercising regularly, committing to taking ice baths, and deciding on a savings plan, goals are not only tricky to commit to, I would argue that they are sometimes difficult to set as well. 

I have a bit of a theory on this.  

I know that without setting a target, or keeping in front of you something that you want, it is impossible to achieve it. 

On the flip side, when there are pressures on – health, finance, family, and so on, it can be difficult to see a way forward and when that happens, basic survival kicks in – be it physical or psychological. When you are stressed there are times when the path just is not very clear. 

It is easy to get swept up in all the things that we must do. We must exercise, we must take ice baths, we must have a life plan with every spiritual, physical, relational and financial goal mapped out, and be in relentless pursuit of it. 

I am going to argue that, no, you actually don’t. Not always anyway. 

My thoughts are in those times of change, of uncertainty, of stress and of doubt, placing demands and extra stress on yourself does more harm than good. 

I am a big advocate of setting targets and goals, but I also advocate allowing yourself a ‘Perspective of Grace’ while riding the storms that do and will inevitably come. 

Maybe it’s impossible to test this, but I think that we ride out the challenges better if we allow ourselves a bit of time to deal with those urgent and upsetting things – they will resolve in due course. 

Trying to stay on the treadmill with its arbitrary trajectory that you have set for yourself while the rest of your world falls apart may not be the smartest, nor the fastest way to get back on track. The goals and opportunities will still be there when things come right again. 

In tough times, I think it pays to have a ‘Perspective of Grace’ for yourself.