Regrets & Goals - March 09, 2008

Regrets are defined as:
repent: feel remorse for; feel sorry for; feel sad about the loss or absence of
decline formally or politely; sorrow: sadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment

Everyone has something they wish they didn't do (or done differently) in the past or wish they had done. It is better not to live according to those regrets. Otherwise, one holds him/herself back from growing. If someone did you wrong years ago, don't regret knowing that person. Learn the lesson and try to move past it. If you long for someone you have not seen in a long time, do not dwell on their absence, but rather the good they gave to you and how they helped shape some of your happier moments. If you feel sad because you didn't follow a path before, see if still available. They say: "it's never too late" and that is true of most things in life. Find out if it's worth doing and then GO FOR IT!

Goals are defined as: an objective (which is a broad aim or desired outcome) made specific in terms of time and degree

When we set a goal, we should remember that there are steps to achieving a goal. We should become aware of just what it will take to achieve what we set for ourselves. And just because the road is long does not mean it isn't worth it. Everything that is worth anything requires effort to keep or maintain.

Last night I used the example of one's desire to be an astronaut. First you must study in High School and graduate with a good education. Then one must get into a college that will give you the required science and math education along with the record of challenging individuals and producing well-developed minds. From there one would either go to the Air Force, Navy or Flight School (Airline?) to earn their flight training certification. In other cases, one becomes a well known scientist with a specialty in a specific area. Upon earning the correct accolades and accreditation, one then applies for the NASA Astronaut program.

As you can see the path is long, and not without trial. If you have a setback (i.e.-fail Organic Biology), is life over? No. You can try again. That doesn't mean you don't try your best to do it right the first time. What if you break your leg during the Astonaut program training? Is it over? No, you must take time to heal then restart the program. Certainly these are both obstacles that can present themselves but can be overcome if one desires to do so.

Do not become so anxious about your goals that they become an obsession to you. Sometimes, you have to take a break to either (re)examine your path or just to recharge. My own karate training is a good example of this. I personally want to learn so much that I become anxious and wish to learn as much as I can. By hurrying, I lose important basic or even middle steps steps along the way. I had to slow myself down and realize that there is always time to do the things I would like to do.

Do not allow yourself to be or get discouraged regarding your goals. Remember, many others have gone before you attempting to achieve the very same goals. You simply have to match desire with work ethic and then do the actual work necessary to achieve your goal.

Saying I want to do that without actually making it happen is just words. Words are meaningless without action. Talk less, do more.

Osu.