Goal Accomplishment in Situations of Uncertainty

The conventional goal setting advice most people are given during their high school and college years is relatively simply and highly effective. Step 1 is to determine the goal, using a process of reflection that may involve a pros and cons list. Step 2 is to make a plan for accomplishing the goal. For example, if you want to buy a car what steps will you take to save up the money and how will you afford insurance, gas and maintenance after the purchase? Step 3 is to execute the plan, making minor adjustments as needed without losing sight of the original goal. This is a solid method for getting an education, buying a home, getting a job or laying the groundwork for a traditional career. There may be setbacks along the way, and sometimes they may require adjusting the goal itself. But in most cases, persistence can help a person overcome the obstacles and reach their desired destination.

However, there are times when only a portion of achieving a particular goal is within a person's control. Someone looking for a partner, for example, can make themselves available on dating sites and still find themselves going home alone at the end of the day. That's because a relationship requires the efforts and interest of two individuals, not one. All the self-development in the world won't guarantee that someone will fall in love with you. Does this mean you shouldn't set a goal to find a partner? No, but it may require more flexibility in both methods and timing. While many single people would prefer to be in a relationship, some are unable to make a relationship work for a variety of reasons.

Some careers have very fixed and certain requirements. A person who wants to be a lawyer will need a law degree, just as an accountant will need a bachelor's degree in accounting. However, for someone wishing to become a singer, actor, animator or entrepreneur, the path to that career may not be perfectly clear. It is absolutely possible to achieve goals such as these, but they tend to require a bit more trust and less may be known up front. It may even require overcoming active resistance from loved ones who think a more practical path is better.

It's important to recognize that the power to create our own lives is something that exists within each of us. Although individual circumstances such as talents, weaknesses and support systems will vary, everyone has some freedom of choice. If nothing else, we each possess the ability to determine how we feel about our circumstances and how we react to them. There is a kind of goal setting that makes no sense to the mind or the pragmatic pessimist. When the heart has a dream that it refuses to relinquish, listen to those feelings. Even if you feel afraid or uncertain, taking steps toward that goal may help you feel more healthy and whole.

After spending two decades in the computer industry, I was ready for a change. Yet there appeared to be no clear path that did not require sacrifice and reduced pay. However, the idea to make a change would not go away, so after carefully considering my options I chose to enroll in a master's degree to become a mental health counselor. That was two years ago, and when I started down the path I had no idea how I would make it to the final goal. However, just having the faith to begin the journey has allowed me to see at each apparent dead end a way to keep going. I didn't think I'd have time to complete my internship, then my job situation changed and a new opportunity presented itself. I still don't know how everything will be impacted by the choice I am making, but I've made it this far and I will continue to trust that things will work out. There is a part of me that feels like I'm not adhering to the pragmatic goal-setting principles I was once taught, but life rarely goes according to plan. I just have to trust that the path I need to take will continue to be clear. My job now is to simply put one foot in front of the other and not lose faith in my ability to reach the end goal.