Unrealistic Goals

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January 3, 2012 As we all step into the year 2012, many of us will commence the annual ritual of making New Year’s resolutions.  If you’re like me, you might be thinking back on trials and triumphs of the past year, while forming goals that might help make the coming one even better.  Reviewing my resolutions from years passed though, I realized something quite interesting: some goals are not meant to be achieved.  

Now this may not sound very optimistic at first glance, but I assure you, I am thinking in a most positive manner.  In my lists, I found two main types of goals: “realistic” and “unrealistic”.  In the “realistic” category, are achievable long and short goals formed mainly as plans for timely and organized action (e.g. learning to play the guitar).   Decidedly “unrealistic” goals however, have quite a different purpose; they exist mainly to inspire and motivate (e.g. to become Asia’s most influential singer in a year’s time).

Like the example I gave above, “unrealistic” goals are not necessarily designed to be achieved (at least not without some kind of miracle).  On the contrary, failing gallantly at them becomes the point.  Why?  Because the process of striving for something so distant is almost guaranteed to transform us in ways that more realistic goals cannot.

Don’t get me wrong though, I am by no means encouraging you all to fail at your New Year’s resolutions (because that would truly defeat the purpose).  I am rather encouraging everyone to dream big, think outside the box and make those crazy goals because who knows?  If you shoot for the moon and miss, you might still land among the stars.  Happy New Year!

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