INVITE STRESS
Edition 16:
“Am I expecting more than current resources allow?”
UNREALISTIC GOALS
We all have goals.
Some are challenging.
Some are ambitious.
Some are simply unrealistic.
But how do we know the difference?
A goal may look reasonable until we examine what it actually requires.
Time.
Knowledge.
Skills.
Money.
Energy.
Support.
Experience.
Opportunity.
When the resources required by a goal are greater than the resources available to us, stress can become inevitable.
But the problem may not be the stress.
The problem may be the goal.
IS THE GOAL REALISTIC?
Ask yourself:
What exactly am I trying to achieve?
What will this goal require from me?
What resources do I currently have?
What resources am I missing?
A useful question is:
“Am I expecting more than my current resources allow?”
DON'T ABANDON THE GOAL TOO QUICKLY
An unrealistic goal today may become a realistic goal tomorrow.
Perhaps you need:
More knowledge.
A new skill.
More time.
Additional resources.
Help from others.
A different strategy.
So instead of asking only:
“Can I achieve this?”
ask:
“What would make this goal achievable?”
That changes the problem from wishful thinking to resource planning.
INVITE STRESS
Feeling stressed about a goal can be useful.
It may be telling you:
The goal is unclear.
The resources are insufficient.
The timeframe is unrealistic.
Something needs to change.
Don't immediately try to eliminate that stress.
Examine what it is telling you.
Then choose:
Reduce the goal.
Extend the timeframe.
Increase the resources.
Change the strategy.
Or reconsider the goal.
THE SUPRA QUESTION
Before committing yourself to a demanding goal, ask:
“Am I expecting more than my current resources allow?”
And then:
“What needs to change to make this goal realistic?”
Stress does not always tell us to stop.
Sometimes it tells us to prepare.
INVITE STRESS.
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