During the process you take to achieve your goals, you’re likely to run into fodder for new, more ambitious goals. When you achieve your original goal, you may not even notice — being distracted by your new, more advanced goalposts. You don’t celebrate wins. You don’t see yourself as having summited the mountain, because there’s a new peak above. This sets up a never ending wheel of pursuit, without a satisfactory ending.
Beware sliding goalposts!
The sliding goalpost phenomenon happens in every area of life.
- When it comes to money, there’s “the Joneses” and the Diderot Effect.
- When it comes to fitness, there’s a never ending comparison to the next biggest guy, or focusing on weak spots
What to do instead
Recognize that Feeling “On Top” of Life is not a realistic goal. There is such a thing as Enough productivity. There is such a thing as Enough Money.
- Use the 3-3-3 Method and 3 Goals a Day, don’t let yourself feel like you didn’t do enough when you go to sleep.
- Set SMART Goals that can be unambiguously completed.
- Don’t let goals and grow. If you must, set new ones, keep the originals, & celebrate when they’re done.
- Compare Yourself to Your Average, because Trajectory Matters More Than Results
- Do your very best to enjoy and Love the Process
Source
- self