Intrepid derives from the Latin word intrepidus, itself formed by the combination of the prefix in- (meaning "not") and trepidus, meaning "alarmed." [Excerpt from http://www.merriam-webster.com]
This week, I want to offer a new word to you, or, at least, to breathe some new life into an old word: Intrepid. The dictionary defines it for us, but we can really boil its meaning to not being too afraid to do things. If you are intrepid, you are not afraid to set out on a challenge. You might have fears, but they don't stop you from going out and trying things. Do you get that? It's not the absence of fear; it's the setting out in spite of your fears. Or misgivings. Or doubts. That's why you often see the word intrepid used to describe explorers and adventurers.
So why this word now? Fair question. Here's what happened. . .
I was putting together some goal-setting ideas for the blog when I was interrupted by the following email, from my Mom, Marilyn, who is just south of 80 and lives with Parkinson's Disease:
NEWSFLASH!!
THIS AFTERNOON I ARRIVED IN BRANDON (ON MY VIRTUAL WALK)!!!!
It took me 10 months and 10 days.
That is a 150-kilometer trek, by the way. Mom hasn't just kept up with her walking from the February fitness challenge, she has increased her pace and daily range. And, twice per week, she heads down to the gym for fitness classes.
I still stand by the goal-setting process, but it can wait a week. Intrepid adventurers and their accomplishments must be celebrated. So - Marilyn - CONGRATULATIONS on reaching Brandon in your virtual walk!!
What a great example of setting goals and knocking them off. One more goal achieved. I believe she was last seen heading east. . .
A final irony: when Marilyn reads this blog's title, she will immediately understand it - she knows Latin!
Tuesday 11 October 2016
Tuesday 4 October 2016
What Happens When You Set Goals
A few months ago, I put together a worksheet to help translate my fitness vision into short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals. Great idea, that worksheet. I basically forgot about it for a few weeks and my vision was just as blurry (well, the fitness vision), and my goals were more like a wishful thinking list.
So I pulled the worksheet out, got some feedback, and made a few tweaks. Then I tried it. There was no parade, and no heavenly choir sang. It was just a worksheet and I - well, I guess I just worked on it. It was not difficult, it was just work. And then my session was over and I stuffed the sheets into my backpack to take to work, in case I had a quiet lunch break one day. A few ideas were bouncing around in my head, but I was a bit disappointed that there had been no magical enlightenment.
What I did not realize then was that I had only started the process. The worksheet is just a paper; it is not the process. I realize now that, by sitting down with the paper and a pen and spending some focused time thinking and reflecting, my vision and goal thinking had been activated. Over the next few weeks, I became aware of specific goals that suddenly popped into my mind. I put these on sticky notes so I wouldn't lose them. When I sat down the second time, I had lots of goals and was able to organize them more coherently over time.
To me, the most interesting thing about the process so far is that the goals have led almost directly to specific workouts which are way more focused than anything I would have tried before. I'm not saying that YOU have to do my specific workouts, but what I discovered in my situation was that my goals led directly to the activities I am now planning to do. That is the takeaway, and why this basic process should be more or less universal.
So, what do we know? Well, thinking about your personal fitness/wellness vision and setting goals begins a process that allows those ideas to percolate. Over time - a month or so, in my case - you discard a few less important goals and identify other, more important goals. And these goals lead directly to some very specific activities or workouts which will propel you toward your goal.
What happens when you set goals, then, is that you are able to make thoughtful choices about specific activities. You are in a position to EXECUTE. That is half the battle. When you know what to do, all you have to do is do it. It is now in the hands of your self-discipline.
I hope you are willing to start a vision-casting and goal-setting exercise. The process will help you define where you want to go and how to get there. All you have to do is do it.
So I pulled the worksheet out, got some feedback, and made a few tweaks. Then I tried it. There was no parade, and no heavenly choir sang. It was just a worksheet and I - well, I guess I just worked on it. It was not difficult, it was just work. And then my session was over and I stuffed the sheets into my backpack to take to work, in case I had a quiet lunch break one day. A few ideas were bouncing around in my head, but I was a bit disappointed that there had been no magical enlightenment.
What I did not realize then was that I had only started the process. The worksheet is just a paper; it is not the process. I realize now that, by sitting down with the paper and a pen and spending some focused time thinking and reflecting, my vision and goal thinking had been activated. Over the next few weeks, I became aware of specific goals that suddenly popped into my mind. I put these on sticky notes so I wouldn't lose them. When I sat down the second time, I had lots of goals and was able to organize them more coherently over time.
To me, the most interesting thing about the process so far is that the goals have led almost directly to specific workouts which are way more focused than anything I would have tried before. I'm not saying that YOU have to do my specific workouts, but what I discovered in my situation was that my goals led directly to the activities I am now planning to do. That is the takeaway, and why this basic process should be more or less universal.
So, what do we know? Well, thinking about your personal fitness/wellness vision and setting goals begins a process that allows those ideas to percolate. Over time - a month or so, in my case - you discard a few less important goals and identify other, more important goals. And these goals lead directly to some very specific activities or workouts which will propel you toward your goal.
What happens when you set goals, then, is that you are able to make thoughtful choices about specific activities. You are in a position to EXECUTE. That is half the battle. When you know what to do, all you have to do is do it. It is now in the hands of your self-discipline.
I hope you are willing to start a vision-casting and goal-setting exercise. The process will help you define where you want to go and how to get there. All you have to do is do it.
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