We talk a lot about setting goals and making plans to reach those goals. However, I think something we haven’t touched on is being flexible with those plans and how you achieve your goals.
We often get so set in how we want to do things that we close ourselves off to all other possibilities. And that often stops us in our tracks when things don’t go as we planned.
Yes, set your goals, make plans to reach those goals, but make sure you keep an open mind as you’re working towards those goals. I can almost guarantee things won’t go 100% as planned, but that shouldn’t stop you from working towards and reaching your goals.
I know I am not where I thought I would be when I graduated high school and then college, but I also know a lot of life has happened between then and now. My life has drastically changed, as have my goals.
When I was in middle school, my dream and my goals were to graduate high school, go to and finish college, then get a job as a criminal investigator with the government. I was very set on that and worked my butt off to make it happen. I even graduated early from college (if only I could tell myself to slow down and enjoy it more!) and got my “dream job” 6 months out of college. I was elated.
The first few years were everything I thought I wanted, but as the training slowed down and the job became more mundane, I realized I wasn’t super happy. So I changed agencies within the government, thinking that would change how I felt. It was okay at first, because I did more training and had to learn a new agency, new rules and regulations, and a new way of doing things.
But it, once again, became very mundane and so political (imagine that – a government agency being political. Duh.). So when the opportunity presented itself to transfer away from the northern Virginia area, I jumped at it. I would be moving back to the Hampton Roads area, where I went to college so I knew several people and had friends here, but also a new beginning.
And once the newness wore off, it once again became very mundane. Frankly, I was bored. So. Bored.
So although it was originally my dream and my goal, after almost 12 years, I realized it was NOT what I wanted.
And over the last several years in my government job, my goals changed. I became more interested in health, nutrition, and fitness. I did a lot of work on myself to repair and heal my hormones, to break my sugar addiction, and to become the healthiest version of myself. And as time went by, I realized I wanted to share that with others.
So once again, my goals shifted.
I became a health coach, I received my Level 1 certification in CrossFit, I started using and selling essential oils, I added in skincare along the way, and just continued to grow, in myself and with what I was doing.
And I left my government job. It was scary as heck, and I had no idea what my future held, but I knew I couldn’t continue down the path I was on.
It’s been 7 years since that happened and goodness knows a whole lot more of life has happened since then. But I’m thankful for being flexible in my plans and how my goals have shifted. I certainly wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t been.
It’s been a journey. I’m thankful for all of it, even the hard times. And I’ll continue to be flexible as life continues on and I continue working on my goals and plans to achieve those goals.
And I hope you are too! Make plans, but be flexible. And keep working towards those goals.
Have a great week!
Whitney
