Goals and Identity

Proactivity. The name in itself expresses some concern with the future. Problems that can be addressed now are better solved now than in the future. If left unaddressed, they grow in magnitude and plague one in the future.

Prioritizing the future over the present is not an easy thing to do. After all, it is expedient and tempting to ignore one's problems and to pretend they are not there. (Kind of like how an infant covers its eyes when scared or anxious, blocking out stimuli as a crude way of making its world disappear.)

Sometimes I implicitly try to prevent myself from thinking about the problem, as a means to avoid rationalization ("implicitly" because while I think the act of prevention is voluntary, I think it is a choice made sneakily and subliminally by the self-centered part of my mind). Because the wise act of rationalization, if successful, would result in my decision to forsake maximum possible present happiness in the interest of my future self. And part of me doesn't want to be less happy in the present than it can be.

I have a short story to tell. The daily goals I've set for myself (as far as the archetypal day in my life can be generalized), for the past, I'd say, almost three years of my life, has been one centered around, in part, daily goals and objective-completion. I say "in part" because the remainder of my goal setting has revolved around short-term and highly-fluctuating goals, such as finishing homework.

And, for anyone who has daily goals, I'd say this is a fairly common goal-setting structure: the division of goals into standardized, predictable goals, usually based on the elements of one's personal life within one's immediate control, and less defined, variable goals, such as caring for a sick family member or working extra as part of one's job.

Regarding the former of these goal categories, an interesting question to explore is: what happens if I just don't fulfill them? What happens if I don't make the bed first thing in the morning, what if I get out of the habit of regular exercise, what if I stop practicing the piano?

I think reflecting on these questions is important because they have led to my realization of their significance. When somebody asks me to tell me about myself or my interests, or when I am meeting someone new for the first time, the goal being sought through such interactions is to understand one's personal source of motivation. And it seems to me that one's personal goals are a tremendous keyhole into understanding that personality and motivation.

A conscientious person would have an interest in setting and following up with long-term goals, in contrast to someone more whimsical. An extroverted individual might adopt hobbies and a passion more connected to people than objects.

So, it seems that resisting procrastination and striving to not only complete, but also proactively understanding, reflecting upon, and modifying one's day-to-day goals are useful methods of discovering and maintaining one's identity.