A Problem With Goals
Rather than blindly follow a goal, regardless of how lofty it may be, the mind should be free to see all possibilities. Once it is restricted and programmed to follow a set course, it will do so at the expense of seeing reality, a reality that appears and changes moment to moment. We give up the spontaneity of this moment, where life is truly lived, for concepts and theories. We are no longer "street smart," we become academic, and subsequently caught up in suppositions and abstractions.
When the mind is unrestricted in its activities, free of fear or the quest for security, then there is the possibility of constant creativeness. When the mind restricts itself, there is only mechanical movement so mundanely apparent. Therefore, the setting of a goal may be creative, but the efforts to acquire that goal or follow a goal, or try to get to a goal; these will be not creative.
We may be spend one percent of our time in creating a goal and ninety-nine percent of our time trying to achieve that goal, which is ninety-nine percent of uncreative activity. Some goals that we set last a lifetime, and are never reevaluated. We fall fast asleep. We no longer investigate, and when we no longer investigate, we blind ourselves, and then we go down the same paths humanity has gone down since the beginning of civilization, paths of greed, hatred, illusions . . . and war.
There is a better way. The better way is to be awake all of the time, every moment. Living in the world requires goals; eating, working, raising families, these all require planning. We don't eat our seed corn or become surprised when spring comes along and forget to plant our rice. This is all part of life. But to set psychological goals to escape boredom, or for no reason other than pleasure or a lack of security, rob us of the only security - our inherent spirituality. Here, goals simply get in the way of the ultimate creativity, the creativity that truly frees us from our bondage, from ourselves.
Copyright © E. Raymond Rock 2007. All rights reserved
Related Tags: spirituality, philosophy, self-improvement, religion, new age, self-help, goals, psychology
E. Raymond Rock of Fort Myers, Florida is cofounder and principal teacher at the Southwest Florida Insight Center (SouthwestFloridaInsightCenter.com). His twenty-eight years of meditation experience has taken him across four continents, including two stopovers in Thailand where he practiced in the remote northeast forests as an ordained Theravada Buddhist monk. His book, A Year to Enlightenment (Career Press/New Page Books) is now available at major bookstores and online retailers (http://www.AYearToEnlightenment.com).
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- How To Make Money? Be Observant And Smart
"Money talks", "Money makes the world go round" these words seem funny but it's true anyway. Almost - How To Find Happiness Through Setting Goals
Key #10 to Happiness - Setting GoalsThere're many reasons to set goals. People who set clear goals n - Avoid These Catastrophic Goal Setting Mistakes
These goal setting mistakes will stop you before you've even had a chance to give your goal a proper - Achieve Your Goals, Achieve Your Visions In Life
Are you starting to get curious on what you'd be in the next five or ten years? Have you figured out - Establishing Goals: A Clear Checklist
When you consider setting goals in your life, you are much like the captain of a ship. You have the - Kick Start The New Year By Setting Smart Goals
Many people are not able to articulate what they really want in life in clear and concise language. - Your 5 Keys To Success In Online Marketing
The real keys to success when marketing on the internet are not technical in nature nor do they requ - Securing Success In Your Life - How To Plan Your Career
Some people are lucky enough to fall straight into a fulfilling career that allows them to develop a - Goals That Care
The word care as defined in the dictionary, implies many meanings. Care can mean worry or a troubled - Solving Problems With The Right Mind Map Application
One of the best ways to solve problems in almost every area of your life is with the use of the righ
Most viewed articles in this category:
- The Many Colors of Abundance
Abundance is very much like color. No two people see colors in the same way. One person may see blu - Advance Your Business And Your Career
Here is an idea that can revolutionize your business and your life. Many organizations have retreat - Be - Do - Have
Today's article will give you guidance in goal setting. Before reading further, picture a goal you w - Goal Setting using Visualization
I have a blue convertible Beatle photo on my desk. On it, I edited my own photo and carefully place - The Power of Mental Imagery
My wife and I drove by this beautiful resort, and I blurted out, "I want to speak there, make a bunc - The Purpose of Having a Personal Goal
Goals provide our lives with a sense of purpose and direct our behaviors toward a positive end resul - New Year Resolutions: 3 Easy Steps to Success
I recently read an article that stated most people will have forgotten what their New Years Resolut - Got Goals? Your GPS To Success
You've probably heard of the Harvard goal-setting study. Members of the class of 1979 were asked whe - Goal Setting Is Not Only Once-A-Day Affair
In my last post, I mentioned that we should set goal clearly and do it daily. Now, the question is, - What Next
When on earth did it exactly happen? What morning did I wake up and think: "Man that was stupid! I w