The paradox of goals
It’s goal-setting season. New Year’s resolutions. New gym memberships. Newfound ambition.
But, as this week’s article argues, goals often present a paradox: fail to achieve our goals, and we’re disappointed; reach our goals, and we’re disillusioned as the endorphin burst quickly fades.
I like how coach Steve Nash described Kevin Durant’s despondency after winning his first NBA Finals. “He thought a championship would change everything and found out it doesn’t.” Researchers call this feeling the “arrival fallacy.”
Many of the folks I interviewed for the book experienced a similar level of disillusionment after they got what they thought they wanted from their careers. After the promotion or the pay bump or the award, what’s left?
This week’s article from Anne-Laure Le Cunff does a good job of outlining a better way to think about goals. For me, it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Here’s the piece: The paradox of goals
Warmly,
Simo
P.S. The song of the week is some Australian surf-rock that will have your head boppin’ and your toes tappin’. The full songs of the week playlist is here.