Goal-setting is something most of us do on a regular basis. It’s what motivates us to push ourselves into improvement or advancement. We set out with high hopes, great intentionality, and visions of success. Thoughts center on when and then as if the two are 100% guaranteed…when I do this (whatever “this” is), then I’ll be that (whatever “that” is). “Pie in the sky” attitude.
And then, something derails us. We incur a setback. Something goes wrong. We lose our way. Becoming dejected, we quickly throw in the towel and quit because we’re off track and adopt the attitude that we’ll never achieve the end result. All our good intentions erode, making us feel inferior and hopeless.
In his book “Atomic Habits,” James Clear inspires us by telling us to continue persevering. Brilliantly describing what he labels “the 1% rule”, he stresses the importance of baby steps. His rule inspires us not to look only at the end goal, encouraging us instead to set smaller, achievable goals that, when added together, have more potential to create success. He illustrates this with the metaphor of a plane. Let’s say you’re the pilot setting out on a course from New York City to Los Angeles. You’ve set your coordinates in place and switched on the autopilot feature. Unfortunately, the navigation is off by just 1%. Crossing over Pennsylvania, you don’t realize autopilot is steering off course. You are still on track. However, by the time the plane should have reached Texas, you notice you’re inexplicably too far north and way off target. You’ll never reach Los Angeles, and more than likely will end up in Washington state if you don’t adjust. In small increments or by itself, 1% doesn’t seem like that big of a deal. The point Clear makes is that all those 1%s add up and make a huge impact.
If we heed the “Atomic Habits” rule, sticking with our goal even when we veer off track, the end result is doable. Slow and steady progression inches us right along to the point where we can hold our heads high and feel confident step by step. So, the next time you set a goal or even want to establish a new habit, give yourself grace if you falter in the slightest bit. Stay determined and reapply yourself. The reward WILL come.
— Written by Jill Dagistino, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern