Aim low enough

“Follow your dreams”; “Don’t be limited by your excuses”; “You are enough”; “You can do anything as long as you believe in it”; “Yes, you CAN”; “Aim high”

Sounds familiar? This kind of advice usually carries a very positive sentiment but there is no practical use. I strongly advise you to do the opposite, aim lower. Let me illustrate, when you start learning mathematics, do you start with differential equations and combinatorics or do you start with basic digits, addition and subtraction? I understand that this comparison is egregiously simplified, but it can be applied to any form of progress: Sport? First the fundamentals then the fine details; Video games? First the basic commands then combinations; Cooking? Same principle? Life? First walking then running. Why would reaching any of your goals be different?

This line of reasoning is not the only reason why I suggest starting with smaller goals. In fact, it’s not even the best reason. You are fantasizing about the top of the mountain, while you stand at the base without any clue as to what is demanded of you to get to the top and absolutely no idea of what to expect at the top. If you have a goal then start moving towards it one small step at a time. That small step can literally be something as simple as making sure you wash the damn dishes after you eat or making your bed. Seems trivial and useless? Want more? Well, you can’t so slow down. You don’t want these “trivial” goals because you know deep down that you can do more, well, why the hell are you still stuck at the beginning? Why haven’t you made steps towards your goal? One confusingly amazing thing will happen to you is that your end goal will change and morph into a different shape as you start making progress.

The second reason I advise you to aim low enough is because both excuses and action have their momentum. If you continuously make excuses for not making your “big step” then those excuses will generate more excuses and you will never make the step. Alternatively, you can start taking action and the snowball effect of feeling good because you accomplished something will push you to achieve more and this will happen until you start stagnating or reach your potential.

My favourite reason for recommending this smaller goal approach is the fact that small goals set you up to first set and then crush larger goals. Just like with any other skill, the longer you practice the better you will be at it. If you’ve never done squats in the gym, it will practically impossible for you to walk into a gym, put a 150-kg bar on your back and squat 3 times. What is possible however, is that you start doing squats without the bar, then a few weeks later put an empty bar on your back and then slowly work up to a 60 kg squat. Reaching a 60 kg squat is significantly closer to the 100 kg squat than you were the first day in the gym, and we’re talking about a period shorter than a year. Imagine what happens if you apply this principle to activities like learning a new language, strengthening your willpower, cooking healthy food or any activity for that matter.

The squat example from the paragraph above talked about a period shorter than a year, imagine what happens after 10 years of applying that same principle. I will leave you with a simple question: Is personal development and growth something you want to do for 3 months and then just stop and exist for the rest of your life? OR do you want to strive to be A Tiny Bit Better day in, day out, year in, year out and decade in, decade out?