With every New Year comes this habit of setting new goals. But not just any ones: there are these really, really totally real goals – up to the definitively ultimate ones.
In the end… just to ditch them by February.
In German the vocabulary for goal and the word meaning destination are the same: „Ziel“. So whether you are speaking of a goal you dream of reaching or travelling to a destination of this category, in both cases they are „Traum-Ziele“. The question is, are they a good thing…?
That said, let us set out onto the Atlantic to the Canary Islands and see what your ability of targeting something and the wonderful Playa de las Canteras have in common:
Las Palmas, the capital city of Gran Canaria, has a big luxury to offer. Its own city beach that stretches over three kilometers in length gives you so many choices. Whether you want to sunbath or swim protected by a natural reef, take a stroll, watch surfers or ride the waves yourself near the iconic Auditorio at the wavy part of the beach, sit down at a restaurant and enjoy Canary food, or taste the one and only turrón ice cream at Peña la Vieja, you can take your time experiencing different parts of Playa de las Canteras.
But on special days with a very clear view, a majestic sight opens up and you can see the Teide, Spain’s highest mountain on the neighbouring island of Tenerife. It makes you wonder about that other destination and your fantasy is on.
Now, if you really think about it, the Teide is 3.715 meters high. It looks marvellous and mystical from afar – but is climbing it just the thing that takes you further on your journey?
To check out, whether you set yourself a goal like the highest mountain you could find, listen to your body for a moment. Think about your big goal and let your wise nervous system give you a feedback. Do you feel energised or rather small and overwhelmed?
If it is the latter, you just identified a totalitarian move you did to yourself and you being your own personal dictator. A change of hats may be wise – to become, let’s say, your best coach. Take a look around, maybe have another stroll at the beach and start thinking of a plan that takes you step by step to your majestic mystery mountain.
In case you are not sure, whether you even want to get there, this is just fine.
Take a picture of that goal you just thought you would like to achieve with you. And in case it tickles and you keep thinking of it, check out how to get there. But for every part of your journey find out your specific and measurable targets.
Being good at setting your own goals is an art of its own and it is worth taking your time learning that.
In the meantime enjoy the here and now, like being at the laid back beach of Las Canteras – and really check out that turrón ice cream.