Changing Direction
Some time ago, I wrote about the relationship between a goal-driven life and the activation of the brain’s natural “feel good” chemical, dopamine. Research has revealed that it isn’t the attainment of goals that lifts our spirits, but the pursuit of them. Once a goal is achieved, the release of dopamine stops, often triggering an unexpected letdown.
Recently, however, I was reminded there’s a flip side. While the pursuit of goals is generally positive, the flip side kicks in when you distregard the way your life is changing and continue to pursue old goals that no longer represent your true direction. If that happens, a goal becomes not an energizer, but an albatross.
This happens in all kinds of circumstances. For instance, a major undertaking requires more time and different skills than you anticipated; your interest wanes and energy falls away, but you continue your pursuit because you’ve already invested so much time, energy, and (in some cases) financial resources. Or perhaps, you discover a new interest and are energized by that, but fear that abandoning your current goals will mark you as “flakey” or directionless. In yet another scenario, you harbor a belief that, even though you’ve lost interest in your current goal, there will be a payoff if you continue on that path and you’re afraid you’ll lose out if you quit.
There are many reasons people choose to pursue goals that have, in one sense or another, outlived their usefulness. If you find yourself doing that, it’s probably time to reassess where you’re going. Sometimes you’ll find abandoning an old goal is the most positive move you can make. Other times, you’ll find it productive to continue to pursue a goal for which your enthusiasm has waned–but to use a different approach or to give that goal a lower priority as you retoool your life.
Whatever you do, in your reassessment you’ll be heeding that inner voice that speaks to you from your own true self. Now, that’s energizing!
