The Subtle Power of Direction
Why goals and success rarely make us happy—but direction does
It’s the end of the year again.
A time when many of us sit down and set resolutions for the year ahead.
New year, new start, a new chance to get things right…
We may remember that our previous resolutions didn't last long. But hey, this time everything will be different.
I've been there and failed to keep my resolutions and goals more often than I succeeded. And even when I did succeed, the feeling of happiness didn't last long.
After struggling with New Year’s resolutions often enough, I tried a different approach—one that turned out to work better for me.
That's what I want to share with you today, and the picture below serves as a small teaser.
The Problem With Goals
Goals are a hit or miss; you either achieve them or you don't. Of course, when you fail, you can try again. Or you decide to celebrate partial achievements, but who really wants that?
And then it's the question of what reaching a goal will eventually bring you.
Will it make you happier, and if so, for how long?
Will it improve your life?
Or will there be a new emptiness after reaching your goal that craves to be filled by finding a new goal?
I'm not saying that all goals are useless. Chasing goals can also be a lot of fun; that's basically what sports and competition are often about.
My point is that we tend to put way too much hope in goals to make us happy. We focus on something that is often irrelevant in itself and become blind to what actually matters.
Why Direction Matters More Than Goals
Now let’s come back to the image above.
Imagine you are on the road above, starting on the far left, and you want to drive up the mountain and reach the point on the far right. You have no idea what the road looks like.
As soon as the first curves appear, you get frustrated. Because it becomes clear that reaching your goal might be far more difficult than you assumed.
Things change if you choose the point on the far right as the direction you want to go. It's a bit like saying, “I want to go this way and stay open for what unfolds.”
When you reach the curves, you see them as course corrections. You may even enjoy the outer edge of some curves, as they allow you amazing views into the valley below.
So even if you don’t reach the point on the far right, you still have a chance to enjoy the experience. You wouldn’t feel like a loser, but you’ll remember the path you walked much better—because that’s what counts when you choose a direction.
You can apply the same approach to your goals and resolutions for the New Year.
Instead of declaring, “I want to lose 10kg,”
You say, “I choose to experiment with eating lighter meals and more unprocessed foods.”
Choose a path you want to walk—and let success be a byproduct of the journey. Make it playful and fun so that you gain something with every step you take.
Before You Go…
If this piece resonated with you, I’d love to hear from you—whether that’s a heart or a few words in the comments.
Writing is often a quiet act, and these small interactions remind me that there’s a real person on the other side of the screen.
It's an amazing article, Tim. Wise and honest. Yes, it's the journey that has to be travelled. Every "now" moment has to be lived fully. And ... nothing else matters