There are many methods for goal-setting and visioning. Here is a method that I’ve found helpful, illustrated by the example of climbing a mountain.
When you’re standing at the base of the mountain, you can very clearly see the summit. You should also see some paths that start before you.
But as your gaze goes up the mountain, the paths become unclear.
You can’t exactly map out what it will take to reach the top. All you can do is look at the paths before you, and choose the one that looks like your best option. You then need to repeat this process in stages as you work your way up the mountain.
It would be nice to plan out a path precisely to get to the top, but you typically won’t have full information. And even if you did have a map to the top of the mountain, the map may be different to the reality, and who knows what the conditions on the ground will be like.
The same goes with journeys you want to make in life. When you have a clear goal in mind, it becomes a guiding light. It also helps you choose what your first actions may be. But it’s very challenging to map your full journey out precisely. And doing so may restrict you if reality plays out differently.
So when you’re setting goals, don’t feel like you need to create a fully-formed plan in order to begin. Provided you have a clear end point, and clear starting points to choose from, you should be able to begin your journey and move forward in stages.
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