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- TFS#34: What Drives You Forward
Happy New Year! Yes, I’m sending this issue New Year’s morning.
This is the time when most people set their new year’s resolutions.
…But how many of them actually reached last year’s?
Unfortunately, most people don’t know how to set lasting, rewarding goals.
This leads them to giving up on their resolutions all together.
Jiu-Jitsu is no different.
If you are wondering why others are progressing ahead of you, it’s most likely they’ve set obtainable goals.
Outcome driven goals
Outcome driven goals define success as the results of an event.
Example: winning a competition or executing a technique during sparring.
If you’re setting these types of goals, you’ll have high highs and low lows.
That’s because you can’t control the result.
There are too many external variables that are out of your control.
You can’t control how skilled or strong your opponent will be.
You can’t control how the referee will call a close match.
The only thing you can control is your personal effort.
Since most people assume that their actions alone dictate the outcome.
This causes the ego to become tethered to the results of an event.
When things don’t go your way, you’ll feel lost, disappointed, and begin to write a negative narrative for yourself.
You’ll begin to tell yourself your best isn’t good enough.
And this is a motivation killer.
The excitement for the journey is no longer there.
Doubt has set in.
Output driven goals
The solution: Change the way you set goals.
Shift towards output driven goals.
These goals define success as the amount of effort you put into whatever you want to pursue.
Example: attending 5 classes per week or attempting a technique during every round of sparring.
If you’re setting these goals, you’ll find yourself having a higher success rate with your goals.
That’s because you can control your efforts.
The success is dependent on your internal variable: effort.
…This is the definition of being your best and giving your best.
You don’t have to feel your best to give your best.
Give your best at that very moment.
You’ll be happy you pushed through and completed what you needed to complete.
Some times motivation isn’t there, but your effort will carry you through.
This is how you stay consistent with whatever bigger goal you’re working towards (i.e., becoming a black belt…)
Even if you’re not having a good day or week, you haven’t veered off track.
What you can do
Be honest with yourself
Identify if you’re setting outcome driven goals
Adjust to output driven goals
Keep track of your progress
Resources You Might Like
→ From me: Learn to be come objective with your progress this year if you want to learn from your past and present.
→ From someone else: Starting something new is can be hard, but you don't need a dramatic start.
→ It’s good to have a plethora of techniques in your arsenal. How many move do you use?
→ At a lower belt, it’s annoying getting stuck at the side control position. If you want to work on a new escape, this might be a good start.
→ Some times you need a fresh environment. If you’re ever doubting the community you belong to, you’re not alone.
Closing Thought
Find goals that are rewarding from your efforts alone.
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