We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are.
Max De Pree
It is important to have goals in life, for goals are what make our lives meaningful. A person with no aim in life is like a headless chicken, running haphazardly from one point to another. That said, while most people are sensible enough to set targets for themselves, they fail to take into account the cost and sacrifices these objectives entail.
Regardless of what one wishes to become in their life, it cannot be achieved without bringing about a change to their present standing. In other words, the moment we decide to set a goal for ourselves, we need to accept that this change will not come to fruition by staying what or where we are.
Every goal, however small, needs us to step out of our comfort zone and try new things. For instance, your New Year’s resolution to get into shape may require you to start getting up early, working out, and eating healthy. One cannot expect to achieve their goal of staying fit without giving up on their unhealthy lifestyle. Likewise, one cannot possibly hope to be happy in a relationship if they let their past haunt them.
We set our own boundaries, and the longer we remain within these boundaries, the harder it gets for us to break free of them. As a result, our goals start looking more daunting than they actually are. We begin to dither, wondering if we have what it takes to live up to the challenge. However, all those limitations only exist in our minds. Rest assured, you can be anything you imagine, so long as you are willing to embrace the change that it comes with.
Max De Pree was an American author. An accomplished businessman and leadership coach, De Pree was well known for his motivational speeches. He once commented: “We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are.”