Let me ask you a question that might make you pause and really think: If you could only achieve one major goal this entire year, just one, what would it be?
Take a moment. Seriously. Close your eyes if you need to. What’s that one thing, that if you accomplished it by the end of the year, you’d feel like it was a resounding success, no matter what else happened?
It’s an interesting thought experiment, isn’t it? Because in our busy lives, we often juggle so many different aspirations, big and small. We have career goals, personal development goals, relationship goals, health goals, financial goals… the list can feel endless. And sometimes, all those competing priorities can leave us feeling scattered and overwhelmed, making it hard to make real progress on any of them.
So, by forcing ourselves to choose just one, it really makes us confront what’s truly important to us right now. What’s that one thing that, if achieved, would have the biggest positive impact on our lives?
Now, I’m not going to try and answer that question for you. That’s a deeply personal journey. But I do want to explore some of the fascinating angles and perspectives that this question opens up.
For instance, what makes a goal “major”? Is it the size of the achievement? The amount of effort it requires? Or is it the significance it holds for us personally? Maybe for one person, a major goal could be launching their own business. For another, it might be running a marathon. For someone else, it could be mending a broken relationship or finally learning a new language. The definition of “major” is entirely subjective, isn’t it?
And what does it say about us if we find it difficult to narrow it down to just one goal? Does it mean we’re too ambitious? Or perhaps that we haven’t really clarified our values and priorities? Maybe we’re afraid of missing out on other opportunities, or maybe we simply haven’t taken the time for some serious self-reflection.
Consider this: If you could only achieve one major goal, would you choose something that benefits only you, or something that also has a positive impact on the people around you? Would you prioritize a tangible achievement, like getting a promotion or buying a house, or something more internal, like overcoming a fear or cultivating more inner peace?
There are no right or wrong answers here, of course. But the act of even considering these questions can be incredibly revealing. It can shine a light on what truly drives us, what we value most, and where we want to focus our precious time and energy.
Let’s think about the potential downsides of having too many goals. When we try to do everything at once, we often end up spreading ourselves too thin. Our attention gets divided, our energy gets depleted, and we might end up making only superficial progress on multiple fronts, rather than achieving significant results in one key area.
On the other hand, focusing on just one major goal can be incredibly powerful. It allows us to channel all our resources – our time, our energy, our focus – into making that one thing happen. It can create a sense of clarity and purpose that can be incredibly motivating.
But then again, is it realistic to only have one major goal? Life is complex, and we often have responsibilities and aspirations in different areas. Maybe the question isn’t necessarily about literally having only one goal, but more about identifying our absolute top priority for the year. The one thing that, if we could guarantee its success, would make us feel the most fulfilled and satisfied.
Perhaps this exercise is about understanding our hierarchy of goals. Which one sits at the very top? Which one would have the most significant ripple effect on other areas of our lives?
And what if, by focusing intensely on that one major goal, we actually create momentum and develop skills that help us achieve other goals down the line? Maybe by conquering that one big challenge, we build confidence and resilience that spills over into other areas.
Here’s another angle to consider: What if the one major goal you chose this year wasn’t about achieving something external, but about cultivating a certain quality within yourself? Maybe it’s about becoming more patient, more resilient, more compassionate, or more present. These kinds of internal goals can have a profound and lasting impact on our overall well-being and our ability to navigate life’s ups and downs.
So, as you continue to think about this question – if you could only achieve one major goal this year, what would it be? – don’t just think about the “what.” Also think about the “why.” Why is this goal so important to you? What impact would achieving it have on your life? And what might you have to let go of or put on hold in order to make it a reality?
These are the kinds of questions that can lead to real breakthroughs in our understanding of ourselves and our aspirations. They can help us cut through the noise and identify what truly matters most.
Now, I’m really curious to hear your thoughts on this. What if the one major goal you chose this year had an unexpected and transformative impact on your life in ways you couldn’t even imagine right now? Share your insights and what that one goal might be with us in the comments section on the podcast, on our website englishpluspodcast.com, or on our Patreon page.
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