Goals
Many years ago - to the point that I do exactly remember when - I determined that my goals in life could be broadly subdivided into four major categories, or four tenets.
The first tenet was fitness, which I defined as a balanced mix of strength, speed, and endurance, which would enable me to freely interact in the world. As the years passed, I realized fitness was a superficial goal, and that there was a much deeper correlate of fitness, but it was not quite the same thing. After considerable thought, I defined that deeper correlate as health, which is essentially optimized mitochondria function, mitochondria being the energy-producing, cell-directing units that live within nearly all of our cells (1,2). Fitness means little without health.
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Health is more essential than fitness (1,2).Freedom is more essential than liberty (3).Respect is more essential than love (4). |
The fourth tenet was purpose, which I defined as having some sort of ultimate goal that I could work towards, one that would satisfy me on the deepest of levels - instinctually, emotionally, logically, spiritually...call it what you will. As years swept by, I ultimately saw that purpose was a superficial goal and a much deeper correlate existed. It took a number of trials to recognize that deeper correlate as the mission, the entire journey that drives one's enthusiasm for living, the thing that makes one wake up both excited and afraid, but also ready to jump out of bed in the morning to embrace the day. Purpose is an idea that grows as an effect during the pursuit of the mission.
Although I initially grouped the four major tenets in life as fitness, liberty, love, and purpose, after decades of acquiring experiences and hopefully a bit of wisdom, I now group the four tenets as health, freedom, respect, and mission.
Different Types Of Goals
I know of a number of people who are pursuing and achieving true excellence in one tenet, and I know of several who are excelling in two tenets. At best, I know of perhaps a handful of people excelling in three tenets. However, I do not yet know of anybody who is truly excelling in all four tenets, which would be something quite extraordinary.
To excel in any tenet requires setting and pursuing goals. Yet there are different types of goals, and I like a classification system that I came across years ago by the late Canadian self-help authorer and lecturer Bob Proctor (5), who described the multi-tiered concept of A-goals, B-goals, and C-goals.
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Bob Proctor gives a brief talk about the different types of goals, which he classifies as A-goals, B-goals, and C-goals (please ignore the sales pitch at the end). |